Maximize your audiobook listening time with these productivity tips.

5 Tips to Make Your Audiobook Time More Productive

Oct 7, 2024 — by 

Priyanjana Wason

Listening to audiobooks is an amazing way to immerse yourself in literature while multitasking. Whether you're commuting, working out, or doing household chores, audiobooks can turn mundane moments into productive learning or entertainment sessions. For fans of free audiobooks and especially classic audiobooks, maximizing your listening time can make a world of difference in how much content you can consume and how well you retain it.

Here are five tips to help you make the most of your audiobook listening sessions, and later we’ll show how you can do that with Fabuly!

1. Choose Books That Match Your Activity

A clip art of a person listening to an audiobook

One of the easiest ways to make your audiobook time more productive is to pick books that suit your current activity. If you're doing something mundane like cleaning or running, you can handle more complex content such as deep non-fiction or lengthy classics. However, if you're engaged in light tasks like cooking or folding laundry, something more relaxed and entertaining may keep you more focused.

For classic audiobooks, if you’re doing something where your mind can wander, you might enjoy diving into timeless works like Pride and Prejudice or Moby Dick, as these tend to demand more attention. On the other hand, lighter tales like Asleep in Armageddon by Ray Bradbury could be perfect when you're multitasking.

2. Adjust Playback Speed

Showcasing the feature that you can adjust playback speed on Fabuly: Free Classics Audiobooks App

Many audiobook apps allow you to adjust the playback speed, and this can be a game changer for productivity. If you’re listening to a slow-paced book or have a lot of listening time during a commute or long workout, try speeding up the narration. This way, you can finish books faster without missing any key information. Start by increasing the speed incrementally until you find a rate that’s comfortable but efficient.

3. Set Goals for Your Listening

Audiobook app showcasing how you can set your listeining goals

To make your audiobook time more purposeful, set clear goals for how much you want to listen to daily or weekly. For example, if you're tackling longer classic audiobooks like War and Peace or The Count of Monte Cristo, break the book into manageable chunks—say 15 minutes a day. This gives you a sense of accomplishment and helps prevent burnout from tackling long audiobooks all at once.

By setting goals, you’ll stay on track, making your listening time feel productive and not overwhelming.

4. Pair Audiobooks with Productive Tasks

Clip art of a man running while listeing to an audiobook

One of the best things about free audiobooks is that they allow you to multitask without extra cost. Pairing an audiobook with repetitive tasks like working out, commuting, or household chores lets you make productive use of time that would otherwise be spent zoning out. Listening while you run errands or exercise turns downtime into a chance to learn something new, complete a book, or expand your knowledge.

For the fans of classic literature, you can revisit iconic novels, short stories, or discover lesser-known gems while you handle everyday tasks, making each moment more enriching.

5. Make Use of Bookmarks and Notes

Illustration of how you can bookmark things on an audiobook

If your audiobook app offers a bookmarking or note-taking feature, use it! This helps make your listening more productive by allowing you to mark interesting passages or note ideas that stand out. You can revisit these sections later to refresh your memory or even use them for discussion points if you’re in a book club.

Many classic audiobooks are rich in wisdom and memorable quotes, so having the option to bookmark those golden lines will make your listening experience more impactful.

How can Fabuly Make Your Time More Productive?

Now that you know how to make your audiobook time more productive, let's talk about how Fabuly can help you apply these tips seamlessly.

Fabuly Features for Productive Audiobook Listening:

  • Fabuly is free: The app is free and completely ad-free. You can listen to 10,000+ books without having to spend a dime.
  • Curated Classic Audiobooks: Fabuly offers a handpicked selection of classic audiobooks, so you won’t waste time searching through endless lists of books. You’ll find the best works ready for your next listening session.
  • Playback Control: With Fabuly, you can adjust playback speed to enhance your listening experience—whether you need to speed up a lengthy classic or slow down to soak in the details—it’s all available at the touch of a button.
  • Offline Listening: Download audiobooks and listen to them offline while doing tasks, so you can stay productive even without an internet connection. Let’s be honest, the subways have the worst internet connection, so why not listen to some classics and make your commute more productive. (Though this is a premium feature.)
  • Personalized Recommendations: Receive personalized recommendations that help you discover more audiobooks in line with your interests, so you can spend more time listening and less time browsing.

Get Started with Fabuly Today

Using these productivity tips, along with Fabuly’s unique features, will help you make the most of your audiobook listening time. Whether you’re into free audiobooks or love delving into classic books, Fabuly has everything you need to maximize your time and enjoyment.

Download Fabuly on the Play Store or App Store today!