Equipment Warm up, but What About Listener Warm up?

I’ve noticed that the music sounds best if I’ve had a good day, everything in my life is going well, I’ve exercised pretty hard that day, I have nothing left to get done that day, and it’s night time.  If all of these things come together, it’s usually a recipe for a good listening session. 
I’ve also noticed that its best to take a 10-15 minute break every hour or so from the music...

I’ve also noticed that I can pick up more detail in the music at low to medium volume levels.  It’s not such an onslaught of sensory overload that I sometimes get at higher volumes, yet sometimes high volumes are whats needed to get me fully engaged in a musical experience.

I also like to listen first thing in the morning (or even if I’ve woken up in the middle of the night...low low ambient noise is a plus) when my ears and mind are totally fresh.  
I even tried wearing shooting ear muffs (I know, I’m strange) for 30 minutes before listening in order to “prep” my ears.  Akin to closing your eyes in the dark and picturing the darkest black you can, then reopening them and being able to see much better.  I didn’t notice much of an improvement doing this particular method.

Last way I warm up my ears is with routinely cleaning them thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide and a steady stream of warm water to help loosen / soften ear wax buildup.  

Interesting thought, that the listener and the equipment have a "warm up" time.

I remember reading the results of a study of blood pressure changes while watching TV, and if my memory serves me, it took the subjects about 10 minutes for their blood pressure & respiration to find their rhythm after sitting down to watch TV.

b_limo, +1

To put 2 and 2 together, I always start a listening
session in the morning at lower than normal volume, and gradually
increase it.

Morning listening can be problematic as the sound through
one ear canal is sometimes less clear than the other.
I have found exercises online to address this.
A doctor says it is the settling of fluid inside the inner ear.

I have a shungite cap that covers the ears.  I sometimes wear
it for 15 minutes before a session.  Looks and feels weird, but it works,
improving the sound.

I am a fan of Debrox as an ear canal cleaner, about once a month.

And I agree, mental and physical states are "key," and it's
great when everything "comes together."

I don’t know if it’s a question of “warming up,”  but I agree that it takes playing at least one side before a cartridge starts to sound right.

Mindset and mood greatly effect musical enjoyment.

Bad mood and you will have a poor musical experience.

Good music can change your mood and mindset.