I am a sucker for a good podcast. Whether I’m listening to a suspenseful true crime story or getting inspired by a podcast featuring badass business women, I’m always in the mood for a podcast. I am always looking for things to do while I listen (I’m not a huge fan of sitting around doing nothing while the audio plays). So I’ve come up with a list of what to do while listening to a podcast.

Listening to podcasts is an act of self-care for me. And I feel pretty strongly that moms need to make sure that they are prioritizing self-care. So these ideas may just be what you need to get yourself listening to podcasts on the regular.

What To Do While Listening To A Podcast

1. Drive

Podcasts are the perfect way to feel productive and entertained while driving. Whether you’re listening on your commute to work or on a long road trip, podcasts are the best way to enjoy the journey.

Road trips can be long and tedious at times, especially when there is a lot of driving to be done. There is no better way to make a long drive fly by than to turn on a podcast series that you can’t stop listening to. Honestly, it was on a road trip that I got hooked on the first podcast I ever listened to back in 2015 (remember Serial, that true crime podcast everyone listened to back then?)

Podcasts are also the perfect way to spend the commute to and from work. I drive about 45 minutes to and from work every day, and turning on my fav podcast makes the drive actually enjoyable. I love feeling like I am learning something or being entertained during a time when otherwise, I would likely be dwelling on the stresses of the day. Listening to podcasts helps me transition back and forth between home and work life by giving me a brief escape from it all on my car ride.

2. Puzzle

Who doesn’t love a good puzzle? Even better: A puzzle with an inspiring podcast. Doing puzzles feels so cozy and comforting, a true feeling of being home. They get your mind going, but in a soothing way where you can kind of forget about all life’s problems for a moment. There is something so sweet and fulfilling about finding two pieces that go together and eventually completing a beautiful picture with all of the small units.

Jigsaw puzzles are the perfect balance between challenge and relaxation. Pair that with a podcast, and you’ve got the perfect at-home decompression activity. When considering what to do while listening to a podcast, puzzling is the perfect answer.

3. Macrame

I love to macrame when I have the time. There is something therapeutic about tying knots over and over again to create something beautiful. The best part is, it’s fairly mindless, which means it is both relaxing, and a perfect answer to what to do while listening to a podcast.

I have definitely escaped my family a time or two to go macrame a piece of wall art while binging episode after episode of My Favorite Murder (quite the contrast, right?). And I absolutely plan to do it again in the future.

4. Color in a Coloring Book

I’ll admit it, I am one of those people who absolutely adores adult coloring books. I could literally spend hours and hours filling in the petals on intricately outlined flowers with my set of STABILO Fine Tip Markers. I honestly get so sucked into my adult coloring books that I can’t bust them out all to often or I won’t get anything else done.

Coloring is the perfect activity to do while listening to a podcast if it brings you joy, too. My all-time favorite adult coloring book is Johanna Basford’s Secret Garden – the pictures are gorgeous and so much fun to bring to life. But these days, you can find coloring books with

5. Chores

Doing chores around the house is not my favorite thing (is it anyone’s?) Doing the dishes is meh and I pretty much despise putting away my laundry. Podcasts can make the whole experience substantially better, and actually somewhat enjoyable.

These chores have to get done anyway. The dishes have to get washed, and the house needs to be tidied up. It’s pretty much unavoidable. But using this work as a time to indulge in a favorite podcast can help you change your mindset and start to appreciate the time you spend every week taking care of your home.

There’s been times I get through a whole podcast episode cleaning the kitchen before I realize just how long I’ve been at it. It’s pretty amazing, considering it usually feels like these kinds of chores drag on forever.

6. Go For a Walk

Getting outside and going for a walk is the perfect opportunity to listen to a podcast. In warmer months, it is so nice to get out and enjoy the sunshine with a great podcast keeping you entertained along the way. When it is cooler out, bundling up and getting out for some fresh, crisp air can be super relaxing.

Whether you’re pushing the kids in stroller or going for a quick walk by yourself to get away for a moment, a podcast can help keep you company and feel extra productive and fulfilled.

Make sure that if you wear headphones while you walk outside, you are doing it safely. I always just put one earbud in, and try to stick to areas without much traffic. If you have a walking path nearby, that is your best bet so that you don’t have to worry about keeping your attention on cars around you.

7. Cook Dinner

Cooking dinner is substantially more enjoyable when you’ve got your headphones in and are able to listen to your favorite podcast. I can tell you first hand that I only enjoy cooking dinner when I’m listening to a podcast. Otherwise, it is just another stressful task to cross of my list.

When I’ve got a podcast episode to finish, though, I am so excited for all the prep work and waiting for the meal to cook. If it’s my night to cook dinner for the family, I send my husband and kids downstairs, and I use the cook time to unwind and spend time learning about something I want to learn about in my free time. It is such a great use of time doing something I have to do but don’t necessarily enjoy doing.

8. Paint Your Nails

For me, I consider listening to my favorite podcasts as an act of self-care. Podcasts allow me to indulge in learning that excites me, and they really make me feel good. That’s why I think it is great to pair listening to podcasts with another of my favorite self-care acts: Painting my nails.

I have a gel nail kit at home, and I use it as often as I can to get a manicured look that helps me feel like I can take on the world. If I am painting my nails, you can bet there is also an inspirational podcast (maybe Goal Diggers) playing on my phone speaker. Then, I feel ready to take on the world in more ways than one!

9. Take a Bath

There are not many things more relaxing than soaking in a bath tub. If you are wondering what to do while listening to a podcast that will allow you to truly chill, taking a bath might be the perfect activity for you.

I am one of those people that has a hard time relaxing when I feel like I am wasting time. And honestly, I often feel like I am wasting time when I take a bath. But once I put on a soothing podcast, like The Kimberley Wenya Podcast, I am able to feel just productive enough to settle into the relaxation.

If you have a bath that you don’t utilize for the same reason, I encourage you to try a soak paired with a podcast. You never know, it may just make you feel so refreshed.

10. Take Notes

I just started doing this recently, and it has been a game-changer in how much I can learn and apply from the podcasts I listen to. Obviously, you don’t need to do this for all episodes (not even close), but when the content is super juicy and is something you actually want to apply, it can be incredibly healthy.

I got a special notebook just for podcast notes so I can keep everything in one place. I’ve been really into learning about productivity and building an online business, so right now, I have so much information about those areas housed in this one resource. I keep referring back to my new knowledge that is written down and ready to go, and it feels amazing applying things I’ve heard so easily.

If you don’t already take notes on podcast episodes that are full of useful information, try it out. I think you’ll find it to be as helpful as I do.

Other Options Of What To Do While Listening To A Podcast

• Paint (I like to watercolor!)
• Go to the gym
• Complete a DIY furniture upgrade project
• Garden
• Sunbathe

No Need To Wonder What to do While Listening to A Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered what to do while listening to a podcast, you won’t have to anymore. Any of these activities can be enjoyable when you have something that makes you happy coming through your headphones.

Is there anything I left off the list that you think should’ve been included? Let me know in the comments below!