There’s no perfect playlist to help boost motivation. It’s all personalized and depends on your preference and the type of workout you’re doing. If you’re pushing hard to conquer an intense workout, your choice of music will be different than a playlist to calm your mind when you do yoga or meditation. If you love old-school rock or gangster rap, there are plenty of songs ready to push you through to the finish. Studies show that music can get you pumped, so get your best playlist put together, put on your gym clothes, and go to the gym or for a run.
It’s more than the music, it’s the words.
You can become the Rocky within you when you workout to The Eye of the Tiger or push through that intense HIIT workout when listening to Can’t Be Touched. Classics like What a Feeling from Flashdance or I Will Survive can get you through a run. The pace of the song and the emotional impact of the lyrics make a difference. It helps if you know the words and can sing along. It takes your mind off minor aches and pains. It even improves power when listening to a soundtrack when exercising, but you won’t notice the difference.
Several studies show the benefits of using a playlist when working out.
Music can be a tool that gets you more involved. One study followed people doing HIIT—high intensity interval training—workouts and doing the same workouts without music. When they listed, they felt less exhausted by 7%. The same study was used with people doing endurance exercises. They experienced the same thing, but the rate of exhaustion they felt was reduced by 11%.
There are thousands of songs from which to choose.
One study followed all the potential songs you could use at the gym. They found the 50 that most people added to their gym workout list. All are intense, with a fast, strong beat and a message that confirms success. You can pick from the many playlists already prepared or choose your own. It’s more effective when you make your own. Choose a song with a tempo to match your workout, one that moves you emotionally, and one you like.
- You don’t want the same playlist for every type of workout. If you’re doing flexibility exercises, don’t choose one with a fast beat that’s intense. Instead, choose one with less staccato that’s flowing and smooth.
- Check your feelings when you listen to the song. Is the song emotionally powerful? Do you feel uplifted? If you’re doing strength training, you can even use a song that exudes Hulk-like and angry emotions.
- Before you add a song to your playlist, look up the words if you don’t know them and just like the best. Ensure those words have the emotional impact you want to succeed at the gym.
- Create several playlists and use a different one for flexibility training than you would for lifting. If you’re creating one for running, use upbeat tunes that match your pace.
For more information, contact us today at Next Level Fitness