treadmills bore me.
I need some help. See, I don’t really mind working out. I don’t mind the getting out of breath part. Or the being in pain part. Or the feeling like I’m dying part. My problem is that I get horribly bored. While I’m at the gym, I’m constantly thinking about how much time I have left and I just think “Ugh, that’s sooo long. Kill me now.” Sometimes I try to convince myself I really need to stop because I’m just sooo tired. But I know I really can keep going. I’m just bored.
It’s fabulous that all the machines at the gym have televisions. But one can only watch so much Keeping up with the Kardashians and Millionaire Matchmaker before one has seen all the episodes.
The New Yorker is a little too intense for me to fully concentrate on while I’m working out (plus, there are too many words) and US Weekly is too much of a page-turner, which I can’t handle when I’m on a machine.
I know. I have issues. But please help me. I need suggestions from you guys for music I should be listening to make me feel a little more motivated at the gym. I have almost 5,000 songs on my iPod, but I get bored easily. I constantly need new stuff to get me excited.
Since I get bored easily, all that typical workout music, I’m probably already bored by. A good beat is not enough. I have to be entertained on all different levels. Lyrics that get me thinking. Something that makes me want to dance. Just not anything I’ve heard a million times already.
What’s keeping me entertained at the gym right now:
- Lots of Snow Patrol. I’m totally down with Snow Patrol because they have the best of everything. An amazingly fantastic sound and lyrics that make me listen closely and think about. And I’m not just talking “Chasing Cars” Snow Patrol. I’m talking, let’s go way back and listen to all of their amazingness. Because it’s all really, really good stuff. And it makes me NOT bored.
- Bryan Adams because duh, then I can picture him in my head and how adorable he is and that keeps me entertained for a while.
- Stuff that makes me feel like I’m in middle school like Cute is What We Aim For and Boys Like Girls (the lead singer did go to my high school), The Academy Is, etc. because it’s fun.
- Lots of Jay-Z because it’s perfect.
- Rascal Flatts because they always make me happy.
- Flight of the Conchords because it’s funny.
- Seal, Enrique, Camera Obscura, Cooper, Modest Mouse, Minus the Bear, Young Love, The Ruse, and lots more.
What else would you suggest for me to put on my gym playlist?? I have pretty much the biggest range in musical interest ever. I enjoy tons of different kinds so suggest anything and I’ll check it out. Bonus points to you if you list artists/songs I can get off emusic.com.
Disclaimer: I’m being somewhat facetious. I really don’t have that much of a problem working out. But seriously? It’s so much more enjoyable when I’m listening to good music. So please, please, help me.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Dang, pretty much everything you had listed is what i would suggest. I listen to a lot of dance remixes of popular songs when I work out—I can’t listen to anything slow or I won’t keep going!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Maybe you should start listening to things that keep your mind off what you’re doing, like comedy or showtunes? If you think this is a good suggestion (it’s what I do), check out shows like Wicked, The Wedding Singer, The Last 5 Years, The Producers, The Full Monty, Rent, Spring Awakening, Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels… I have a ton of stuff I could send you.
Also, musical comedy is great- Check out Stephen Lynch if you don’t mind being slightly offended!!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:34 am
book on tape?!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Um, hi, I’m weird and I have King of New York from Newsies on my running playlist. And for some reason, every time it comes on, I get a little extra pep in my step. I just LOVE that song!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:46 am
I agree with you on this nearly 100%. It’s why I can’t listen to the typical work-out mixes (plus, I don’t like electronic music, generally).
Hmmm. Based on your other choices, I’d recommend Kanye West, Paolo Nutini, The Strokes, and other indie bands (Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes) that are big on lyrics and melody.
Or you could try getting comedians (ex. Dane Cook..?) on your iPod, or different podcasts (check iTunes for ones relevant to you)?
May 9th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Ugh. Gym music. It hurts my ears. Often I bring one of my books to read while I’m on the bike or treadmill. I get sucked into that and the time passes quickly.
I have an iPod touch so I put TV shows I like or movies on it so I can watch it while I’m working out too.
As for music, I wouldn’t know what to recommend because I don’t listen to much at the gym.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I rarely listen to music when I run (I’ve weaned myself from it), but I like your typical workout-power music: Kanye, old Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, etc…
I also don’t have a car, so I think this subs in for my “sing in the car” music!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
i lurve to run to kanye, kelly clarkson, aerosmith, u2 (my last mile of the marathon i skipped forward so i could end the race on beautiful day…even though i had already heard it about five times already.)
May 9th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Someone already said it! Books on tape!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Yeah I seriously get bored at the gym too, it’s so bad. But I started listening to some pop yesterday, like Britney, Hilary, Backstreet Boys, oh man. It was awesome, haha. I recommend a pop fest every now and then.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I am exactly the same way. I have a horrible relationship with the gym for this reason. I tend to listen to Ludacris, JayZ, Eminem, etc. And dance type music. Basically anything that i could potentially dance to.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I have a hard time with this too. TV usually helps but not nearly as much as actually being involved with a song, thinking about sex or imagining myself skinny in really fabulous outfits. Tried and true.
In terms of songs, I’ve been known to love some Maneater by Nelly Furtado, Kids by MGMT, a new guy called Atmosphere, also on the Jay-Z love and depending on how intense I’m feeling…Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (SUPER intense) or Breathe In by Frou Frou (more soundtrack to my life-ish).
Anyhow, I’m going to go run now because Cape Cod in TWO WEEKS!!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I spent several hours updating my iPod yesterday, because the CD in my new car is, as yet, unconnected, I’ve been slowly going insane, and had to take my iPod on long drives. Well, any drives, really. So the music I used to thump around the park to (no gym for me – I like freezing my ass off where no one can see my love handles under several layers) is now driving music. Can you see how that doesn’t motivate me any more?
So I just banged a whole heap of tryhard angry punk music I used to listen to in like, year 7, i.e Blink 182…and…
Shaggy. And the like. As totally embarrassing as it is, he makes me wanna shake my booty. When I’m listening to, say, Boom Shaka Laka or How Bizarre, I suddenly find my hips gyrating and a huge grin on my face.
I mentioned embarrassing, right?
May 19th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
With you being a Snow Patrol fan, I must recommend another Scottish band called Frightened Rabbit. Check ‘em out here.
May 25th, 2008 at 2:37 am
What about running along the Charles? I never really needed good beats to get me through my runs when I ran the loops along the river. It’s so nice out there!
Map with mileage every bridge to bridge combo: http://www.bostonrunner.com/charles.htm
May 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Treadmills are incredibly boring unless you figure a way to do something while you are on it. I have a treadmill desk and some days I am on it for 8 hours, never notice it but at the end of the day I walked 10 miles! TrekDesk is the best I have seen and you can see it at http://www.trekdesk.com. Would be much better in the winter months in Boston as well!