Warning: Dorky technology post ahead!

One of my favorite things to do while getting in a good gym workout, is to listen to some really great, motivating music.

I'm what I would call an iTunes "power user" - my library (all 6834 songs) is organized to the max. And I love smart playlists. Below is my favorite smart playlist of all time - and I use it every time I workout.

Here are my instructions to compile your own "Work It" playlist:

1. Compile a large list of songs you like to listen to when you workout out. You could combine all of your other workout mixes into one big regular playlist. Label this something like "starter." This will be one of your "utility playlists" (you won't actually listen to this). Once you have all those songs in there - select them all, and in their info, type "workout" in the comments section. You have just labeled all these songs.
2. Go through your playlist and pick all the songs you really like to listen to when you workout - you know the ones. In their comment section, put a comma behind the word "workout" and type something to the effect of "power song" (I don't have a Nano). Now make a smart playlist with the rule: Comment contains power song with the live updating box checked.
3. Make another smart playlist matching ALL rules: Comment contains workout, Last skipped is not in the last 3 days (you can change the day amount depending on how often you workout - its just so you don't have the ones you just skipped the day before annoying you again) and check the box that says limit to 25 items (you can change this based on how many power songs you have in relative - I have 20 - and I like the ratio of changing songs to be a little more than half) selected by least recently played and select live updating. You can delete the other playlist you labeled "starter." You should label your new playlist "workout songs." This is another utility playlist. So, now you should have 2 smart playlists - one with all your workout songs and one with just your power songs.
4. Make the final smart playlist titled "Work It" with some symbol (like ♫) at the front so it will be at the top of all your playlists. It should match ALL rules: Playlist is workout songs and Playlist is power songs with live updating. Some songs should change while your favorite ones will always be on there. You should randomize it so it changes around. There you go!

Sometimes I go through and take away power songs by taking the label out of the comment, but I leave the comment "workout" so I can still hear it sometimes. I add power songs too when I find something I really like. Sometimes I go through all the workout songs and I sort them by their "Skip Count" (you will have to make the "starter" playlist again because ones you have skipped - in the past 3 days - won't show up in the "workout songs" playlist) and find ones that shouldn't be on there (cause I skip them a lot) and so I remove the workout comment altogether.

I know everyone isn't as much of an iTunes dork as me - so just let me know if you are confused! :)

Happy Friday!!