What do you do while listening to audiobooks?

[Empress]

Traveling in the bus or walking outside.

[Gabby]

I haven't seen anyone mention this, but I love to do jigsaw puzzles. I can't really concentrate on the book unless I am doing a puzzle. I am weird.

[Ed]

I love that ! I should try that with the several puzzles I have!

[Ions]

usually going for walks, drives, chores, while playing video games, and at work if its a rather mindless task like painting.

[Julie]

Knitting, crocheting, walking, cleaning....

[Amanda]

I am either cleaning the house, cooking or driving. Though, I discovered that it's also nice while grilling. Sometimes I'll listen while gardening. I my partner likes the book, we'll put it on in the evening and have tea time while listening.

[Deb]

I started listening to audio books this winter while making quilts and love it! Now I listen while knitting or crocheting too. I prefer music while exercising unless I'm walking.

[Katie]

I love the idea of "putting on a book" and having tea while listening. Isn't that what people used to do with radio dramas in the old days?

[Ed]

Absolutely !

[Vickie]

I listen to audiobooks when I'm driving, especially long distances. I also like to listen when I do housework, but it is frustrating because I have to do stop to do the vacuuming.

[Scott S.]

Vickie wrote: "I listen to audiobooks when I'm driving, especially long distances. I also like to listen when I do housework, but it is frustrating because I have to do stop to do the vacuuming."

I get annoyed that I can't listen while mowing or weed-eating. Maybe Santa will bring me some nice over-the-ear headphones.

[Vernon]

I paint quite a lot now, so I listen to audiobooks when I'm painting.

[Katie]

I once painted my bedroom over two weekend days and listened to one of the Harry Potters. Loved it.

[Mirkat]

Running, walking, drawing, baking, washing dishes, and doing puzzles. But especially running.

[Nicola]

Love listening while gardening or Nordic pole walking.

[Marilyn]

Driving, Cleaning House, Knitting, Gardening . . .

[Olga]

I only started listening to audiobooks recently but I've listened in the gym, walking, doing housework. I agree on the annoyance of the hoovering thing though, Vickie

[Joyce]

I started listening on long drives just to make them not feel so long. I got hooked and now always listen while vacumning, cleaning, ironing, sewing etc. I love the outdoors and for safety sake don't listen while using the mower or weeding where there could be snakes. But sometimes when I take a break I sit on one of my porches and listen. I listen on walks too-only one earbud in though so I can hear traffic! I recently got a pair of battery powered speakers. I set them in a basket so I can carry along with me and listen while I do housework or cook, nicer than wearing earbuds too long. I read somewhere that you should not wear more than an hour daily.

[Janet C-B]

Long drives, at the pool after my swim, at the gym, while ironing (offset the boredom), at bedtime (high risk for falling asleep).

[Pamela]

I drive every morning for work and while at work so I listen then.

[Martha☀]

My audiobook habit started while driving on long trips but now I listen to books all the time. My favourite time is while puttering around our acreage, cleaning the chicken coop and doing other mindless physical tasks.

[Michal]

I listen to books every time I am not reading or writing stuff that is related to my work. Sometimes even for 5 minutes when I go to the bathroom I switch it on :). It almost feels like my iPod Shuffle is a part of my body. And I have to say I am beginning to be quite successful in spreading the addiction!

[Carol/Bonadie]

Michal wrote: "I listen to books every time I am not reading or writing stuff that is related to my work. Sometimes even for 5 minutes when I go to the bathroom I switch it on :). It almost feels like my iPod Shu..."

Michal, I'm with you, my iPod Shuffle is constantly attached to my ears. In fact it is now while I'm reading posts, although it is turned off because I can't read/write and listen at the same time. But the minute I get up from the computer to do something else, the Shuffle gets turned on.

I hope it isn't true that one shouldn't listen with headphones/earbuds for more than an hour a day, because if it is true I am in trouble!

[Patricia]

I have a 30-40 minute commute to work each day on the tram (like a cable car for those not in Australia)
However no matter what sort of transport I am on, I can't look down to read, I feel sick almost instantly.

I've had my iphone for about a year and it only just dawned on me that I could probably listen to books instead of music about 3 months ago (I know, I'm a bit slow on the uptake!...lol)
Since then I've listened to about 7 books and I'm loving it. The trip to work is so much faster (although I hate it when some clown sits next to me and then talks on his phone at full volume, drowning out my narrator).
So now I get in at least an hour a day, and I've also started listening when I do housework and at random times on the weekends.
I can't read anything or watch TV because then I completely lose focus on the book and have no ideas what the narrator just said and I have to rewind.

[Bakhtiar]

I work as a web designer -- Listen to audiobook or podcast while create a design in photoshop works well for me :)
I can't do it while working on something like read email , code in HTML

Looks like part of our brain for creative/visual process can work parallel with other parts to handle reading/listening

[Becky]

Bakhtiar wrote: "Looks like part of our brain for creative/visual process can work parallel with other parts to handle reading/listening
"

You bet! I can only do physical things while I listen - almost any mental activity messes with my comprehension. I'll miss stuff.

I usually listen while walking or doing mundane chores and driving on a very rare trip out of town. Sometimes I find that I get hooked into a book while mopping the deck or weeding and end up listening while playing Mah Jong on the computer. This is a SERIOUS time killer. I think the best times are when I just put it all down and listen for 20 minutes or so. :-)

[Abigail]

Every Saturday morning when I do cleaning chores around the apartment I listen to my audiobook and get good listening time while being productive so it's a win-win. Also as others mentioned, driving (especially in traffic or longer drives/commutes) and waiting in lines or any public waiting (waiting for appointments, waiting at grocery store line) At work when there is downtime my job allows me to sit and listen to audiobooks which is also nice.

[Alana]

I find it makes the time MUCH more pleasant when stuck waiting in line at the grocery store. That's such a waste of time that doing a book makes it so much better. I have to turn it off as soon as I'm the one at the register, though. I like to pay attention to the numbers on the screen and also feel it's highly rude to listen to something else (including my phone) when someone is checking me out in the line. It's right back in my ears when pushing my cart to the car, though!

[Scott S.]

I desperately want to listen while I p90x (that could be 5 hours of book time a week!), but I haven't been able to pull it off yet. I try at least once a week, but I either lose workout pace or start thinking about krispy kreme doughnuts and forget to listen to the book.

[Ruth]

Drive

[Samyann]

Walking, and when I go to bed. I used to always have a paperback on the bedside table. Now, it's an iPad with a few dozen audiobooks. I set the sleep timer, usually for 30 or 45 minutes.

When alone, I'll listen while doing housework, cooking, laundry, etc.

I don't remember life before audiobooks. Radio? Ugh. Love 'em!

[Ruth]

I just audiobooks were affordable!

[John, Moderator]

That's what library cards are for!

[Alana]

Amen for the library!

[Kristie]

I get my platinum membership as a Christmas gift from my husband every year. He doesn't have to think about what to get me, and I get 24 audiobooks a year. Win-win! :)

[Alli]

I have a minimum 45 min commute each way 6 days a week so I am all about listening in my car. I also listen while cleaning and doing yard work.

[John-Michael]

Interesting seeing what everyone does while listening to their books.
I typically listen while:
Sitting on my porch smoking a few cigarettes
Road trips or driving to work
Sitting on the beach
Waiting for sleep
Cooking
And of course, playing solitaire!

[Angie]

Housework, painting, gardening, cooking. Any non-thinking task. Also driving. I always get so much more done if I am listening to an audiobook. Plus I enjoy it so much more. If I read I never get a thing done.

[Angie]

I use the noise blocking ear plugs & I am able to mow & vacuum while listening. I want to try jogging that's a great idea. And biking. Just have to leave on ear out so I can hear.

[Angie]

I also enjoy listening before bed. I just be sure to turn it off if I get too tired.

[Gitte]

Audio books are one of my great motivations for exercise! I also like to listen when I knit or do laundry. And I find it relaxing if I can't sleeep - I use the Sleep Timer (in audible's app).

[Margaret]

Can the Sleep Timer (in Audible's app) be applied to an Ipod Classic? I go to sleep with a beloved old book only to wake hours later with it still playing. I am a tech. troglodyte but I can get help.

[Gitte]

Margaret wrote: "Can the Sleep Timer (in Audible's app) be applied to an Ipod Classic? I go to sleep with a beloved old book only to wake hours later with it still playing. I am a tech. troglodyte but I can get help."

I don't know Margaret - I only use Audible.

[Scott S.]

Margaret wrote: "Can the Sleep Timer (in Audible's app) be applied to an Ipod Classic? I go to sleep with a beloved old book only to wake hours later with it still playing. I am a tech. troglodyte but I can get help."

Try this.

To set the interval before iPod turns off, select Extras > Clock > Sleep Timer. Then select the time you want.

When you set the sleep timer, a clock icon and the number of minutes left until iPod turns off appear near the top of the Now Playing screen.

The iPod nano and Fifth Generation iPod (iPod with video) both support multiple clocks. You can use sleep timer with one clock at a time.

[Emma B]

I listen while I color! I've discovered that there is a whole new world of adults who like to color using markers, pencils (some of which are VERY expensive!), gel pens, even the old Crayola crayons. The coloring books are not the ones we used as kids though kids certainly could use these coloring books. These books cover almost everything - animals, fashion, geometric designs, 3-D, mandalas, flowers, Old Masters paintings, modern art. Very inexpensive and surprisingly fun to do.

I discovered how popular "coloring" was with adults while looking for the old "paint by numbers" online. Anyway, I'm retired now, no cable TV (just network TV), and wanted something to do while listening to audiobooks.

I also listen while I walk; do housework; and, right before I drift off to sleep.

[Erika]

Emma, where did you discover all this about adults who like to color and the supplies they use? I'm curious to look at those things.

[John, Moderator]

Me, too, Erika!

[Nicola]

Emma B wrote: "I listen while I color! I've discovered that there is a whole new world of adults who like to color using markers, pencils (some of which are VERY expensive!), gel pens, even the old Crayola crayo..."

I love the idea of colouring as an adult. There are lots of fun apps for that, as well.

Spent a glorious hour yesterday evening listening to the last episode of Armadale while tucking succulents into their winter bed. Gardening, radio drama and twilight. What could be better?

[John, Moderator]

I listened to the version of Armadale available at Audible, and loved it!

[Leslie]

Emma B wrote: "I listen while I color! I've discovered that there is a whole new world of adults who like to color using markers, pencils (some of which are VERY expensive!), gel pens, even the old Crayola crayo..."

I do this too! I started by joining my nephews and niece but enjoyed it so much I started to color on my own :)