Turns out, earphones are the key to a better workout

They're more valuable than we thought.

Have you ever geared yourself up to go for a run or to the gym, got your gym pants on, found your sports bra, all ready to go, only to realise you can't find your earphones, so you don't bother going? While some might see that at a convenient excuse, it seems music really does make a difference. Listening to the right kind of music is essential for working out. And while it may seem obvious that they can help, studies have found that it can seriously enhance your performance. According to SMH, music can increase performance levels by up to 15 per cent, and if you are one of those people who aren't hugely active, 15 per cent can make a big difference. Another study looked at the effect music had on 400m sprint performance. In which they got dozens of active men to run with and without music and compare the difference.

"This finding supported the first research hypothesis, that synchronous music would result in better performance than a no-music control" the study said. "It appears that synchronous music can be applied to anaerobic endurance performance among non-elite sports persons with a considerable positive effect."

So if you needed an excuse to invest in good earphones, this is it.