Hi, I’m Leanne and I’m addicted to audiobooks.
I listen to them everywhere. In the car, taking walks, doing chores, even showering (I point my iPhone speaker toward the bathtub).
Listening to audiobooks isn’t inherently bad, of course. On the addiction scale, they rank pretty far below chocolate and cocaine. But at least twice a month, I make a resolution to stop the listening. Because when I’m listening, I’m tuning out the rest of the world. And that’s… well, it’s bad, right?
If I’m listening to an audiobook while I’m taking a walk, I’m not fully appreciating the colors of the leaves on the trees, the cool air against my skin, or the pleasant muscle tug in my calves. If I listen in the shower or while doing the dishes, I’m taking away the only times that my mind really gets to wander, the times that I get my most creative thoughts and biggest ideas. I’m a writer; creativity and ideas are pretty damn important. That in itself is enough to make audiobooks a bad habit. They prevent me from staying in the moment. They take my mind away from where I am, sending it to Hogwarts or Nantucket or the dark side of the moon.
Listening also means not paying full attention to my son. Sure, when he’s in the stroller, he’s just observing. Sure, when I’m doing dishes, he’s usually eating his snack and talking to himself. But I could still be talking to him. I could still be singing the alphabet song, and pointing out new things in the room or on our walking trail. I should be spending every minute of my day being present, just for him. Right?
Wrong.
Here’s the great thing about audiobooks: it’s something I can do that’s just for me. A lot of people don’t have hobbies that they can carry around in their pockets. A lot of people aren’t able to incorporate them into their day with the press of a button and insertion of an earpiece. But I can. I can take a mental vacation anytime I want. I can spend just a few minutes, or the duration of a long walk. And when I pull out my earplugs or turn off my car, I’m renewed. Maybe I’d appreciate a beautiful sunset more if I didn’t have someone else’s words in my ear. But maybe not. Maybe living a little outside of myself, immersing myself in inner and outer worlds at the same time, is just what I need.
It’s much easier to play peek-a-boo with my son for the thirtieth time when I know it’s almost time for our morning walk (and my mental escape). Vacuuming is much more fun when I can bring Harry Potter along. And I’m more relaxed, listening to Malcolm Gladwell’s soothing tones while driving.
Listening to audiobooks might take me out of the moment, but they enable me to stay present for the rest of the day. I’m definitely addicted, but I think I’m going to stay addicted.
What takes you out of the moment?
