OK, I’ll admit it. Every so often, I don’t have as much time as I’d like to dedicate to reading. Yes, even with all my tips and tricks to squeeze in extra time. Life happens. (You know, like settling into a new home, planning a wedding, running a household, oh and working full time….)
Keeping up with the New York Times Best Sellers, Ophrah’s fav’s, and a million other lists can be quite daunting. So I keep a running list of books I want to eventually read, and it seriously grows larger by the day. There are just so many must-reads out there! So, I turn to audiobooks for help. And let me tell you, audiobooks have stolen my heart.
I find audiobooks to be extremely beneficial and efficient when there is just no time to sit down with a book. Because, let’s face it: there are only so many hours in the day.
I start my mornings off with a 30 minute walk to work. During that time, you better believe I’m listening to audiobook (if I’m not on the phone with my mother). The same rule applies when I leave work in the evenings.
When I’m home from work, there’s always some mindless chore-related task to tackle: cooking dinner, putting away laundry, watering the plants, etc. What’s better than listening to a book that’s exceptionally captivating (like this, this, and this) while doing chores?
This goes for non-captivating books as well. On my list of personal development books are some serious snoozers. I have every intention of reading them, but it’s tough to pick it up, because said book is SO utterly dry. Listening — rather than reading — is much more enjoyable, and I’m inclined to power through.
Sidebar: if the audiobooks narrator is somewhat of a story teller, they are all the more fun to listen to.
I’ll even listen in the car. But there’s a reason for that… Alex and I have vastly different tastes in music, so when we’re in the car together — on a drive longer than 15 minutes — we settle on either a podcast, or an audiobook. We’re currently in the middle of Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris.
I set a pretty aggressive Reading Challenge for myself this year, 45 books (currently: 28 books read of the 45). But I know with the help of Audible, I’ll get there!
Have you given audiobooks a try?