CARLY HOW TO GET INTO AUDIOBOOKS (2024)

Listening to audiobooks has revolutionized how I consume books… and I’m not the only one! More and more people are turning to audiobooks, which has led to a fantastic boom in the industry. Publishers are taking note and have been investing in creating better and more entertaining audiobooks, which makes the whole listening experience that much better. Nowadays, audiobooks are a far cry from the “books on tape” from yesteryear!

I have talked to some people, both online with followers and in person with friends, and I’ve heard that getting into audiobooks can feel a little intimidating. If you’ve never listened to one, you might think that they’re just not for you. I’m partnering today with Audible to share how I thinkanyone can get into audiobooks!

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ONE: Listening to audiobooks is a muscle

We all have experience reading physical books and probably listening to podcasts, but listening to an audiobook is a bit of a skill you have to work on and build up in my opinion. It can be hard to focus on the words if you’re doing other things (one of the perks of audiobooks though!) and I think it’s easier to work on building up your audiobook muscle first before diving into more complex stories. When you’re just getting introduced to the world of audiobooks, you might have to be a little more discerning about the books you choose to listen to and the activities you’re doing while listening as you get used to it.

TWO: Choosing the right audiobook

For your first few audiobooks, I think the selection of what you choose to listen to will make or break your experience. I have some easy suggestions to follow while choosing. Because it’s harder to stay focused, at least for me in the beginning of your journey, I recommend listening to a memoir narrated by the author (celebrity memoirs are a great intro point), non-fiction books that align with your interests (maybe think about what types podcasts you enjoy), or a book of short stories (because they’re episodic in nature).

Now I love listening to novels, but if you’re not used to audiobooks it could be hard to keep track of characters and complicated plot lines. Rom coms are probably a good option if you’re looking for a book that will be easy to keep up with at first.

I would also look at release date as books released more recently tend to have better production value and better audio quality.

Audible is a great place to start because you can easily browse through categories and discover great books that pique your interest. You can also sample the book before you dive in, which is crucial to make sure you like the narrator! You can also sort by best-sellers, new releases, and Audible originals.

THREE: What to do while listening

Unlike reading a physical book where you’re sitting down and holding the book doing nothing else, listening to audiobooks can be a great way to unlock multitasking. I think this is why I love audiobooks so much! I can listen while I’m doing things I would already doing, especially if they’re a bit mundane in nature. Audiobooks makes chores, exercise, and long drives much more entertaining! What you do while listening is going to look different for everyone, so it might take some trial and error to see what works best for you. Remember, it’s a muscle you have to build up! I recommend doing something that’s methodical and doesn’t require a lot of “background” thinking so you can focus your energy on listening to the book. For example, a long road trip where you are on a highway for an extended period of time would be easier to listen to an audiobook than navigating a new city with a lot of directions that you have to pay attention to. You want to find like a good “flow state.”

Some things that I enjoy doing while listening to audiobooks are: folding laundry, tidying the house, blow drying my hair (I put headphones in and make the volume as loud as necessary), needlepointing, driving, and walking our dog.