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How Music Can Give You A Competitive Edge

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competitive edge
As most readers already know, music transcends art and entertainment becoming a powerful tool for motivation and creativity. Listening to music can have a huge impact on our productivity levels, the quality of our output, and our performance.

Extensive research has been conducted over the last decade that discovered the many benefits of listening to music in certain situations, such as while working, studying, or competing in sporting events.

If you’re looking for a way to gain a competitive edge, whether that’s in the office or at the gym, read on to discover how music can help you achieve this.

Music gets you in The Zone

Colloquially known as The Zone, the Flow state is a positive mental state of altered awareness. Have you ever performed an activity where you’re completely immersed in what you’re doing, fully energized and focused, and enjoying every moment? That’s the flow state, everything is functioning on a happy autopilot with very little conscious effort.


Music can be a powerful catalyst for getting in the flow, ensuring a completely stimulating experience that enhances performance. Some athletes, for example, talk about listening to certain songs or pieces of music to assist them with getting in the zone before an event, game, or match. Energizing motivational vibes are recommended here.

Music triggers good emotions

It’s very much human nature to associate music with positive memories and experiences (and negative ones too, but we won’t be talking about them today) and many studies have been conducted that link music with positive emotions.

Music that evokes good memories and a positive emotional response boosts internal motivation, which is crucial in sticking with a gym program or meeting urgent work deadlines.


Taking this concept further, a research team at the Georgia Southern University discovered that the power of music also extends to transforming states of mind from negative to positive.

During the study, the research team found that certain songs and pieces of music could divert attention away from negative feelings in participants (like fatigue and boredom), lowered their feelings of anger and depression, and stimulated enhanced performances when carrying out tasks and activities.

Musical inspiration

Often, the music that you already know and love, and associate with positive experiences, will be the best music to listen to when you want to nail your performance. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your playlists, however, check out the following top tracks:

Motorhead – Ace of Spades

Lemmy, Eddie, and Phil’s homage to Texas Poker is filled with gaming references, making it a top choice with pro poker players. It doesn’t just come in handy when you want to up your game on the felt, however, as its intense, driving rhythm will get you instantly focused no matter what you’re doing.

Beyonce – Run the World (Girls)

Not just for girls, Beyonce’s 2011 feminist anthem is a modern-day classic, inspiring choreographers, performers, and athletes for almost a decade. An ultimate hype song, if you want to get yourself focused and pumped up for a challenging situation, make sure you blast this one as loud as possible.

David Bowie – Heroes

We could fill article after article with suggestions of David Bowie songs to listen to, but Heroes is one of his most uplifting and optimistic. Legend has it that it even played a part in the fall of the Berlin Wall after Bowie performed at the Reichstag in 1987. If you want to feel like you too could be a hero, just for one day, this is the song for you.

Hi, my name is Erick Ycaza. I have a BA in Advertising & Graphic Design. This blog is to provide you with daily music news and share my personal style.

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