21 Songs to Power Your Morning Routine on Days When You’re Just Not Feeling It

We all have days that just feel, well, damn hard. Sometimes you can pinpoint the cause—a poor night of sleep, work stress, knowing you’ve got a marathon of to-dos ahead—and sometimes you just don’t wanna. Of course, in an ideal world, we’d all be able to stay cozied up in bed watching a soothing show or reading a favorite book on the days we generally lack motivation. But unfortunately, that’s not always the case. 

So if you’ve recently found yourself dragging your feet to get out the door in the morning, or on your third cup of coffee by 10 a.m., this week’s playlist is for you. These upbeat songs are all intended to put some pep in your step and a smile on your face. While it’s not a workout playlist by name, you could certainly use this to power your morning cardio or strength routine just as easily.

Here you’ll find tracks from indie darlings Tegan and Sara, the 1975, and Bleachers, plus newer hits from Janelle Monáe, Taylor Swift, and Maggie Rogers. For a little extra delight, a few hip-hop tracks—“Sure Shot” by Beastie Boys and “Check the Rhime” by A Tribe Called Quest—also have a place on this list. Overall, it’s an eclectic mix, but one that we hope helps you to open your eyes a little wider, pull your shoulders down from your ears, puff up your chest, and know that you can handle whatever the day throws your way.