A new survey of 2,000 Americans who exercise regularly commissioned by RockMyRun (that’s us!) had some interesting findings around the correlation of music and fitness & motivation. Let’s dig in!
How Does Music Affect Motivation?
Have you ever forgotten your headphones while going on a run or to work out at the gym? How do you feel on those days? Chances are you feel sluggish, slow, and unmotivated. You’re not alone!
In this study, it was found that music has a direct affect on motivation while exercising. In fact, 65% of respondents need music during their workout, or they would have no motivation:
f you don’t listen to music regularly when you work out, why not give it a try! Who couldn’t use extra motivation?
Why do people listen to music while they work out?
In addition to motivation, there are other reasons people listen to music while they work out. Here are the top reasons:
While motivation is a huge factor in working out, 32% of people primarily listen to music while they work out to boost their mood! An additional 31% of people do so to help them focus, and 19% use it as a distraction from their current workout and physical exertion.
How do people feel when they listen to music while working out?
We asked respondents for feelings associated with listening to music while working out. These include feeling empowered, strong, and determined among others. Who doesn’t want to feel that way during a workout?
Workout Playlists
Now that we’ve identified the importance of listening to music during a workout, let’s talk about how people put together their workout playlists!
If you like to get to the gym and start working out right away rather than spending hours on making your own playlist, you’re in good company. Out of the people that were surveyed, 39% of people prefer to listen to a premade playlist, while only 7% of people select their own songs while they work out.
If you’re looking for premade playlists so you can maximize your time exercising, check out RockMyRun for the ultimate workout playlists!
The Best Workout Songs
In this survey, we also asked users for their ultimate workout songs, and came up with this awesome top 5 list:
You may be pumped and feeling ready to run just by reading that list!
Let’s talk about how music affects performance next:
The Effect of Music on Performance
So we’ve determined that music is important for motivation and mood, but does it actually affect your physical performance?
An astounding 68% of people reported an increase in performance if they listen to music while they work out. But there’s an important caveat: If the music contains ads or any type of breaks, 69% report that it will kill their momentum.
If you’re currently working out to a music platform that contains ads, you’re doing yourself a disservice and actually decreasing your performance. With RockMyRun you can listen to music non-stop and without having to worry about ads – the only limit to how far you go is how far you want to go! (Try Free for 14 Days)
Best Workout Music App
Now that you know the benefits of listening to music while working out, it’s time to find the right music app. One that will motivate you, with ready-made playlists, and has no ads.
RockMyRun is a music app made specifically for running and exercise. The music is curated by professional DJs for a seamless workout experience with no ads or breaks between songs. The music adapts to your body in real-time through your heart rate or steps, which is scientifically proven to motivate you even more.
Ready for the ultimate workout music experience? Try RockMyRun free for 14 days.
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