The Most Popular Music Genre For Working Out Might Surprise You
Whether you're a runner training for your next half marathon, a bodybuilder bulking up for your next show, or simply a dog owner who enjoys morning walks as much as your furry BFF, getting your daily dose of exercise is part of a healthy, balanced life. But let's be honest... Working out can get really boring. Sometimes, it's hard to find the time or the motivation to exercise.
One way that people beat their workout blues is by listening to their favorite playlists. According to Healthline, listening to music while working out can "boost your mood" and "make a hard workout more enjoyable." If you find yourself at the gym, notice all the people with headphones in while they use the machines; check out the pumped-up playlists spin instructors play during classes.
With all the genres to choose from, which music do people prefer to get them amped for their workouts? The List conducted a survey asking 558 people, "Which music genre is the best for a workout?" The results will have you ready to queue up some throwback jams and head out on a run.
Exercising is more fun when you listen to these top-voted music genres
According to The List's survey, people's go-to genre of music while working out is rock! Surprisingly, the classic genre full of guitar riffs and heavy beats earned almost 30% of the overall vote. When it comes time to exercise, rock music amps people up and leaves them feeling energized after an intense workout. Bob Seger said it best in his 1979 rock classic: "Today's music ain't got the same soul, I like that old time rock 'n' roll."
In second place with 23.30% of the vote was hip-hop, a popular genre that "attained widespread popularity in the 1980s and '90s," per Britannica. Artists and rappers like Drake, Jay-Z, and Cardi B all proudly wear the title of hip-hop icons. 19.71% of people prefer to listen to pop music while working out, while 11.47% enjoy the soothing sounds of classical music to energize their exercise. Techno (10.57%) and R&B (5.38%) followed behind, receiving a little less love when it comes to people's favorite workout playlists.
Listening to music can improve your work out
Listening to music encourages most people to exercise — According to People, 65% of people wouldn't work out if they couldn't listen to their playlist. No matter what genre you prefer, researchers have found that exercising while listening to music has some serious psychological benefits. According to VeryWellMind, "Music can relax the mind, energize the body, and even help people better manage pain." Studies show that adults who listen to music while performing tasks have an easier time focusing and have less stress at the end of the day.
Scientific American reported on the physical benefits of listening to music while working out and found that people tend to workout harder and longer when they listen to music. Increased motivation isn't necessarily linked to any particular genre of music; the most important factor is how the listener connects with the lyrics or the song's message, and the catchy rhythm is usually just a bonus (Via Best Health).
So next time you're dragging your feet about your morning workout routine, pop in your headphones and play your favorite song; you'll be surprised how fast you run afterwards.