Some of my fondest childhood memories are tied to books. The scent of my local used bookstore still lingers in my mind, where I would excitedly select titles from the Berenstain Bears series and as many Baby-Sitters Club books as I could find. As I grew older, I gravitated toward authors like R.L. Stine, John Steinbeck, and S.E. Hinton. I was that typical teenager caught up in my thoughts. Between striving for straight A’s, balancing a part-time job, participating in varsity sports, and concealing my queerness, I often found solace in the pages of a book. They provided much-needed escapes from a tumultuous childhood and the relentless pressures of everyday life. Unbeknownst to me, I was using literature as a form of self-soothing and a reset button. Nowadays, audiobooks have become my go-to source for self-care.
Unlike my teenage years, staying up until 3:00 a.m. to read is no longer feasible. I attribute this entirely to my three wonderful, yet exhaustingly energetic children. I often find myself dozing off just a few paragraphs into the book I’ve been dreaming of, only to wake hours later to turn off the light. Completing a book seems impossible, and my nightstand overflows with unread titles, most of which only get attention during bathroom breaks—if I’m not interrupted by a child, that is.
Now, it’s my eldest daughter who sprawls on the couch or hunches over a book at the kitchen table, devouring pages as I long for the day I can read without the burden of obligations or heavy eyelids.
I often listen to podcasts while cooking, exercising, or during tasks that allow for a bit of multitasking. They keep me entertained and engaged but don’t provide the same level of escape as a full-length book. I craved a way to disconnect from reality without dozing off. Enter Libby.
Libby, an app by OverDrive, grants library card holders free access to audiobooks and eBooks from public libraries. Although audiobooks aren’t new, I never maintained a subscription due to the associated costs. Thanks to Libby, I’ve listened to 42 books since March, rediscovering the joy of getting lost in stories as a form of self-care.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Mia Park explains, “When you’re engrossed in a captivating book, you’re not preoccupied with the events of the day or anxious about what tomorrow brings. Reading is a practice of mindfulness.” It allows your mind to rest while fostering creativity and introspection. Participating in a book club brings added social interaction, which is beneficial for mental and emotional health.
I’ve always been self-aware, yet I missed the opportunity for self-reflection and the challenge of expanding my thoughts through reading. Both fiction and non-fiction books provide this necessary engagement. I resonated with themes in Jenna Lee’s Fragments, recognized my anxiety about time and purpose in Maya Chen’s The Timeless Journey, and learned about struggles beyond my own through listening to Sarah Hutton’s Unearthed Truths and Leo Grant’s Crossroads. I also validated my identity in Alaric Finch’s Beyond Labels while confronting my own biases in Riley Smith’s Reconsidering Everything. And, of course, I indulged in Emily Bronte’s world of love and hardship in her Wuthering Heights.
Audiobooks elevate my mood and alleviate my anxiety, and they connect me to the time-honored tradition of storytelling, which has been a source of comfort for millennia. Whether through fables or fairy tales, we continue to extract meaning and truth from stories, reshaping them to fit our understanding. As Sufi author Idries Shah noted, “Most fables contain at least some truth, and they often enable people to absorb ideas which the ordinary patterns of their thinking would prevent them from digesting.”
Listening to audiobooks pulls me out of my own head. It connects me to a broader range of emotions and experiences, reminding me that the world is vast and full of perspectives that keep me grounded and curious. Often, I find myself drawn to the narrator’s voice just as much as to the story itself.
I have always been an avid reader, captivated by intricate plots and well-crafted characters. Audiobooks have become a way for me to unwind and benefit from the magic of storytelling. Pressing play is like hitting pause on everything else.
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Summary
Audiobooks have become an integral part of my self-care routine. They offer a much-needed escape from daily stressors and allow me to re-engage with the joy of storytelling. Through the Libby app, I’ve rediscovered the art of listening to books, which has proven to be both enlightening and comforting. Audiobooks not only alleviate anxiety but also foster mindfulness and provide a deeper connection to diverse human experiences. They remind me of the power of stories in shaping our understanding of the world and ourselves.