Listening to good music is one of those age-old tricks that really works. In fact it goes all the way back to the early rowers and slaves onboard ancient ships. In those days drummers would beat a rhythm to not only inspire the crew but to establish a pace.
Today studies have shown that “synchronization” with the music (the process of feeling in time) helps you push past mental barriers and endure fatigue.
Collated studies by the University of Wisconsin demonstrated that selecting suitable music lowered perceived exertion in participants during intense cycling, running or other cardio by significant amounts.
This is especially true if you have a habit of constantly glancing at the timer during your cardio or circuit training workouts. Of course, this only serves to make each session seem longer. By creating a playlist that is the same length as your workout, you can remove the clock watching and focus more on your task. In fact, once you stop thinking about how much time you have left, it will seem to fly right by.
This is especially true if you choose songs, which you seriously enjoy. You might even find yourself working out longer just to hear your favorite tune one more time. The intensity of your efforts might also increase as your mind is distracted away from the challenge of each movement.
Do not let your playlist get stale, regularly create new lists or swap with a friend to mix things up. Be sure to seek out a variety of tempos to reduce the boredom inducing predictability that workouts are prone to create. Arrange your songs so that they build up to the quickest tempos and gradually slow for your cool-down session. End your playlist with a soothing song to relax your body and mind. This will also help end your session on a positive note, making you more likely to look forward to your next workout.
In addition to its motivational benefits, new research suggests that listening to music while exercising might boost your mental acuity. If you do not have time to organize, your own playlists there are many great workout sets available. Use your favorite search engine to locate them. Alternatively, you could always just tune your radio to your favorite station.
Listening to music while you exercise is great, but it is still important to put safety first. If you listen to music while you run outside then be sure to keep the volume low enough that you can still hear traffic and any other potential dangers as they approach. A lower volume will also protect your ears from irreversible damage.
Top Tip:
Listening to depressing slow songs is shown to be far less stimulating for activity than up-tempo music, no matter how good the song.
Try to stick to 120-140 BPM (Beats per minute) tunes. Around this tempo you will find a regular upbeat rhythm proven to be more effective and if you are lucky you may find a beat that perfectly matches your exercise or running pattern.
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