Can You Really Listen to An Audiobook And Multi-Task?
I’m a compulsive multi-tasker, meaning I thrive off a sense of accomplishment. This also means I’m horrible at relaxing, because sitting around with no purpose feels like a waste of time.
Let me be clear: I like and need downtime. But downtime is completing activities I’m choosing to do — things that help me feel relaxed and recharged, but also allow me to be as active or inactive as I want to be.
Most often my downtime is spent working out, writing or volunteering. Hell, I even consider typical household chores as as downtime, because there’s a clear beginning and end.
But a constant companion to most of my downtime activities is an audiobook, which means I’m doing two meaningful things at once — a multi-tasker’s dream.
Not every book lends itself to an audio format — either because of the topic, narration or writing style — but the vast majority do. However, it’s the listener that makes or breaks the experience. Here’s a few tips to help you maximize listening while multi-tasking.
You do need to concentrate.
Unless you only have an audiobook on for background noise, to actually get invested in the story, you will need to give some concentration to the narration. “Doing while listening” activities that work for some people won’t work for others. Through trial and error find the ones that help you safely complete your task, and allow you to immerse yourself in the audiobook.
My go-to activities are:
Daily commute: Concentrating on the story helps me shed the stress of the day, while still allowing me to focus on my surroundings. It also makes rush hour traffic more bearable.
Walking and biking: Exercise that can be done for extended periods of time and don’t require heavy exertion have worked best for me.
Cleaning: I’m a process person, and my cleaning structure is already established. Listening to audiobooks makes even the dirty work less tedious.
I’ve had less success with listening during more strenuous exercise, like running or weight training, because the energy-level in the narration isn’t where I need it to be. Cooking is also hit or miss. If I’m making something I’m made dozens of times before — no issue. If I’m following a recipe — no luck.
Acknowledge that your mind will drift
Like any activity, you need to be in the mood to do it or it will feel like work. When chapters start blurring together or characters pop up and you don’t remember how they were introduced, you’re probably zoning out.
Understand and appreciate that even the most avid listener will have his or her mind wander, but implement a “zone out” rule to keep you accountable. If you mind keeps drifting back to what happened at work or errands you need to run, do yourself a favor and turn off the book.
Start a new audiobook with one of your easy tasks
It takes time to get into the cadence of a narrator and the author’s writing style. So you’ll usually need more concentration the first hour or two of an audiobook. I try not to start a new audiobook unless there is time for uninterrupted listening.
Longer drives and walking — and in the winter shoveling snow — always give me the time needed to immerse myself.
Is this story multi-tasking approved?
Wouldn’t it be great to know if you can multi-task when listening? Well, I’m here to help! In each of my audiobook reviews, I’ll let you know if multi-tasking is recommended or not.
If it’s a “yes” to multi-tasking then the story and narration are relatively easy to follow. If it’s a “no” then the story requires more concentration to really appreciate (or the narration is terrible!).
