How I Finally Started Reading More — Even With Kids, Chores, and a Full Schedule

How audiobooks turned laundry time, carpool, and dinner prep into my favorite reading hours (and how you can try Audible for just $0.99/month for 3 months).

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Scrolling through my phone at bedtime used to feel like “reading.” Real books sat on my nightstand — unread, guiltier, and more distant than ever. Sound familiar?

If you’re a busy mom juggling school runs, cooking, chores, and a hundred little things that never make it off your to-do list, you’re not alone. The good news: you don’t need another free hour in the day to read more. You need a better way to use the time you already have. Enter audiobooks — my game-changing hack for actually finishing my TBR pile without stealing time from my family.

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The problem: You want to read more — but life is loud

Let’s be honest: the problem isn’t that you don’t value reading. It’s that reading—real, uninterrupted time with a book—requires a block of quiet that is rare for families. Between kid drop-offs, laundry, meal prep, and errands, that quiet hour gets swallowed.

So here’s the small shift that changed everything: instead of waiting for quiet to happen, I bring the book with me — in audio form. Suddenly, the minutes we already have (the 20-minute drive, the walk around the block, the 30 minutes prepping dinner) turned into chapters.

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The transformation: what Audible did for me

I started listening to audiobooks while doing chores and cooking. At first it felt a little indulgent — like I was sneaking in “me time” — but quickly it became my favorite part of the day.

Two real changes I noticed fast:

• Less guilt, more progress. I finished books I’d owned for years. The Four Winds — a book that had been on my shelf forever — suddenly felt alive because the narrator’s performance pulled me through.
• Commutes and chores stopped feeling wasted. What used to be “busy work” became quiet, nourishing time. I was learning, laughing, and relaxing — all while folding socks.

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How I actually use Audible (real-life examples)

Here are the exact pockets of time I tapped — and the routine I used so listening didn’t become another unfinished thing on my list.

1. During weekday cooking
   I queue an audiobook while dinner simmers. Instead of scrolling through my phone, I follow a chapter. Dinner gets made, the kids get fed, and I finish a book before the week is over.
2. While cleaning and tidying
   I dread washing dishes. Now I look forward to it because I’m “reading.” A 30–45 minute cleaning session can take you through a solid chunk of most fiction or non-fiction chapters.
3. On the school run / commute
   Fifteen minutes each way = 30 minutes a day. Multiply that by five and you’re back to three to four hours a week of “reading.”
4. Walking the dog or stroller
   I up my step count and finish books faster. Double win.
5. During workouts
   Audible makes long treadmill sessions less boring. I often crank listening speed slightly and get through more without missing nuance.
6. Quiet time before bed
   Listening in bed is my treat: a softer way to wind down than screen time.

Tiny routine that works: pick a book, set a goal of “one chapter per day,” and schedule the same listening pocket each day (e.g., while making breakfast). Habit + repeat = progress.

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Top audiobook recommendations (books I actually listened to and loved)

Here are five audiobooks I genuinely recommend — books that stayed with me, and narrators who made them better. These are the titles I reached for when I wanted to be moved, to learn, or to be entertained while multitasking.

The Four Winds — Kristin Hannah
This one grabbed me during dinner prep — the narrator’s performance kept me glued to chapters I listened to while cooking and putting kids to bed. The audiobook is narrated by Julia Whelan, and her narration brings the characters to life in a way that made me rewind and listen again.

Where the Crawdads Sing — Delia Owens
A lush, atmospheric novel I listened to on long walks. Cassandra Campbell’s reading carries the marshy setting and the book’s quiet heart perfectly. It’s one of those audiobooks that makes you notice the way the narrator shapes each small moment.

Becoming — Michelle Obama
If you love memoirs and authenticity, Michelle Obama narrates her own story — which makes the listening experience intimate and powerful. I listened to parts of this while driving and felt like I was hearing the story firsthand from a friend.

Atomic Habits — James Clear
Practical, bite-sized lessons you can act on immediately; great for listening on short errands or during workouts. James Clear’s audiobook delivery keeps the lessons crisp and easy to apply.

Educated — Tara Westover
A raw, compelling memoir that’s perfect for long drives or quiet afternoons. The narrator’s pace and tone made every chapter feel cinematic, which helped me get through heavy material during day-to-day life. (Pro tip: choose a narrator performance you like — it makes all the difference.)

Note: I listened to most of these while doing chores or on commutes. The narrator’s voice and pacing are such big parts of the audiobook experience that I’ll choose a title specifically for the narrator more and more.

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Creative, practical ways to use audiobooks (besides the obvious)

If you’re ready to try listening but aren’t sure where it fits, here are eleven realistic ideas that are perfect for busy families:

• Chore + chapter: Make a simple family rule: finish one small cleaning task per chapter.
• Kid-friendly background: Put on a gentle children’s audiobook during creative time to keep kids engaged while you load the dishwasher.
• Book club on-the-go: Listen to the same book as a friend, then chat about it over coffee or text.
• Carpool chapters: Each driver gets a chapter; make the car your tiny book club.
• Lunch break learning: Swap social scrolling for a non-fiction chapter. You’ll return to work refreshed.
• Nighttime unwind: Play a calming fiction chapter instead of doom-scrolling.
• Speed-listen for review: Use 1.25x–1.5x settings for light non-fiction or re-reads.
• Make grocery shopping richer: Pop in headphones and turn a mundane errand into “me-time.”
• Walk-and-learn: Combine fresh air with a how-to audiobook.
• Family story time: Share a chapter or two aloud in the evening as a family ritual.
• DIY project companion: Whether painting or building, an audiobook keeps you company and informed.

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Why narrators matter (and how to pick one you’ll love)

A great narrator can elevate a book. It’s the difference between a story that’s “nice” and one that hooks you in the car at 7 a.m. and makes you late because you had to finish a scene.

How to pick a narrator:

• Read the audiobook page reviews for comments about the narrator’s tone and performance.
• Listen to a 1–2 minute sample before committing. If you like the sample, you’ll likely enjoy the whole book.
• Prefer an author-narrated memoir? That usually translates to authenticity (Michelle Obama is a great example).

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Audible features that make it family-friendly and thrifty

Audible isn’t just a library — it’s a set of tools that make listening easy and cheap compared with buying multiple hardcovers.

• Huge selection — fiction, memoirs, how-to, and children’s titles. The catalog is massive and keeps expanding.
• Keep your books — once you redeem a credit and buy the audiobook, it’s yours to keep even if you cancel. That’s peace of mind.
• Change listening speed — get through shorter books faster without losing comprehension.
• Offline listening — download to your phone or tablet for car rides and no-wifi situations.
• Credits system — most membership plans give credits that can be used on any premium title, even long bestsellers. (Check current offers for discounts on your first months.)

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Gentle promotion — try Audible low-risk

If you’ve never tried audiobooks or you’re unsure if listening will fit your routine, try this low-risk approach:

• Start with a 3-month Audible trial at $0.99 per month (limited-time offer). It gives you time to test whether audiobooks fit into your week without the usual price barrier.)
• Pick one fiction and one short non-fiction to start. That way you’ll experience both storytelling and quick, applicable tips.
• Use the narrator sample feature before committing to a full credit or purchase.

If you want to try listening on your next commute, [Get 3 months of Audible for $0.99/month] — it’s how I got hooked.

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Frequently asked (busy-mom) questions

Q: What if I don’t like the narrator?
A: Audible lets you return most audiobooks if you don’t enjoy them (policy may vary), and you can sample before you buy a title with a credit.

Q: I can’t focus while cooking — will I actually remember what I hear?
A: Short answer: yes. Start with fiction or short non-fiction. Listening while doing repetitive tasks helps comprehension because your brain isn’t constantly switching tasks. Plus, re-listening to a favorite chapter is always an option.

Q: Is this expensive?
A: The value is huge: an audiobook can replace the cost of several paperback purchases, and with deals like $0.99 for the first 3 months, it’s easy to test without a big spend.

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My honest take (the authenticity part)

I listen while cooking, cleaning, and driving. Audible didn’t magically create more time — but it turned the minutes I already had into something nourishing. I finished The Four Winds while folding laundry and honestly cried in the kitchen. The narrator, Julia Whelan, made those characters feel like neighbors I’d known forever.

That’s my endorsement: not a hard sell, but a “this worked for me” recommendation. If your life is full — and it is — try the small experiment. Swap one episode of a show or 20 minutes of scrolling for a chapter and see how it feels.

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Quick-start 7-day listening plan (doable and thrifty)

Day 1: Sign up for Audible. Pick one fiction + one short non-fiction.
Day 2: Listen while doing one household chore (kitchen or laundry). Aim for one chapter.
Day 3: Swap 15 minutes of social scrolling during lunch for listening.
Day 4: Take a walk and finish another chapter.
Day 5: Listen during school pick-up or carpool.
Day 6: Try a 1.25x speed on a short non-fiction lesson.
Day 7: Reflect — did you feel calmer, smarter, or more entertained? Keep the titles that worked and return the ones that didn’t.

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Final thoughts — make the time you already have count

Being busy doesn’t mean giving up on books. It means getting creative with how you “read.” Audiobooks are not a replacement for quiet reading — they’re a way to fold literature into a life that’s already full.

If you want to try the easy route, start with a beloved author or a short, practical book, and treat the Audible trial like an at-home experiment. It’s a low-cost, high-return way to reclaim reading without carving out extra hours in an already-packed schedule.

Happy listening — I hope you try one of my picks.

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Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a small commission if you sign up for Audible through links in this post, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and love.