“When I used to work with a sports psychologist, he used to talk to me about how anger is a really negative emotion,” says Bobby Maximus, author of The Maximus Body. You don’t want to go into a competition angry because you lose control of yourself, adds Maximus.
You don’t need to be a sports psychologist to know that music is the perfect gym partner. Just look at all the headphones at the gym—workouts just seem longer without music blasting in your ears. But this isn’t just a hunch. Science backs up the benefits of listening to music during your workout.
People tend to gravitate towards uptempo music such as heavy metal, hip hop, and pop music when it comes to workout jams. But Maximus suggests getting your head in a different space with slow jams instead. “Every Tuesday, we slow it down a bit,” he says.
A study in Applied Physiology and Biofeedback found that listening to relaxing music significantly reduced negative emotional states. Maximus suggests trying this every now and then so you’re not always lifting angry. If you compete, listening to slow jams is a way to center yourself and release all that angry energy that can negatively affect your focus.
So update your playlist with some of your favorite slow jams for your next workout. You’ll notice a difference.
~Written By Naomi Nazario for Men’s Health
