15 songs to get you through your essay

Hi I’m Lizzie, an editorial intern at TARGETjobs and current university student. Writing essays can be tough day after day leading up to a set of deadlines. Music can help to make a big difference in maintaining your focus, whilst also relaxing and entertaining you. The key is to listen to a mixture of slow, calming songs with some more upbeat ones to continually catch your attention and get your energy and motivation up again. Here are my top recommendations!

1. Ed Sheeran – Shirtsleeves

This ballad by lovely Ed is beautifully relaxing. It’s basically a hug for your ears.

2. Beyoncé – Start Over

Queen Bey is perfection to be honest; this upbeat ballad will wake you up enough to crack on with your essay, but not make you fidgety or distracted.

3. The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris

Ask almost anyone and they will say this is their favourite song. Luckily it’s also excellent background music.

4. Sam Smith – Stay With Me

This came out just in time for one of my biggest essay deadlines, and I listened to it on repeat over 250 times (I’m not kidding) while writing one essay. It’s one of the best for background music that both relaxes you and gets your energy up.

5. Tracy Chapman – Fast Car

This classic is a common favourite for essay music; plus, it’ll melt your heart.

6. AWOLNATION – Kill Your Heroes

This song slightly breaks the rules set out about what to listen to, but somehow it still works really well as study music.

7. Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreams

Back to the upbeat ballads with T Swizzle. Like a lot of artists on this list, pretty much her entire album is essay-worthy.

8. Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks

If you can ignore the less-than-cheerful lyrics, the tune and tone of the song is perfect to work to.

9. Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen

One of Ellie’s best; the vocals in this song are wonderful, and it makes great background music.

10. Emeli Sandé – Next to Me

Emeli’s voice basically defines powerful-but-pretty, and this song is fantastic in general.

11. Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care

RiRi shows her softer side in this sweet song with Drake, and it’s strangely comforting being told you’re taken care of when you’re stressing out about deadlines.

12. Labrinth – Let The Sun Shine

A pretty cheerful song to lift the mood – studying might seem a bit less worrying after this one.

13. Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On

Despite the famously belting start, most of this song is pretty mellow, making it a pretty smooth background song to have on.

14. Ariana Grande – One Last Time

This is a particularly great song to listen to on the last day before your deadline; a fab little reminder that you’re almost finished!

15. P!nk – Raise Your Glass

Time for a break. This song is so good to get your energy back up and have a mini-dance party to (this is especially important if you’re working at night!). 

Article written by Lizzie Akass, TARGETjobs Editorial Intern. Connect with Lizzie on LinkedIn.