I used to carry my music with me everywhere. I was obsessed with my ipod. Last semester I took a physical fitness class and was at the gym once or twice a week and would just grit my teeth and do it, pushing through from song to song on my ipod, trying desperately to ignore how much i hated working out.
Yesterday was the first day since my pacemaker surgery that I've been allowed to work out, so I rushed to the gym and used my ipod. Same horrible feeling. I felt like I was just pushing through and it was miserable. Today I forgot my ipod. But I didn't want to waste time so I decided just to work out with no music, no nothing, just me, the machines, and my waterbottle.
It was FANTASTIC.
I worked out for an entire hour and a half (which is a personal best), and I actually made a plan as I went. I made a circuit. First on the mats for stretches, and work with a medicine ball. then free weights, then a couple sit ups, then treadmill, then weight machines, then to the bathroom and the fountain to refill my bottle. I completed my circuit twice in that time and drank 80 oz of water. I felt amazing. Sore, but amazing.
Without my music, I am SO in tune with my body. I knew when to stop, and I knew when to push myself to keep going. I felt everything more strongly, and I kept an even tempo and counted reps and felt very at peace and calm. I am normally a stressed out person so this calm that washed over me was incredibly refreshing.
I think I've hit the jackpot.
Bottom line is, Some people do really well with music--it can be a great motivator--I can't get any homework done without music. But if you always listen to music while at the gym, try taking out the earbuds and listening to your body instead. You may like what you hear!