Are you wondering what to do while listening to audiobooks? I’ve got you covered!
One of the absolute best things about audiobooks is that your hands and eyes are completely free while your mind gets totally absorbed in an amazing story. Whether you’re trying to be productive or just want to relax and have fun, there are endless ways to make your audiobook time even better.
New to audiobooks and wondering how it all works exactly? Start with our complete beginner’s guide to audiobook listening first.
The Classics (Because They’re Classic for a Reason!)
Productive Stuff:
- Household chores: Laundry, cleaning, organizing (seriously, folding laundry is 1000% better with a good story!)
- Cooking and meal prep: Chopping vegetables becomes meditative instead of boring
- Commuting: Turn your drive or train ride into story time
- Exercise and workouts: Makes the treadmill actually bearable, haha
- Gardening: Weeding while listening to mysteries? Perfect combo!
- DIY home projects: Painting walls, assembling furniture, organizing closets
Relaxing Activities:
- Walking or hiking: Get those steps in while getting lost in a story
- Puzzles: Jigsaw, crossword, sudoku (my personal favorite!)
- Crafting: Knitting, crochet (if you don’t lose count like me), drawing, adult coloring books
- Bath time: Ultimate relaxation mode activated
- Gentle yoga or stretching: Perfect for calmer audiobooks
Having trouble concentrating during these activities? Here are 6 proven focus strategies for audiobook listening.
Some Unexpected Favorites I’ve Discovered
The Night Owl’s Dream: Perfect for Insomniacs
Okay, so maybe you’re like me and sometimes you just can’t sleep. Instead of lying there getting frustrated, why not make those late hours productive AND enjoyable?
I love doing gentle organizing tasks that won’t wake anyone up, like sorting through digital photos on my phone, cleaning out my email inbox (finally!), or quietly reorganizing a closet. Adult coloring with some ambient lighting is also incredibly soothing.
The Social Butterfly: Who Says Audiobooks Are Solo?
Audiobooks don’t have to be a solo activity! Family puzzle nights work great with kid-friendly audiobooks.
And if you’re crafty, book club meetings where everyone brings their knitting or drawing while discussing the book? Chef’s kiss Perfect!
My partner and I sometimes share earbuds during workouts; it’s like having a workout buddy AND a reading buddy at the same time.
The Skill Builder: Learning While You Listen
This one took me a while to figure out, but you can actually practice certain skills to get extra benefits out of the things you do while listening to audiobooks! The key is matching the right activity to the right type of book.
For fiction (where you want to follow the plot), try things like practicing calligraphy, organizing and digitizing old photos, or even learning basic photo editing. These activities need focus but don’t require much brain power once you get the hang of them.
With some nonfiction books, you can perfectly work along and practice what the book teaches while listening. This also works excellently when learning a new language!
This multitasking ability is one key advantage in the audiobooks vs reading ebooks debate.
The Adventure Seeker: Take Your Books Places
Why stay home? I love taking audiobooks to museums; you can listen to historical fiction between exhibits, or even find books that relate to what you’re seeing. It’s like having a double cultural experience!
And one thing I have come to love most about road trips is the uninterrupted audiobook time. I try to match my books to where I’m going, beach reads for beach trips, obviously, but also city-themed books when I’m traveling to new places.
If you like to be about in town, visit cafes and coffee shops, you can also try to match the place you’re visiting with the vibe of your audiobook. A cozy fantasy novel at the cute place downtown, a chilling thriller audiobook at the modern spot with the big windows, a fantasy series for the beautiful park…
The Creative Mind: Artistic Adventures
Building LEGO sets while listening to audiobooks is seriously therapeutic, and I will die on this hill! There’s something about the repetitive, satisfying clicking while your mind follows a story that’s just perfect.
Bullet journaling while listening to productivity books feels very meta and productive. My partner loves arranging flowers or repotting plants while listening to audiobooks. He says there’s something about working with your hands in dirt while stories flow through your ears that’s incredibly grounding.
And origami! Who knew that folding tiny paper cranes could be the perfect audiobook companion?
The Comfort Seeker: Maximum Coziness
Sometimes you just want to be comfortable and cozy, right? Then perfect the art of creating your ultimate listening nook with soft blankets, good lighting, maybe some tea!
Seasonal activities are also amazing for cozy vibes while listening to an audiobook. Pumpkin carving in fall, holiday decorating in winter, spring cleaning (okay, that one’s less cozy but still satisfying).
Self-care routines like face masks, hair treatments, or even just giving yourself a manicure while listening to something light and fun? Pure heaven.
And my fellow pet owners know that grooming your dog or cat while listening to audiobooks is bonding time for you AND story time for your brain.
The Unexpected: Totally Surprising Ideas That Actually Work
Waiting in lines becomes actually enjoyable instead of infuriating. DMV visit? Grocery store during busy times? Doctor’s office? Bring headphones, and suddenly you’re hoping the line moves slowly so you can hear more of your book!
Car maintenance: Getting oil changes, car washes, and even just sitting in waiting rooms for appointments. Time that used to feel wasted now feels like a gift.
Driving ranges or mini golf: I know this might sound unusual, but it totally works! The rhythm of these activities is perfect for audiobook listening.
Aquarium or zoo visits: Especially when you’re going alone or it’s not crowded. You can wander at your own pace and let your mind be in two places at once.
Assembling furniture: Yes, that IKEA furniture is more fun now! Instructions are mostly visual anyway, and having a story going makes the whole process less frustrating and more like a fun project.
These activities showcase why audiobooks have so many benefits!
Just Experiment and Have Fun!
Honestly, the best audiobook activities are the ones that work for YOUR life and YOUR preferences. Maybe you’ll discover that folding fitted sheets while listening to fantasy novels is your secret happy place (no judgment here!). Or maybe you’ll become the person who only listens to biographies while reorganizing kitchen cabinets.
The point is to experiment and find what makes both your audiobook time and your daily tasks more enjoyable. Because we all deserve a bit more fun!
What do you most enjoy doing while listening to audiobooks? I’m always looking for more ideas!
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 10 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 250 audiobooks per year has become the new normal and you will rarely see Eline without a wireless earbud. Romance and Fantasy are the go-to genres for this audiobook fan.