Audiobooks - when to fit into my day?

[TheOvulator]

I have been lucky enough to download the new Margaret Atwood - The Testaments on audiobook from my local library.

However, whenever I have previously tried to listen to audiobooks, I find myself trying (and failing) to multitask and end up blocking out the book.

I don't have a lengthy commute or long walk. I do the school run, but obviously have children with me on this so no good for listening to literature.

I have loads of time during the day that I could listen to it, but if I invariably find myself playing with my phone, or sorting paperwork etc. and find that I've not listened to the last ten mins.

Any advice on how to zone out and just listen?

I really struggled with actually listening to the books while doing something different as well.

What worked for me was to listen to a couple of books I already new really well to get used to it. That meant if I zoned out I still knew what the story was.

I now listen to books mostly while I'm doing chores so cooking tea, tidying up and when I'm sat waiting for DS to go to sleep

I can't do anything that involves reading while listening though

I put regular bookmarks. So if I do zone out it’s easy enough to find my place.

Multitask only with the dullest of jobs. Like ironing that is repetitive and doesn't require much thought so leaves plenty of brain power free to listen.

I also find it hard to fit in my day.
I tend to find walking and listening works. Do you have time to go out walking as an extra walk?
If I'm enjoying the book i walk further as well which is a bonus.

I also put it on if i ever get the chance to drive long distances on my own.
I can also put it on in a long bath.

I'm just about to do a long haul flight so I have also downloaded The Testaments. Just wondering how rude it is to my travelling partners to sit down,plug in and zone out

My husband puts his phone close to the cooker and watches documentaries but i find one distracts the other.

But I can (sometimes, if im in my own) cook quite easily and listen

I listen when I go to bed or in the bath.

I get through a lot of audiobooks and podcasts. I listen while I'm doing housework, on the walk home from the school run, walking the dog and in bed at night. I use a short sleep timer so it's not too tricky to find my place again after I fall asleep.

Ooh yes and in the bath

Walking. On buses. Supermarket shopping. Doing housework.

I listen on the commute mostly but I also listen when I'm in the bath & when I'm childfree I put the book through Alexa while I'm pottering around doing chores.

I listen to podcasts on the commute, when my cleaning and when I'm gardening.

I don't do an awful lot of cleaning and absolutely no ironing because I'm very lazy. I have tried it before when tidying up, but I find my mind wanders to, "Where do I need to put this, oh yes, over there. Oh, wait, I need to file this," and before I know it, I've stopped listening again.

I think it would be the same if I'm cooking, as it involves concentration.

Gardening might not be a bad shout, but I don't garden regularly enough to actually get through a whole book.

Perhaps this is a sign that I should try and do a couple of long walks each day. Might help me get a bit fitter too.

I listen to audio books all day everyday. But I can only listen to the ones that are actual plays and have a full cast. If I listen to the ones being read by one person I’m like u and zone out. Learnt my lesson and I don’t waste my money on them.

I’m the same. I can’t even listen to them on walks. I get distracted and then start thinking of other stuff and then before I know it, I’ve lost 10 minutes of the story!

I agree with lurky that there's a certain knack to it and familiar books might make you grasp that easier.

I would also say that to a certain extent the book itself helps. A really well read and gripping book will not allow you to "drift off" - I have found this is very much trial and error