It’s a recent phenomenon.

If you go to a gym, those that are based on the use of equipment and not team-based group exercises, I guarantee you the majority of the people in there will be listening to music through headphones. The prevalent use of gyms along with the capabilities of today’s technology has led to the norm of listening to music alone while working out. In tandem with us now using/looking at our smartphones constantly, our workout-time has become less environment-aware.

Involuntarily I’ll admit, I came back to college from this last winter break having forgotten my exercise headphones at home. You know that feeling when you walk into the gym and realize, “Damn it. I have nothing to listen to.” Yeah. That feeling.

And also with my family not seeming to be able to find them at home, I had to buy another pair. So long story short I’ve been working out music-less, and it’s been a much more focused, observatory, self-discovery type of experience.

For one, I workout much faster than I did when I listened to EDM, rap, Lady Gaga, whatever came up on shuffle that vibed with me at the time. I think it was because I wasn’t concerned about music problems. Such problems include: “I hate this song.” “No, this is not the time for Kid Cudi.” “Alright. I’ll just wait 45 seconds until the bass drops and kill this military press.” These problems might also be considered first world problems.

But I wasn’t just more focused on the activity at hand. I feel like my workout was more therapeutic than usual. My mind would think more abstractly just by my observation of the things and people around me. But while this state of mind was refreshing, it was also quite familiar.

This reminded me of when I ran for cross-country in high school. (PR was 19:43 for a 5K (3.1mi). Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: that’s not that impressive.) During our daily workouts, we would run between 5-15miles a day; at least the group I ran with did this. During the workout we wouldn’t listen to any music, but it was cool anyway. Eventually in your run you’d forget you were even running. There was a point where you forgot the effort you were putting forth, you just got into this autopilot kick-ass mode. If you were lucky you would experience a runner’s high. When this happens, you’re run would turn into an experience. That’s what made me love running.

You ever just get into the zone so hard you forget you’re even working out? Same concept, but with running. And what I’m trying to tell you is this experience without headphones is just as worthwhile; trust me.

So next time you forget to bring your headphones to the gym, let it be the beginning of a short, one-week music break; re-realize the adrenaline of a one-on-one workout between you, and the exercise.

But keep it down to a week. Seriously it’s been about two weeks and I’m missing my hard trap rap and EDM bass drops.