Audiobook lovers, how do you do this? > Likes and Comments

I got storytel for a month, YAYYY. My only problem is, that i can only concentrate on audiobooks, while doing a puzzle. But I finished all of them😞 while i was in the middle of the audiobook. So i havent been able to finish it! My question is, what do you do while listening to audiobooks :)

I cross stitch whilst listening :)

Audiobooks free up your hands to do so many things while still consuming media. You didn’t mention what you find difficult about it.

1) if it’s a book that is difficult to consume (unknown words, or dense content), I will still sit down with the text while listening to the book. Reading comprehension goes way up. So does my desire to take notes.

2) I looooove doing my workouts while listening to audiobooks. Makes it bearable for me. I used to listen to music but at least with audiobooks, I feel productive with my workout.

3) there’s tons of important/fun things you can do while listening, if you need to stay occupied. Cleaning, dishes, puzzles, art, knitting/cross-stitching as someone else mentioned. Painting your nails, other minor grooming. Organizing, laundry, showering, walking, etc. Anything mundane that doesn’t need too much thinking while doing is perfect for comb-ing.

As a goal, try to make some kind of art that is inspired by the book you’re reading! Then over time you build a visual reading journal.

Find someone to listen with! I listen to books solo all the time, but every once in a while I will ask my husband to listen with me. You can hang out in the same room or do separate things while listening. My husband will play video games and I’ll be in a separate room doing my art. Then, a chapter will end and we’ll convene to either talk about what we liked or (usually) complain about what we didn’t like.

If it’s a book you’re having trouble getting into, great narrators can make all the difference in terms of reading comprehension or enjoyment. If it’s REALLY difficult, consider getting the graphic audio versions of the books, with a full cast. For dense novels like, Brandon Sanderson, a full cast can make a huge difference in terms of triggering memories of who is who etc. support your local bookstore by purchasing audiobooks from Libra.fm, and don’t use big box companies like Audible, which actively steals from the author and is owned by Amazon.

And lastly, keep it fun! If you’re not enjoying an audiobook because of the narrator, switch back to text. If it’s the book, don’t torture yourself, and just stop reading the book. If there are other aspects of audiobook listening I didn’t cover, ask about it and I or other folks will come back with solutions/ideas!

I crochet while I listen. Or I ride my stationary bike

What I do depends on what I'm listening to - if it's a book that requires more attention, I do chores that require less focus; cleaning, laundry, gardening, knitting, tending the chickens, shoveling snow, walking on the treadmill, etc. I actually have 'treadmill books' that I really like that I will only listen to while I'm on the treadmill... motivation!
If it's a reread or something light that requires less focus, I can listen while working.

What I do depends on what I'm listening to - if it's a book that requires more attention, I do chores that require less focus; cleaning, laundry, gardening, knitting, tending the chickens, shoveling snow, walking on the treadmill, etc. I actually have 'treadmill books' that I really like that I will only listen to while I'm on the treadmill... motivation!
If it's a reread or something light that requires less focus, I can listen while working.

Killua wrote: "I got storytel for a month, YAYYY. My only problem is, that i can only concentrate on audiobooks, while doing a puzzle. But I finished all of them😞 while i was in the middle of the audiobook. So i ..."

I work (I'm an engineer) or also work on my hobbies, like knitting or crochet and I also sketch and paint and will pop whatever audiobook I am listening to on then as well.

I listen while cleaning, folding laundry, cooking, driving. Love to multitask!!

I usually listen to them when I’m on long car rides/trips by myself or when I’m on my walks.

One of the books I like the most are:

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho--The best, no questions about it.

Another one I liked a lot is: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie--an oldie but goodie. I am always using this book for my Reading Club still--I enjoy reading it over and over. This is not a read-only book--It is a read and practice book for sure.

About listening to audio books.
I do it while I am driving--and I am surprised that, because traffic is getting so out of hand as of lately--I am reading more books as a result!

It is interesting that some of the comments about the person doing the reading--it could be quite difficult to understand. I have run into a few of them, mostly with a strong British English or a person from India, with a strong Indian accent. I am Mexican, so I too, have an accent when I read in English, I am sure. Maybe I would bother some people if I ever read a book to them.

And you know what? I will make that my 2026 new year resolution--to create my own book, write it in two languages and also create my own audio book, and then I will find out for sure!

I do a puzzle or I do diamond art while listening to audio books.

I go walking, but overall, I'm not a big fan of audiobooks. I'm not an auditory learner.

I listen while I am doing other things, chores, driving, games... if I can have an audiobook on, (or just music) I do.

I can't listen at 1x speed. My brain works way faster then that and it will wonder off. All of my players are set to start at 2x speed and I ajust it from there based on the narrator and the book. (A new high fantasy is usually listened to at 1.5x at the beginning as I want to really take in and emerse myself in the new world and concepts. Once I have a picture in my head and understand what's happening, it's usually back up to 2x.)

Some narrators are extraordinarily slow and even 2x speed is to slow. Every once in a while I'll find a nerrorator with a voice I just cant get past. (Usually I am annoyed at some voices at first, but as I fall into the story, I no longer hear it.) There was one urban fantasy where the narrator made the 35 year old healthy mother sound like an 80 year old chain smoker. Her teenage kid wasn't much better. I think I would have loved that book, except I hated the narrator with such a passion it ruined the entire book. One day, when I can no longer remember the sound of that voice, and I have the time, I'll re-read it on my Kindle to see if I have a better experience.

Puzzles, coloring, walking, doing the dishes, driving.... you can redo your puzzles!

Lauren, I have ADHD and think really fast. I can't listen at 1.0 either. I start at 2 and adjust to what feels like my natural reading speed and it has been an analytical
absolute game changer for me.

I always have one running when I don't feel well. And when cooking or taking a walk. Especially when my eyes don't want to cooperate. They tend to become a life saver with these

I work on my art, or house work. Sometimes I sit back with the lights off and a candle on and my favorite drink and just sit back and enjoy it

I listen while driving, stretching, cooking, cleaning. Just moments where I’d normally listen to music, I replace with an audiobook!

i listen to audio while I am driving to and from work. i also listen while I am showering.

I mostly just do my school assignments or chores that need to be done, and mostly when I bake or cook something. Also, I listen when I am in bed trying to sleep, and it helps with calming my loud brain

It took me a while to get used to audiobooks - I would listen and relisten and miss so much.

I find firstly that listening to non-fiction is easiest.

If I'm listening to fiction, it has to be really well narrated and the material has to really grab me.

That said, I now read minimum 1 audiobook a month (Outlander series books are amazing but they are ~50 hours each so it takes a full month!) or even 1-2 a week for shorter books, listening in the car, cleaning, cooking, walking the dogs, or doing puzzles (like you!).

Just lay down and soak it in when Fiction and random google deep dive of terms related to the book while reading non-fiction.

I own a dog walking biz and listen while working

i definetly dont get as much out of an audiobook as i do from physical reading unless im really dedicated to the story.

i loved and reccomend the audiobook "the silent patient", "youve reached sam", "the women", "howls moving castle" and "the maidens". those were phenominal on audioooo

i always listen when im doing my math homework or playing blockblast or organizing

oh i also love listening to the audio while reading the physical copy, i reccomend 1.5 speed if your eyes are too fast i did this while i read some of 1984 by george orwell and i loved it.

I bake, do chores or do my assignments while listening so I multitask

I basically do anything while listening to my audiobook. I draw, stare into oblivion, play video games, go on a walk, vale something, etc. But I do understand how maybe for some people it can be difficult to concentrate on both at the same time, so find what works for you! ✨✨

1. Ajust the speed. If you find your mind wondering off, up the speed until you have to focus to understand.

2. I do other things while I listen. I can't just sit and listen. I'm driving, doing tasks, playing a game, or anything else that does not require me to listen. Some people have the book open to read while they listen at the same time.

3. If I don't like the nerrorator, I give it a little time and usually the story drowns out the irritation. Sometimes the nerrorator is so bad I have to read the book with my eyes when I find the time. With dyslexia, this takes a lot longer.

That's how I personally do it.

When I had things to do (drive, clean, garden, walk the dog) audiobooks allow me to do those things but still consume books. I rarely have time to just sit and read. I mostly read late at night in bed when I’m still (I have ADHD). So audiobooks allow me to accommodate my daily activities and read.

I do almost everything while listening to my audiobooks. I drive a lot for work, so that is a no brainer, but depending on how into the book I am, I'll listen when I'm cooking, cleaning, yardwork etc. The only time I cannot listen is when I'm doing my work paperwork, I end up rewinding several times & end up stopping until I'm done. In the case of paperwork, I just turn on the tv for background noise....

Walking, coloring (I have a few Mandala books), origami, chores

While I listen, I can commute to work, or do chores, and especially get ready for bed.

I listen whilst I am driving. Yes you miss bits because you are concentrating on the road but I find them so much easier to listen to in the car.
I read a physical book at home adn listen to a different audiobook in the car,

Wyetha wrote: "While I listen, I can commute to work, or do chores, and especially get ready for bed."
I listen to them when I am ironing too. I hate ironing so it makes a tedious chore so much easier to do.

I sometimes listen when I play the sims 4 or while I'm cleaning. but I prefer reading over listening overall.

1 hour+ commute. so I listen while driving. current listen is Liars Poker by Michael Lewis. its very well done!

I get the audio book and a physical copy so I can fully immerse. There's no escaping scary scenes by shutting your eyes. XD

I run a hammer at work, so listening to audio is very nice cause I can zone in on listening to the book while I’m hitting boulders/rocks. It also numbs the sound of the hammer hitting them cause I have the volume up very loud.. I have to pause it VERY fast when I see someone walking up to me. Haha but yeah audible is the best for the job I have. Then I get to listen to it in the way home and then cooking dinner so it’s a win win for me. By the time I get to the bed, I try to read on my kindle but I end up passing out while reading.

Can’t hurt me by David Goggins

I listen on my commute to and from work, on my lunch break walks

I usually try and have the book and audiobook. When I am driving love having audiobook and at night when I’m really tired listen with audio. I especially like Audiobooks for Non-Fiction and Memoirs/Biographies.

Sometimes, I listen and Read the Book at the same time, page by page.

I'm finding that I forget things I Read on audiobook so I might stop relying on them so much to get through my TBR.
How I listen depends on my mood. Am I busy? Am I tired? Am I at home, or driving?