Music Makes Life Better... and Working Out

So I just read that the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology has reported that music enhances endurance by 15%, which wasn't originally the reason for me wanting to write this blog but hey, sounds good :).

Seriously though, I love music. I love it on my way to work in the morning, while I'm working at my desk for 8 hours, on my way home from work, in the evening, and especially when I'm working out.

Do you also have lots of specific playlists or artists you listen to when you're in different moods? For me, when I'm pissed off at work, I'll listen to Korn or Nine Inch Nails, or something like that... when I'm getting all psyched to go out, I'll listen to some Hip-Hop or Techno to get me pumped... when I'm sad I'll listen to some Death Cab for Cutie or something super mellow, I have others too... too much to get into.

For working out, I have this random mix of a bunch of stuff from up beat late 80s/early 90s (ah the good 'ole days), to Techno, to Hip-Hop, to Alternative, to Punk, yeah.... very random. I've found that whether I'm at the gym or working out outside alone, listening to music makes it go by soooo much faster. I pretty much won't workout anymore unless I have my iPod or a friend running with me to bitch about guys with. I love my iPod more than anything and can't really imagine holding my old portable Sony CD player in my hand while running :). Oh, so 1 thing not to do is to get a piercing on your tragus and try to shove an iPod headphone in there the day after... very disturbing.

What does everyone's motivational workout playlist consist of???