Happy Friday! Did you know that listening to music during your workout or any extended, physically demanding activity can reduce fatigue and improve performance?
I’m a music lover and listen to it all day, every day, pretty much anytime possible! I listen to the news while getting ready in the morning then when I’m working from home I have Pandora or iHeart Radio and if I’m in the car traveling to and from appointments I’ve got my iPhone music playing. Oh and of course when I’m working out at home or doing a walking workout, then I must have music to listen to. Seriously, when I’m doing my walking workouts and listening to music with my Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones, it’s so hard not to look like some weirdo singing and dancing while I’m walking LOL 
There was new research published in Psychophysiology that shows that as individuals work out, their attention gradually shifts from the activity around them to internal sensations. Over an extended period of time, this attention shift creates a sense of exertion. Listening to music while exercising can help shift focus away from the internal fatigue and back to the external world.
Researchers from the UK’s Brunel University and University of London tested 19 healthy adults that performed two physical exertion tests while listening to either music or silence. The scientists monitored brain activity using EEG and measured task performance. While listening to music, participants showed both reduced fatigue and decreased stress-related brainwaves. They also performed their tasks more effectively then they did when music wasn’t being played.
So, do you listen to music while working out or doing other tasks such as working on the computer or cleaning? What’s your favorite music app or genre to listen to?
If I’m doing a strength training workout I love to listen to some hard core hip hop or rock n roll, but if I’m doing cardio I love pop remixes or sometimes even a fun 80’s cardio playlist. My range of music that I love to listen to runs the gamet from oldies but goodies to Paula Abdul and Madonna to Mariah Carey & Mary J. Blige to Notorious BIG and Eminem to Three Dog Night, CCR & ACDC 🙂 lol So pretty much everything except country & classical!
Stay Healthy my Friends! (and jammin!)
XO,
Carrie A Groff
– Healthy, Fit & Barefoot!
PS. For more healthy habits like this one, subscribe to my 52 Healthy Habits and get access to our Facebook group where we share and discuss our healthy habits that we are working on or would like to work on.
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