The best mood-boosting music to add to your workout playlist
Create your ultimate playlist for bigger and better workouts
If there’s one thing that gets us in the zone during a workout, it’s a good playlist. Almost as essential as the right shoes, kit or location, the right music can set the tone (excuse the pun) for a workout, and provide all the inspiration and motivation we need to get going.
Here’s how to craft your own perfect workout playlist.
Music to your ears
We all have that certain song or piece of music that can transform our energy levels from sluggish to raring-to-go. So imagine the power of creating an entire playlist of similar tunes, and the effect it could have on your fitness routine.
There’s science behind the magic of music for improving our workouts, too. Research has found that not only can the right tunes enhance the psychological benefits of exercise, but they can also help to distract us from the exertion of the exercise itself, and increase our performance and endurance. So if you want to really enjoy your workout while pushing yourself that tiny bit harder, music could just be the answer.
All about that BPM
Of course, you might not want to listen to the same type of music for every workout. Your running playlist might be full of high-tempo and upbeat songs to keep you motivated, while you might want a playlist with slower and gentler songs for low-intensity workouts such as yoga or Pilates. So to maximise the benefits of listening to music while exercising, be sure to match your music to your mood.
Consider the beats per minute (bpm) of each song. Generally speaking, those with more beats per minute are higher tempo, meaning they might suit your higher-intensity workout playlists, while music with fewer beats per minute could be better for your lower-intensity workout playlists.
As a general guide, a low-intensity workout such as yoga or Pilates combines well with music that has a bpm of 60-90. High-intensity exercise such as indoor biking or HIIT, meanwhile, usually calls for something with a bpm of 140-180. For running, opt for music with a bpm of 120 to 140; and for weightlifting, try 130 to 150 bpm.
Want to figure out the bpm of a particular song? Pop the song name and artist into this website and it will calculate it for you. Now there’s no excuse for not getting on with that workout! Read our article on the Best headphones for working out.
