A recent study published in Psychology of Sport & Exercise found that listening to music during high-intensity workouts may help you exercise longer. Researchers discovered that participants who listened to self-selected music cycled more than five minutes longer on average than those who exercised without music.
How Music Helps Keep You Going
The study involved 29 healthy adults who completed cycling trials to exhaustion, both with and without music. Those in the music group created playlists with songs between 120 and 140 beats per minute. The results showed that music did not change physical limits but helped participants tolerate discomfort longer by shifting attention away from fatigue.
Practical Tips for a Better Workout
To make exercise feel easier mentally, create a motivating playlist of your favorite energizing songs, exercise with a friend, attend group fitness classes, or watch a TV show while walking on the treadmill. These strategies may help you stick with your workout longer.