What do you do while you listen? Any particular tasks or games that you find amazing for audio time?
This is the amazing thing about audiobooks. You can MULTITASK. And it is wonderful.
I listen to my audiobook in the shower, while getting ready in the morning, in the car, while running, while cleaning or cooking (my husband will laugh at this claim), and when I have trouble falling asleep at night.
I do not listen to my audiobook when engaged in tasks that require attention from the same part of my brain. For example, I could not listen to an audiobook while writing this post. I’ve heard about some people being able to do this, but I would retain approximately 0% of the story.
I also do not listen to my audiobook with headphones when I am watching the baby. I thought this was worth mentioning after a discussion with Trish earlier this week. If I am listening around the house, it is simply through my iPhone’s speakers. This means Evan can hear it (which causes me a bit of concern), but it also means I can hear Evan. I also do not listen on runs when I have E in the stroller. I want to be able to hear him and I want to be able to hear any impending danger.
To accomplish all of this listening, I load all of my audiobooks onto my iPhone. I mostly transfer cds from the library or review downloads onto my phone through my computer but I also have an audible account for immediate download straight to my phone. I set the tracks to remember my place so I never get lost. Â My phone has built in speakers for home (or there are various docks around the house) and my book begins playing in my car automatically via bluetooth (which is a bit of a problem when I DON’T want to listen to my book and I don’t realize this is happening…). I think I’d get a lot less reading done if we were back in the audio cassette days.
So what do you do while you’re reading audiobooks? Make sure you check out everyone’s posts over at Devourer of Books.
my books. my life. 
same thing for my brain, I have no idea how people can give their full mental attention to 2 tasks at the same time.
I think I’m going soon to get a deck for my ipod touch to be able to listen in the shower or places where I can’t have earphones on. very tempting!
I also transfer cds to ipodtouch through pc. I thought it was medieval technique, but glad to see you do that as well.
good point about being able to hear your son, I love that
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It might be old-fashioned, but it works!
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not only the safety factors , the value of being present to your child can’t be replaced..
cd/cassette player combo in my car – amazed me – but def appreciated when I find a vintage agatha christie or sherlock holmes =)
hapPy listening!
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Yes, I do like being present with my child. Lol. But if he’s playing and I’m doing my hair or something in the morning, then I listen. 🙂
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I can only listen while doing maintenance-like tasks on my blog – updating challenges, linking reviews, setting up upcoming posts with standard stuff – but I definitely can’t listen while writing my reviews or posts like these or even when commenting on other blogs.
~Kristin @ Always With a Book
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I don’t even know if I could listen while doing those tasks. I need no competing words.
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I’m with you. I cannot do anything that isn’t auto-pilot while listening or I end up having to rewind so I only listen while doing brainless tasks like cleaning/walking doggies/driving. I can do prep work while listening but if I’m trying to follow a new recipe I always end up messing up the measurements or ignoring the book.
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The second I have to read another word, I ignore the audiobook. I guess others’ brains must be wired differently?
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I mostly listen to audiobooks in the car… I don’t have a super long commute, but this seems to work the best for me in terms of concentration. I will occasionally listen to audio when doing chores– cooking, dishes, folding laundry, that sort of thing. I also will sometimes listen to audiobooks when feeding the baby… it was a nice way to keep myself somewhat awake during those middle-of-the-night feedings.
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I loved audiobooks for those middle of the night feedings. I’d be too tired to read and I could just close my eyes and listen. It was also helpful when we had latch issues and I had to use two hands to nurse.
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I’m the same, when I’m doing housework around the house I will put my phone on a dock or use a speaker, as long as the book is “toddler-friendly” lol. I have 2 4yo’s, and they seem to enjoy some of the MG audios I listen to.
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I think I am going to have to start watching what exactly I am listening to around the baby.
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Awwww. One of the related posts (that little widget thingy) is a picture of you and Evan in the hospital. Anyway. I’m glad that we talked about it earlier this week because I had NEVER thought about listening to the audiobook without headphones in. Since we got our version 5 phones we don’t have docking stations but I will probably invest with one for when I’m at home with the baby.
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I don’t even bother with the docking station most of the time. The phone speakers are plenty strong enough.
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These are great tips! I like getting audio CDs from the library too, but it’s so time consuming copying them over. It would be great to be able to blog and listen, since we spend so much time blogging 🙂
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Hey, it sounds like you’re gonna get your baby reading early 🙂
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I love my iPhone, Bluetooth, and Audible. They have so changed my life! I love that I can move from one place to another, and just keep listening. It has made listening so convenient. I used to listen to audio in the car with my son when he was younger, but I always tried to keep it PG. Now I have to be more cautious because he is 5 and really curious. I have one for the family to listen to when we go on vacation–I’ve been saving it. Now I just need to find time to take a vacation! 🙂
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I also can’t listen to my audiobook while doing anything that involves thinking. I tried it while just surfing the internet once and that was the end of that.
I try to listen to mine whenever I drive alone and whenever I’m home alone doing chores like laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc. Not while cooking, since COOKING LOL. I also listen when I go for walks alone, usually during the summer when I’m actually active 🙂
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