After a while it’s just sounds.

Sometimes I am in the mood for a great listen and other times it doesn’t matter what I’ve chosen but just can’t get into it.  It’s normal.  I think when the heat becomes extreme I lose some enthusiasm.

Such listening behaviour as described by the OP is generated from their own personal attitude developed for listening and assessing produced sound in a space selected for listening to recorded music.

It is not ubiquitous and is certainly not the typical method, as there is no such thing as a typical method. All who listen are unique in how they create a personal approach to how they are listening.

Most important is that when investment is made in audio equipment, is that audio equipment is used to generate the experience of listening to recorded music. 

FYI, when I take the timeout to listen as a sole listener (very rarely), I get quite bored quickly and get easily distracted. The session could be referred to as a system check. My Wife is my usual listening partner, and the boredom vanished quickly and listening can easily extend to multiple hours. 

When guests are invited under the umbrella of a like-minded audio enthusiasts meeting, or I am a guest at another residence under the same umbrella, the sessions can be a decent portion of a day.

That is my unique cultivated attitude towards listening.   

Take a 5mg gummie. Everything sounds great. 

“It is not ubiquitous and is certainly not the typical method, as there is no such thing as a typical method. All who listen are unique in how they create a personal approach to how they are listening.”

I agree all who listen are unique, but as evidenced by the many replies, this post stimulates thought,

Personally not offended by the content of this thread just disappointed. Why the continuing need to debate critical listening over casual listening? Being an Audiophile the bias is going to be significantly skewed towards critical listening, this in NO means proves less appreciation for music. Casual or background listening does not require high level components. acoustic or power treatments, just a Bose Wave Radio.