Women's Health May 30, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock Your Ultimate Workout Power: The Surprising Way Your Favorite Songs Can Boost Every Rep—Plus 50 Must-Have Tracks!

Ever find yourself wondering if your workout could reach that next level without pushing through the usual mental wall? Well, turns out, your playlist might just be the secret weapon you’ve been overlooking. I’ve always been the type who can’t stand silence when I’m sweating it out—whether it’s crushing strength training sessions, pounding out miles on a long run, or taking those purposeful treadmill walks. So, naturally, I love putting together the perfect mix of tunes to keep my energy sky-high. But here’s the kicker—a fresh study in Psychology of Sports and Science shows that blasting your own handpicked tracks can actually make you cycle longer and harder, ramp up your heart rate, and torch more energy. Who knew your favorite jams were doing more than just serenading your sweat? If you’re hunting for that extra bit of motivation to smash your personal best, I’ve got you covered with a killer list of 50 tracks curated by WH editors and fitness pros. Let’s turn up the volume and get after it! LEARN MORE

4 min read

When it comes to workouts, I’ve never been someone who can exercise in silence. In fact, I really enjoy curating the perfect playlists for strength training sessions, long runs, and treadmill walks. And it’s not only fun to work out to your favorite music—according to new research, your favorite tunes can actually make you exercise harder.

A new study in Psychology of Sports and Science looked at the effect of exercising with self-selected music, compared to silence, on exercise tolerance and physiological responses during endurance cycling. Twenty-nine recreationally active adults completed two cycling sessions (one with music, one in silence) at 80 percent of their peak power output. When the participants exercised to music, they cycled for 20 percent longer, demonstrated a greater cardiovascular load, and had a higher total energy expenditure rate.

The proof is in the (scientific) pudding. When you need an extra push to hit a PR, here are 50 songs to add to your workout playlist, according toWH editors and fitness experts.

50 Best Songs to Add to Your Gym Playlist

1. “Bad,” Michael Jackson –Katie Mogg, editorial assistant

2. “The Edge of Glory,” Lady Gaga –Abigail Cuffey, executive editor

3. “Move That Body,” Sllash and Doppe –Gabrielle Savary, CPT, a professional bodybuilder, head coach at Grow With Gab Fitness, and member of the WH Strength in Diversity initiative

4. “Ur Alive,” Illenium and Wylde –Addison Aloian, CPT, associate health & fitness editor

5. “What You Saying,” Lil Uzi Vert –Amanda Lucci, CPT, special projects director

6. “Where You Are,” John Summit –Winnie Yu, DPT, CSCS, a sports and orthopedic physical therapist at Bespoke Treatments in New York City

7. “Wide Open Spaces,” The Chicks –Lindsay Geller, lifestyle director (“Trust me, it hits on an outdoor run,” she says.)

8. “Después de la Playa,” Bad Bunny –Alyssa Cruz, social media editor

9. “Sticky,” Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne –Cori Ritchey, CSCS, fitness editor

10. “Bluest Flame,” Selena Gomez –Olivia Luppino, associate editor

11. “All That She Wants (Bali Bandits Remix),” Ace of Base –Rachelle A. Reed, PhD, ACSM-EP, an exercise physiologist in Athens, Georgia

12. “Roses,” The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes –Janie Booth, associate producer

13. “Desperado,” Rihanna – Kristine Thomason, interim fitness director

14. “…Ready For It?,” Taylor Swift –Aloian

15. “Next Level Charli,” Charli xcx –Carina Hsieh, deputy features editor

16. “She Did It Again,” Tyla feat. Zara Larsson –Jordan Farrell, CPT, an exercise physiologist, certified personal trainer, and member of the WH Strength In Diversity initiative based in North Carolina

17. “Can’t Tell It All (Remix),” Hulvey, KB, and Lecrae –Ritchey

18. “All There,” Jeezy feat. Bankroll Fresh –Tyneka Pack, CPT, a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, strength and flexibility coach, the founder and CEO of Impackt Fitness, and a member of the WH Strength In Diversity initiative

19. “Tougher Than the Rest,” Bruce Springsteen –Cuffey

20. “Bass Glide,” Ayybo –Rianna Cafaro, social video producer

21. “Freakum Dress,” Beyoncé –Taryn Colbert, digital designer

22. “Yukon,” Justin Bieber –Yu

23. “Gud Vibrations,” Nghtmre and Slander –Ari Cobb, CPT, a trainer, MMA athlete, and member of the WH Strength in Diversity initiative in Houston, Texas

24. “4ever,” The Veronicas –Luppino

25. “The Chain,” Fleetwood Mac –Amy Wilkinson, contributing entertainment editor

26. “Bring In The Katz,” Kw Griff and Porkchop –Pack

27. “Talk talk,” Charli xcx and Troye Sivan –Leanne Mattern, design associate

28. “Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix),” Beyonce –Almoni Ellis, CPT, a NASM-certified personal trainer, founder of MoFit coaching programs, and member of the WH Strength in Diversity Initiative in Virginia

29. “With You,” Gordo and Adriatique –Nicole Saunders, beauty editor

30. “Kamili,” Francis Mercier, Nitefreak, and Idd Aziz –Savary

31. “Nissan Altima,” Doechii –Nellie Barnett, CPT, the founder of Nellbells Fitness, a member of the WH Strength in Diversity initiative, and the author of The Woman’s Guide to Strength Training: Dumbbells

32. “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” Taylor Swift –Luppino

33. “Fame is a Gun,” Addison Rae –Lucci

34. “No Hands,” Waka Flocka Flame feat. Roscoe Dash & Wale –Ritchey

35. “1901,” Phoenix –Thomason

36. “Wake Me Up (EDX Miami Sunset Remix),” Avicii –Reed

37. “Blame Brett,” Beaches –Thomason

38. “Edge of Seventeen,” Wuki –Jadi Boyle, CPT, a trainer and member of the WH Strength in Diversity initiative in Philadelphia

39. “$100 Bill,” Big Freedia feat. Ciara –Farrell

40. “2 Hard 4 The Radio,” Drake –Aloian

41. “Back To Life,” DubVision and Afrojack –Taylor Beebe, CPT, an RKC-certified personal trainer and member of the WH Strength In Diversity initiative in California

42. “Ruff Ryders Anthem,” DMX –Pack

43. “Sweet Disposition (John Summit & Silver Panda Femix),” The Temper Trap –Tatiana Lampa, CPT, a corrective exercise specialist in South Florida and New York City

44. “Patadas de Ahogado,” Hugel –Yu

45. “The Fame,” Lady Gaga –Cobb

46. “Sir Duke,” Stevie Wonder –Ellis

47. “Work REMIX,” A$AP Ferg feat. A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Trinidad James & Schoolboy Q –Shannen Zitz, associate style and commerce editor

48. “Bounce,” Ding Dong and Dunw3ll –Barnett

49. “It Feels So Good (Jamy Nox Remix),” Matt Sassari and Hugel feat. Sonique –Boyle

50. “Stay High,” Diplo and Hugel feat. Julia Church –Lampa

Listen to Our Playlist on Spotify:

Addison Aloian is the associate health & fitness editor at Women’s Health, where she writes and edits across the health, weight loss, and fitness verticals. She’s also a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). In her free time, you can find her lifting weights at the gym, running on the West Side Highway in New York City—she recently completed her first marathon, the 2025 New York City Marathon—and watching (and critiquing!) the latest movies that have garnered Oscars buzz. In addition to Women’s Health, she’s made an appearance on the Oprah Podcast and her work has also appeared in Allure, StyleCaster, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, VMAN, and more.