We all know that if you walk into any gym, the music probably isn’t going to be something that feels right for you to crush a hard
workout. This might not stop you from having a good workout, but would listening to your preferred music have a significant effect on your training session?
Picking the right tunes that get you amped up seems to improve fitness performance and motivation to train by a significant amount compared to just having music playing. A couple studies looked at participants doing bench press. Participants had the opportunity to choose the music they listened to during a session and the next session they did not. To no surprise, the workout in which the participants picked the music was had better results than the one with no music.
Picking music you like and getting yourself amped up can have a downside, however. If you are doing something that is technique heavy, the intense mental arousal can hinder finer motor skills. If you’re new to lifting, it might be a good idea to stick with calmer tunes until you get the technique down. But once you have solid form, feel free to go all out.
If you’re going for that all time personal best, you might want to slap on some headphones and pick the perfect PR song.