No Time to Read? Try Audiobooks

Trying to find time these days to sit down with a book can be challenging. With life commitments always cropping up, it's hard to find the time. I know I certainly did before I discovered what audiobooks could do for me and my love of reading.

I'd never rushed to get on the audiobook bandwagon. My reasons were kind of vague and nit-picky if I'm being honest. I didn't own a decent set of headphones. The Bluetooth connection in my car sucked... and a myriad other little reasons.

But as life moved on, I found myself missing the escapism of disappearing into a book. This happened around (shameless self-promotion time here) the time I started looking in how to publish my first audiobook (check it out!).

I became hooked on the idea and signed up for Audible and I've never looked back. Each month I eagerly await my credit and the other freebies that come my way either through Audible Originals or by authors getting in touch for a review.

Suddenly, all the time I was busy doing other stuff could also be spent reading! Finding the right tasks to do while listening was the key - nothing where I needed to concentrate hard on what I was doing.

Driving the Car

This was a no-brainer. I listened to podcasts or music every day on the way to my job, so why not swap it out for books? Bang! Instant half-hour right there, more if there's traffic. Whether you drive or catch public transport it doesn't matter. Plug yourself into a good book and watch as the miles drift by.

Cooking Dinner

Again, this is a task then generally requires little concentration but has lots of standing around and keeping an eye on things as they boil, bake, roast, or fry. Parking my bum against the kitchen counter and zoning out while keeping watch on the stovetop or an ear open for a "ping" lets me get in a bunch of extra reading time.

And of course, when dinner is done - while washing the dishes!

Playing Games

So like a lot of people during the pandemic I got hooked on playing Animal Crossing. This rather simple game makes it easy to listen to a book while running around catching fish, bugs, or redesigning the island. Between this and Mario Kart 8, I've ploughed through a stack of books.

Lying in Bed

Okay, so this is a bit of a gimme... but what better way to relax than to lay yourself down in bed, close your eyes, and just lie there and be read to. No need for the lights on. No need to hold onto a book. It's not only relaxing but it can also return you to that point in time when you were a kid and your parents would read to you. What better way to ease yourself into getting ready for sleep?

What Else?

The opportunities for reading while doing other tasks are virtually endless. Try it when:

• Doing a jigsaw.
• Painting your nails.
• Tidying your bedroom.
• Tidying your kid's bedroom.
• While walking the dog.
• While walking on the treadmill.
• Pulling weeds in the garden.

...and that was just the first few things off the top of my head. Are there any others you want to mention? Leave a comment below and let everyone know what you're doing while listening to audiobooks.