Pay attention to your playlist to get the most out of your workout

Most runners listen to music during their workout. You know why? Because music acts as a push to carry out daily training and improves performance. You just need to choose the right melody to reach your goal.

What kind of music should be on your playlist?

To create a playlist to help you in training, follow these recommendations:

• Choose the songs that you really like, not the ones that are fashionable or the ones that are on your spinning teacher´s playlist. They may be good for her in her class, but not for you. So, choose the ones that give you energy, motivate you and help you in your training. 
• When choosing songs for your playlist, think about the lyrics, especially the ones that make you feel good. Several studies have shown that songs with upbeat music and uplifting lyrics increase the power of exercise and make it more enjoyable.
• Train and move following the rhythm of the music. Recent research has shown that people who followed this recommendation improved their performance while running, compared to when they trained without music. Remember that you must adapt the songs to your rhythm and raise and lower the tempo according to your needs.
• Get inspired by existing lists. If you run out of ideas, you can use several apps that have their own lists and that will help you create your own.
• To avoid falling into a routine, change your playlist every two weeks. Little by little you will realize the songs that help you the most in your workouts, which ones you need for the final push and which ones to relax.

How does music help you exercise?

According to a study published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise, listening to motivating music during speed interval training has performance benefits and increases well-being. In addition, it helps keeping the exercise routine for longer and lead a healthier life. 
Keep in mind that your maximum exercise power and heart rate are higher when listening to motivational music compared to listening to a podcast or just exercising without music.

Likewise, your mood and mental state are key to guarantee continuity in your training. In this sense, music can help you improve your psychological well-being. Of course, you must be careful with the volume at which you listen to your playlist. To find out the right volume, we give you some advice: listen to the music in such a way that you can have a conversation without shouting with the person next to you.