9 lo-fi beat YouTube channels to listen to while you try to work or relax

Personally, this pandemic is turning me into an anxiety-riddled mess.

Staying inside limits the spread of the coronavirus, but it's also more difficult to separate yourself from the constant bad news online. Social distancing is necessary, but it's also incredibly isolating. To mitigate the overwhelming feeling of dread, I've been listening to a lot of lo-fi beat channels on YouTube.

Something about the blend of white noise, repetitive melodies, and gentle beats is exactly the calming background noise I need to get through self-quarantine. Although some states are opening up non-essential businesses again, others have extended their stay-at-home orders to continue flattening the curve.

Here are 9 lo-fi channels that I listen to throughout the day to stay calm through this pandemic.

1. A classic

ChilledCow's lo-fi livestream is so universally beloved, it's become a meme. When YouTube briefly shut down the stream in February, the internet went into a mass panic. Luckily, "lofi hip hop radio - beats to relax/study to" is back and up and running.

2. A topical playlist

It was only a matter of time before artists began posting pandemic-themed playlists. CollegeMusic's "lofi beats to quarantine and stay indoors to" is not only calming, but also comes with mental health support tips.

3. Some Zelda themed beats

During my downtime, I've been playing a lot of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Exploring a vast, virtual world is a nice reprieve from being stuck indoors all day. GameChops curated a playlist of Zelda-themed lo-fi beats inspired by music from the game.

4. A coronavirus safety-themed playlist

Feardog's "coronavirus safety: chill alone" playlist comes with important reminders: stay home, wear a mask, and avoid shaking hands with other people.

5. 24/7 Magic Hour Radio

YouTuber Michelle Phan was one of the first beauty gurus on the platform. A decade later, amid continuing to create videos and listening to work, she also curates a 24 hour radio show. It's more upbeat than a lot of other lo-fi channels on this list, but if you need some feel good music, Magic Hour is the one for you.

6. A Studio Ghibli-themed chill playlist

For some feel-good childhood nostalgia, check out nintendo and chill's Studio Ghibli-inspired lo-fi playlist. It includes remixes of songs featured in Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and even Grave of the Fireflies.

7. A trippy "Coronawave" playlist

Here's another very topical playlist: Coronawave. The trippy beats are perfect for zoning out and not thinking about the long-term consequences of this pandemic on all of humanity! The music is frantic, which is exactly how it feels to exist in this timeline.

8. Chillbending, inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender

This playlist will make you want to rewatch Avatar: The Last Airbender all over again. And you're in luck — the series is coming to Netflix on May 15. What better way to prepare than to chill out to some themed beats?

9. An Animal Crossing: New Horizons -themed playlist

There's no doubt that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the game of quarantine; its release coincided with record-breaking sales for the Nintendo Switch. Chill out with some island vibes, inspired by the pioneering (and money hungry) Tom Nook himself.

Quarantining isn't easy, especially when you're barraged with tragic news every minute of every day. Don't forget to take time to yourself and relax — these playlists will help with that.