Last week, walking towards the gym, realized was without a mobile phone. Unlike other clientele, at the gym, the phone is not used for selfies to post on social media or phone calls while leisurely strolling on the treadmill, the primary purpose the phone is for time and music; measuring how long a certain piece of equipment is being used and, obviously, for the time, along with music – a different playlist than the gym often provides and a way to block out the rest of the world.
Upon finding out the unfortunate circumstance, even before stepping into the gym, the mood was already sullen. A visit to the gym, as much time has passed since first joining, it still feels like a chore – and without music, it was even more of a downer. Told a friend, later that day, the experience truly gave meaning to the cliché “gives me life,” or in this case, “K-Pop gives me life.”
Sat down at one of the weight benches, slapped on the regular number of plates, and began a workout. At first, it seemed fine, but upon realizing there was absolutely no sense of time, it became more and difficult to continue. Had no idea how long the workout was going on for, had no motivation to keep moving, and became too concerned with how long the workout had been going on for, and because of it, hope was lost in being able to stand up and feel at all productive.
The bicep workout went on for a bit, begrudgingly, and later decided to switch to the treadmill. Have recently cut down on it after frequent issues with the right ankle and Achilles tendon, but it was the only piece of equipment that had a way of measuring time. Before the injury issues arose, 40 minutes of running and power walking were a normal routine, lately, with the changes, it’s been more power walking and adding a slight incline with the running portion eliminated, and those sessions easily run between 20 and 30 minutes. That day, with music that did not fit personal preferences, the treadmill was torture – was already tired after three minutes.
Endured the treadmill for about 15 minutes and had to stop. Walked out of the gym at that point and paced around the mall, trying to figure out what to do – it was impossible to get into a rhythm.
After cooling down, returned and tried to get onto one of the weight benches and even before putting one single plate, the noises were too much.
Throughout a regular gym session, there is always noise – which makes the headphones and music a necessity to keep from being distracted or sidetracked. Earlier in the day, ended the previous workout because of all the slamming of weights where the loud clanging echoes throughout the entire gym, the exaggerated grunts and groans from those begging to be seen by other clientele, and the contrived “drama” people put on to make their experience seem more exciting (apparently).
The treadmill ended after those on the neighboring treadmill – one whose machine was not even on – were engaged in loud conversation, which proved to be both too loud and too distracting.
On the latest encounter, the gym was cleared out a bit and there were only two guys and a girl, the two men were regulars, one comes in wearing skimpy tank tops trying to call the attention of anybody around him by dancing when a song has good beat, the other one likes to count off his reps loudly, letting everybody hear how exasperated he is at number seven. The two of them, despite being about a foot apart, sounded like they were yelling at each other – witnessing it, it was just a conversation; can only assume they just wanted to rest of the gym to listen.
It was too much to handle.
Gave up and could not get a grip. Not sure if it is a personal issue of being all too distracted, all the time, and needing something in order to center, or if it is a problem of obnoxious people – or a combination of both?
Jessica Hamzelou discussed a University College London study in a 2011 issue of The New Scientist that centered on people who are easily distracted. In the study, volunteers were subject to an MRI scan, where researchers looked at the “gray matter” that showed in their left superior parietal lobe, which works to overcome distractions.
According to researcher Ryota Kanai, those who are distracted have more “gray matter.” Typically, that gray matter is plucked away throughout an individual’s maturation process – apparently, it means one is just immature if they are too easily distracted.
However, Mark Molloy wrote about a study in a 2016 issue of The Telegraph, which said, “Workers who have trouble concentrating on a daily basis may be intellectually superior to their colleagues” – sounds better than being called immature; especially if it’s about not being distracted by people dancing around in stringer tank tops.
Intelligent people may find it difficult to focus the mind because of all the amazing ideas constantly running through their genius brains, he cited from the study.
He also cites psychiatrist, Dr. Ned Hallowell, noting, “The cleverest among us find it difficult to prioritize which idea to focus on first, with the distractions potentially leading to ‘a feeling of inadequacy and inability to deal with the workload as a whole.’”
Additionally, in a 2013 issue of Scientific American, they discuss the direct connection between exercise and music. Ferris Jabr wrote, “For some athletes and for many people who run, jog, cycle, lift weights, and otherwise exercise, music is not superfluous – it is essential to peak performance and a satisfying workout.”
“Music distracts people from pain and fatigue, elevates mood, increases endurance, reduces perceived effort, and may even promote metabolic efficiency,” he wrote, citing 10 years of research looking into the connection. “When listening to music, people run farther, bike longer, and swim faster than usual – often without realizing it.”
Plus, Jabr also noted a study that looked into synching a workout to music can be helpful.
“Although many people do not feel the need to run or move in exact time with their workout music, synchrony may help the body use energy more efficiently,” he wrote. “When moving rhythmically to a beat, the body may not have to make as many adjustments to coordinated movements as it would without regular external cues” – perhaps it’s not so strange to exercise at the pace of a playlist comprised of song by Twice or Gugudan, but does it count for emulating dance moves on the treadmill?
It’s either a sign of immaturity or super-intelligence, nonetheless, science also backs up the need for music as a way of pushing oneself further, even “without realizing it.” Beyond the times when the gym is packed with individuals merely there seeking attention, with the positive effects made on a daily workout by music, having a mobile phone and a set of headphones on hand at the gym just became more necessary./WDJ