Youre bundling up for a chilly morning run. Or about to climb on the elliptical for a high-energy workout. Or warming up before a weightlifting session.

Whats the first thing you reach for? Your earbuds, naturally.

Studies have shown that listening to music that fits the cadence of what youre doing running, cycling, aerobics makes you work harder.

The metronome aspect, the synchronization of movement to music, is the most important, says Carl Foster, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse.

The idea of synchronizing movement to a beat is nothing new, he points out: In Roman galleys, the drumbeat drove the pace of the rowers.

But there is also the distraction and arousal that music brings, Foster says. They both matter, but its unclear how much. Theres definitely more buried in music that affects us. But we dont know exactly how to tease it out.

Gauging the beats

So, how to pick the right music?

If you want to make a workout mix based on tempo or bpm, for beats per minute various websites, including http://www.songbpm.com, can help you determine the tempo of your favorite music to see whether it fits your intended activity. Or you can go to sites such as http://www.motiontraxx.com that offer playlists at a certain bpm for running and cycling as well as other activities. Other sites include http://www.workoutmusic.com and http://www.powermusic.com.

Music is positive energy, says Deekron the Fitness DJ Krikorian, who produces fitness playlists for MotionTraxx. So when I put together playlists, I look for intensity, positive feeling and cohesiveness.

Read more:
Set the tempo for ideal workout playlist