How to Create the Ultimate Treadmill Playlist: Top Songs, Tips, and Inspiration

Introduction

Working out on a treadmill can be a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, burn calories, and boost your mood. However, it can also be a monotonous and tedious experience if you don’t have the right music to accompany it. Listening to the right songs can help you stay focused, motivated, and energized while you run, walk, or jog on the treadmill. In this article, we’ll share with you our top tips, songs, and guidance on how to make the ultimate treadmill playlist that suits your workout goals, mood, and musical taste. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced runner, our advice will help you optimize your treadmill workouts and have fun in the process.

Top 10 Upbeat Songs to Get You Moving on the Treadmill

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your treadmill playlist, here are the top 10 upbeat songs that we recommend:

• “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake – Pop, 113 BPM
• “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – Funk, 115 BPM
• “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd – Pop, 171 BPM
• “Lose You To Love Me” by Selena Gomez – Pop, 104 BPM
• “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande – Pop, 140 BPM
• “We Found Love” by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – Dance, 131 BPM
• “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Rock, 109 BPM
• “Jai Ho” by A.R. Rahman ft. The Pussycat Dolls – Bollywood, 137 BPM
• “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon – Pop rock, 128 BPM
• “High Hopes” by Panic! At the Disco – Pop rock, 82 BPM

These songs have different tempos, genres, and styles, but they all share the characteristics of being upbeat, catchy, and motivational. You can use them as a starting point for your playlist or mix them with other songs that you like. Experiment with the order and pacing of the songs to create a flow that matches your workout intensity and duration. You can also share your playlist with others and get feedback on what works and what doesn’t.

How to Build a Playlist That Suits Your Workout Goals

Your treadmill playlist should reflect your personal fitness goals, mood, and preferences. Here are some tips to help you build a playlist that suits your specific workout aims:

• Choose songs that match your workout intensity. If you’re doing a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout, you may want to choose songs with a fast tempo (130-140 BPM) that energize you and help you keep up with the pace. If you’re doing a steady-state workout, you may prefer songs with a moderate tempo (100-120 BPM) that allow you to maintain a consistent rhythm. If you’re doing a cool-down workout, you may prefer slower, relaxing songs that help you unwind.
• Select songs that match your mood and motivation level. If you’re feeling down or tired, you may want to choose songs with uplifting lyrics and melodies that boost your mood and self-esteem. If you’re feeling confident and powerful, you may prefer songs with empowering messages and beats that make you want to push harder and achieve more.
• Choose songs that match your musical taste. Don’t feel pressured to choose songs that other people like or that are trendy. Your playlist should reflect your unique taste and personality. If you love hip-hop, rock, or country music, find songs in those genres that fit your workout style and mood. If you prefer instrumental or classical music, there are plenty of options out there that can help you focus and achieve your fitness goals.
• Create a balanced, varied playlist that keeps you engaged and entertained. Don’t rely on a few songs that you always listen to during your workouts. Try to add new songs and artists that challenge your musical experience and help you discover new genres and styles. You can also use playlists that are curated by music experts or fitness influencers to get fresh ideas and inspiration. Finally, don’t forget to mix up your playlist with different types of songs, such as warm-up, cool-down, and recovery songs, to create a dynamic and enjoyable workout session.

5 Classic Old-School Tracks for a Fun Treadmill Workout

If you’re a fan of old-school music and want to add some nostalgia to your treadmill workout, here are 5 classic tracks that never get old:

• “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor – Disco, 117 BPM
• “Like a Prayer” by Madonna – Pop, 111 BPM
• “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson – Pop, 117 BPM
• “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Rock, 109 BPM
• “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen – Rock, 89 BPM

These songs may have been released decades ago, but they still have a universal appeal and energy that can make your treadmill workout more fun and exciting. Don’t be afraid to add them to your playlist and see how they affect your mood and motivation. You can also mix them with newer songs that have a similar vibe and style.

How to Use Spotify to Create the Perfect Treadmill Playlist

If you’re new to creating playlists or want to explore different genres and styles of music, Spotify or other music streaming platforms can be a great resource. Here’s how to use Spotify to create the perfect treadmill playlist:

• Search for songs and artists that match your musical taste and workout goals. You can use the search bar to find specific songs or artists, or you can browse through playlists that are curated by Spotify based on genre, mood, or tempo. You can also use features such as “Discover Weekly” or “Daily Mix” to get personalized recommendations based on your listening history and preferences.
• Create a new playlist and give it a name that reflects your workout style and mood. You can add a description and a cover image to make it more personalized and attractive.
• Add songs to your playlist by clicking the “+” icon next to each song or dragging them to your playlist. You can also reorder them by dragging them up or down.
• Customize your playlist settings by using features such as shuffle, repeat, and crossfade. Shuffle allows you to play the songs in random order, repeat allows you to loop the playlist indefinitely, and crossfade allows you to blend the songs smoothly together to create a continuous flow.

Spotify also allows you to share your playlist with others and collaborate with friends or family members to create a collective playlist. You can also follow other people’s playlists and get inspired by their selection and creativity.

The Best Instrumental Tunes For Your Treadmill Workout

If you’re looking for instrumental songs that can help you focus, relax, or get in the zone during your treadmill workout, here are some of our top picks:

• “Omniverse” by Amaranthe – Instrumental rock, 140 BPM
• “Persona” by Goran Kajfes & Subtropic Arkestra – Jazz fusion, 116 BPM
• “She Brings The Rain” by CAN – Experimental rock, 124 BPM
• “Cosmic” by Dylan Locke – Electronic, 128 BPM
• “Flight” by Hans Zimmer – Soundtrack, 105 BPM

These songs may not have lyrics or vocals, but they still have a powerful impact on your mood, physiology, and focus. Instrumental music can help you regulate your breathing, reduce your stress levels, and increase your endurance during your treadmill workout. Try experimenting with different styles and genres of instrumental music to find what works best for you.

The Power of a Motivational Playlist on the Treadmill

Music has been shown to have a significant impact on our athletic performance, pain tolerance, and motivation. Here are some of the ways in which music can influence our treadmill workout:

• Music can enhance our mood and emotional state. Listening to music that we love can trigger the release of dopamine and other feel-good hormones that improve our mood and boost our motivation.
• Music can distract us from pain and fatigue. Listening to music can reduce our perception of effort and distract us from negative thoughts and feelings, allowing us to exercise longer and more intensely.
• Music can help us synchronize our movements. Listening to music with a consistent beat can help us coordinate our movements and maintain a steady pace, reducing the risk of injury and improving our efficiency.
• Music can boost our confidence and self-efficacy. Listening to music with empowering lyrics or messages can increase our self-esteem and belief in our ability to succeed, which can translate into better performance and higher satisfaction.

By creating a motivational playlist that suits your tastes, preferences, and fitness goals, you can harness the power of music to optimize your treadmill workout and achieve your targets.

The Perfect 30-Minute Treadmill Playlist

Here’s an example of a 30-minute treadmill playlist that includes a warm-up, a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout, and a cool-down:

• “The Middle” by Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey – Warm-up, 107 BPM
• “Bodak Yellow” by Cardi B – HIIT, 125 BPM
• “22” by Taylor Swift – HIIT, 96 BPM
• “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses – HIIT, 127 BPM
• “Africa” by Toto – HIIT, 93 BPM
• “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Recovery, 109 BPM
• “Happy” by Pharrell Williams – Cool-down, 160 BPM

This playlist starts with a warm-up song that has a moderate tempo and a catchy melody to get you in the mood for the workout. The four HIIT songs are arranged in ascending order of tempo, starting with a medium-paced rap song, then a slightly slower pop song, followed by a faster rock song, and ending with a slower pop song again. These songs are ideal for alternating between high-intensity and recovery phases, allowing you to challenge yourself and recover in a balanced way.