I’m an avid reader, but I also know that I’m not alone when it comes to having a busy life. Although I love reading, I don’t always have the time to sit down with a physical book. No matter how hard I try to make time for my beloved books, there’s always something that seems to come up. Some nights, I just don’t have the energy—I end up staying up late, trying to cross off tasks on my to-do list or doing chores around the house.
I always felt that audiobooks were for wimps. You know, for people who didn’t have the attention span to read. I proved myself a snob about audiobooks for a long time. I liked my hardcovers, my leatherbound collections, and the sharp snap of pages punctuated with the occasional bookmark.
Books don’t smell like anything from another universe. They won’t disappear if you try to stick them in your purse. And nothing can compare to curling up on the couch (or somewhere warm, if it’s winter) when it’s time to read.
It took me a while to fall in love with audiobooks. After all, I was a reader. As a child, I devoured books, consuming every book in my school and public library and even reading past the point of no return. But as I grew older, it became more and more difficult to find time to read. I turned to audiobooks as a way of getting back into reading for fun again.
When I first started listening to audiobooks, I wasn’t sure if they were for me—I mean, it’s not like you can get lost in an audiobook the same way you can get lost in a book. But after a few years of listening on my commute, I realized that audiobooks are actually pretty amazing.
They’re like having your book read to you by your super-cool best friend who’s really funny and knows how to pronounce all the words in your books properly. And they’re not just for grouchy old people who don’t want to look at screens anymore—audiobooks are great for people of all ages!
Audiobooks are a great way to make your time spent on the bus or in the doctor’s office more productive, but have you ever tried listening to one while you’re getting ready for the day? I’ve found that my default morning routine is much more enjoyable when it includes listening to a book. The first few minutes of the day are the best time to listen because I’m not doing anything too complicated yet and I can focus on what I’m hearing.
Here are some reasons you should add audiobooks to your own routine:
You can listen to them while you’re driving, walking, working—basically doing anything! You can’t read a book while you’re driving, but you sure can listen to an audiobook.
It’s easy to follow along with the story without having to look away from the road, or whatever else you’re doing at the moment.
Audiobooks make it so much easier to get through long books that might be intimidating because of their size—and let’s be honest here: some of us just don’t have time for all those words!
If you’re an auditory learner and love listening to stories, an audiobook is perfect for you because it allows you to soak in all that great content without having to struggle with reading it yourself. Plus, it’s a great way to pass the time when you’re stuck in traffic or waiting around somewhere else where there aren’t many other options available.
And finally: They open up a whole new world of literature. You can find audiobooks on almost any topic imaginable—from classics like Shakespeare’s plays to modern horror stories like Stephen King’s “It” or “The Shining” (which will literally haunt your dreams).
Audiobooks have been met with a lot of criticism for many years. But if you’re anything like me, you’ll discover that these criticisms are unfounded.
Audiobooks can be just as addictive, if not more so, than regular books. So perhaps it’s time to reclaim audiobooks from their bad reputation and give them a try. After all, there’s no better way to pass the time on your daily commute than by listening to a riveting story read in an engaging voice.
KenSanWrites is your passport into the mind of Kendra Sanders an ambiverted, writer whose content is centered around personal development, productivity, lifestyles, and entertainment.
Personal, inviting, relatable, engaging
