Music and physical activity have been a dynamic duo since the dawn of walkmans.
Why? Because working out to a beat can turn a torture session into an almost – I say, almost – enjoyable moment.
So much so that some people even use a playlist to do their cleaning!
Why Use a Playlist?
A good playlist boosts your motivation and endurance. Studies show that good beats can increase your efficiency…
A meta-analysis conducted in 2020, covering 139 studies, quantified the effects of listening to music in the field of exercise and sports, involving 3,599 participants.
The results showed that music is associated with significant beneficial effects:
- Affective valence becomes more positive,
- Physical performance is improved
- The feeling of effort is reduced
- Oxygen consumption is more efficient.
All this improves physiological efficiency: see the study (it's in English: use a translation plugin on your browser for a simultaneous translation).
No wonder that sports coaches and gyms always play music during their sessions.
Silence Is Not Golden
Without music associated with the physical activity you practice, every groan from your neighbor on the mat, every tick-tock of the clock, or every ray of sunshine through your window screams that you could be elsewhere...
And this is true for any discipline: fitness, sports, yoga, hiking, running... and even cleaning as we mentioned.
Since it has become very easy to move to music from the first cassette walkmans to today's smartphones, you would be wrong to deprive yourself of these advantages.
Three Ideas for Your Playlist
- The "I Can Conquer the World" Playlist: For those days when you want to feel invincible.
- Zen Music: Ideal for yoga or stretching.
- Back in Time: A cardio session with hits from the 80s and 90s and their highly stimulating rhythms.
Ending on a High Note
Choosing the right playlist is an art.
The art of finding the tracks that make you feel alive...
So our first advice is to listen to yourself, and identify those tracks that make you want to give your all for the moments when you need to be active, or that make you feel more serene for more introspective moments.
