I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine exercising without music. Not only does it motivate me to work harder – especially when certain pop anthems from more than a decade ago come on (like Toxic by Britney Spears … don’t judge me) – but music helps to pass the time and gives me something to concentrate on other than how sweaty I am and how smelly the guy is on the treadmill next to me.
Headphones can make fitness more fun for everyone. You need to choose the right headphones for your needs, and I’ll suggest a couple great ones.You also need to be aware of a few potential issues that arise when people wear headphones, which I will discuss at the end.
Here are a couple options that will keep the fun in your fitness.
JayBird BlueBuds X Wireless In-Ear Headphones
Exercising and wires don’t mix. I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve inadvertently flung my smartphone across the gym or dropped it on the sidewalk, all due to my flailing body parts getting caught up in the wires of my headphones. Wires just get in the way. That’s why I’m a huge fan of these “small but mighty” in-ear wireless in-ear buds from JayBird. Wireless! All you need to do is connect with your smartphone or other music player via Bluetooth and get your sweat on. Think about it … you can go for a jog, pump some iron, or even get your Zen on with a bit of yoga without having to deal with pesky wires. And if you’re a klutz like me, wireless headphones might just extend the life of your smartphone; or at the very least prevent its screen from shattering … again.
Monster iSport Victory High-Performance In-Ear Sports Headphones
Just like wireless headphones can increase the fun factor of exercise by eliminating the nuisance of wires, so too can headphones that allow you to control your music-streaming device without actually having to look at, or even touch that device. My gym go-to buds are the Monster iSport Victory High-Performance In-Ear Sports Headphones, and while they have been responsible for the aforementioned catapulting of my smartphone across the gym, they are still pretty darn fantastic. With their Apple Control Talk, you can change songs, adjust the volume, and even take calls all by clicking the small control buttons on their cable. There’s no trying to focus on your music player’s screen while you are running like the wind or rowing your way to the other side of the world. Plus, they come with different sized ear tips so you can customize the fit of your ear buds to your ears, which means you stay comfortable and the ear buds stay put throughout your entire workout … no matter how much you sweat.
Safety & Etiquette
Music goes a long way to making fitness fun, but there is one down side of wearing headphones to work out. When you are cranking the tunes and are in the zone, you tend not to be completely aware of your environment. That’s why I wanted to take a minute to share with you a few headphone safety and etiquette tips:
- You are breakable
Even though you may feel indestructible when you are working out, sadly, you are not. When you are going for a jog or doing any other outdoor activity, keep your music to a reasonable level so you can hear what is happening around you, like the sound of traffic, honking horns, and sirens. If you can’t hear any of those things, turn the volume down!
- You are not a rock star
Sorry to break it to you, but there’s a pretty slim chance you are a rock star. So do everyone around you at the gym a favour and don’t sing along to your tunes. No one wants to hear it. And if they did, they’d search you out. Be considerate and let your fellow gym-goers enjoy their own tunes.
- Save the calls until later
While it is definitely a cool feature to be able to answer phone calls via your headphones, it’s pretty rude to do so when you are at the gym. Use that feature when you are working out on your own. Otherwise you can be sure that everyone around you is cursing you under their breath.
Fitness is always more fun when you are accompanied by your favourite songs. So get yourself a pair of quality headphones and make 2015 your fittest year ever!
Click here to check out all the sports and fitness headphones on BestBuy.ca.
