In my Sleep Hacks eBook I talked a lot about euphoric music. If you haven’t read the eBook, you might wonder how music is in any way related to sleep. Well, here’s the basic theory:

1. When you first wake up, you start with a blank mental slate.
2. In those first few moments, you’re not happy, sad, frustrated, or stressed. You just are.
3. Therefore, your state of mind is more impressionable during this time, and will more effectively soak up emotions based on internal or external triggers.
4. Therefore, if you listen to euphoric music right when you wake up, you will transition into a state of euphoria and well-being before other negative triggers can influence your state of mind.

So here’s what I do: I use alarm clock software to play an mp3 as the alarm. So instead of waking up to beeps or bzzts of a typical alarm clock I get a dose of my favorite music. I try to pick euphoric or uplifting music for the best effect.

What I experience is quite cool. As my alarm clock software starts playing euphoric music, it feels like the emotional centers of my brain soak the euphoria up like a sponge. As you transition out of sleep, your mind is clear and wiped of short-term memory. There’s a short window of opportunity upon waking up — those first few moments when you don’t remember what was stressing you the night before, or what tedious tasks await in the day. You can take advantage of that window and influence your state of mind with euphoric music.

When I do this, the positivity lingers for several minutes, sometimes several hours, and sometimes for the rest of the day!

In rare cases, if you’re lucky to hear the music in the half-asleep state of hypnagogia, you might experience a floating sensation accompanied by euphoria that is nothing short of spiritual.

I admit that the above “theory” is unscientific to some extent. It’s all just based on my experiences.

In this article, I will explain how I use euphoric music to instantly give me that “on top of the world” feeling after waking up.

Euphoric Music Defined

I have a list of 20 or so songs that elicit a strong psychological response (in me, at least). For a couple years I’ve been cycling these songs on my speakers during my morning routine. I’ve become addicted to the feeling of well-being I get from these tunes.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines euphoric as a feeling of well-being or elation. Therefore, euphoric music can be any tune that just makes you feel good… really good.

Euphoric music supposedly helps produce the “feel good” hormones and neurotransmitters, like serotonin, which have an instantaneous effect on your mood.

My personal selection of euphoric music tends to exhibit one of two qualities: a chillout quality and/or an energetic quality.

Chillout euphoric music has a calming effect. It eases tension and puts you in a good mood. Energetic euphoric music, on the other hand, can give you that “on top of the world” feeling. It’s kinetic, lively, colorful, electric, and if nothing else it will make you want to dance… or at least just smile.

My Selection

I might regret this later, but I’ll go ahead a share a few tracks from my euphoric music collection — these are all great songs to wake up to, giving you an immediate sensation of positivity and energy to start your day!

The following 6 tracks are ordered by where they stand on the chillout/energetic spectrum: the chillout euphoric tracks first, energetic last.

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Röyksopp - Only This Moment
Chillout score: 5/5
Energetic score: 1/5

Calm, relaxing, yet still uplifting.

Buy from Amazon ($0.99) | YouTube Link

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Solarstone - Solar Coaster
Chillout score: 5/5
Energetic score: 3/5

Ethereal melody. I just love this tune.

YouTube Link

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Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini - 18th Variation
Chillout score: 3/5
Energetic score: 3/5

If there’s such a thing as “emo” classical music, Rachmaninoff was the main contributor. He, like many other musical geniuses, spent much of his life in depression. This is surprising given that he wrote one of the most tear-jerkingly beautiful melodies in existence — the 18th variation of the Paginini Rhapsody. In a word: Orgasmic.

Buy from Amazon ($3.96) | YouTube Link

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Jean Sibelius - Karelia Suite - Intermezzo
Chillout score: 1/5
Energetic score: 4/5

An intensely colorful classical march. A great wake-up piece, since the horns are nice and loud.

Buy from Amazon ($0.99) | YouTube Link

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Dexy’s Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
Chillout score: 1/5
Energetic score: 4/5

80’s music… too corny for its own good. That’s why I like it.

Buy from Amazon ($0.99) | YouTube Link

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Gouryella - Walhalla
Chillout score: 2/5
Energetic score: 5/5

Walhalla is my favorite euphoric piece. The energy sends chills down my spine every time. The build-up… the climax… ahhhhhh… life is good.

YouTube Link

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Alarm Clocks

Several alarm clocks allow you to choose a piece of music for the alarm. If you sleep in the same room as your computer, you can download alarm clock software, which will allow you to choose an mp3 as an alarm.

Alarm Software for the Mac: Alarm Clock 2 - Free, and appears to be the most popular option for Macs.

Alarm Software for the PC: Citrus Alarm Clock - This is what I use. The trial is free, but it’s a small fee to register. I have not been able to find a free alternative for the PC.

Custom Nap MP3s

If you’re on-the-go and want to wake up to music following an afternoon power nap, then grab an iPod, some good headphones, and download my nap mp3s.

I use those nap mp3s almost every day.

What’s Your Euphoric Music?

In the comments, I’d love to hear your suggestions for good wake-up music. I am currently looking for song suggestions to include in future nap mp3 updates.