Audiobook Sync

Hello, everyone.

This week's post is about Audiobook Sync, a website that provides 2 free audiobooks each week over the summer. They are offered in theme pairs, and you only have one week to download both of that week's books (new books come out each Thursday at 7am EST). The program runs for 15 weeks, which means 30 books altogether over the summer.

The purpose of this program is to get teens reading over the summer and to try to interest them in audiobooks. Listening along to books helps improve reading comprehension (according to one of the statistics on Audiobook Sync's blog by 76%, although that's oddly precise), and it's something you can do while doing other things. Another statistic cited on the blog is that audiobooks increase reading accuracy by 52%, which is something that rings true with me.

I became an audiobook fan a few years ago, after swearing I wouldn't ever enjoy them, and I really have them increase my reading accuracy. I didn't realize it when I was younger, but I had gotten into the habit of mindlessly skipping past any scenery descriptions since I often didn't understand them as a child and going straight to the dialog/action in any book. This made it very difficult to read most of the "classic books" that are required reading in high school and college, and I had no idea why I read often but couldn't read these books that my grades depended on (Heart of Darkness and The Awakening were two books that I just couldn't get through until I discovered audiobooks and retrained myself to read EVERYTHING).

Another plus of audiobooks is that you can do a lot of different things while listening to them. All those activities that don't really require thinking, just movement, I find are perfect for pairing with audiobooks. I use audiobooks when I'm cleaning that way I can take my mind off how much I dislike it. I use them when I'm playing mindless video games (I go through periods where I get addicted to games that don't require much thought, like Farmville 2 and Bejeweled and Bloons TD 5); audiobooks are perfect for letting me play those games without any guilt since I'm still doing something productive by listening to a book and since I'm not thinking while playing, I give the audiobook my mind's full attention. My last favorite is to listen to audiobooks while beading (although once again, any craft that doesn't occupy your mind's attention would work), since it's such a repetitive task that I find soothing and sometimes I can finish an entire book just by working on one bracelet or necklace.

Also I just love the narration of audiobooks, skilled actors who put voices to characters' dialog and thoughts. They add a new dimension to reading that really opens up new possibilities and gives life to the story in a way your imagination doesn't always supply. I think audiobooks are great for a diversified reading life, although they don't replace regular books in my life.

So try out Audiobook Sync and see if you find a new favorite book or a new go-to method for getting chores out of the way. Let me know what you think in the comment section.

Pomodoro Technique

Hello, I'll make today's post pretty short. It's about the Pomodoro Technique for staying on-task without getting distracted. 

I first heard about it from the book A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley, a book that is full of studying tips and hints along with science information about how the brain works in the learning process (the book's very good about using metaphors to portray the information simply rather than getting bogged down by the concepts like some books do). I highly recommend it.

Back to the Pomodoro, the idea is that you figure out what you need to accomplish, and then you set a timer for 25 minutes (either with a phone, your computer, or a simple kitchen timer which is what I use) and work until the timer goes off. If something tries to distract you, jot down the idea briefly on a sticky note or piece of paper and get back to work. The point is to spend those entire 25 minutes working without distractions, and then give yourself a 5 minute break to relax and re-energize yourself before getting back to work for another 25 minute interval. After 4 poms (pomodoros), it's recommended that you treat yourself to a 15 minute break instead of the 5 minute intervals. And if those times don't suit your needs, adjust them to fit your schedule.

It won't always work for motivating you, but it's worth trying. Here is a Wikipedia article with more information.

Best of luck learning, let me know what you've been up to and what techniques you recommend when learning or doing work.