How Busy Moms Actually Read: Audiobooks, Kindles, and Reading on the Go

Reading doesn’t always look like curling up on the couch with a blanket anymore — and that’s okay. In this season, reading often happens in cars, waiting rooms, and through earbuds while folding laundry.

These are the small, practical ways we’ve learned to stay connected to stories when life won’t slow down.

The Magic of Audiobooks

Q: Do you count audiobooks as reading? (Be honest!)

Katie:
Most definitely — I absolutely count audiobooks as reading. But for me, it still feels a little different than sitting down and reading the words myself. When I’m listening, I’m usually multitasking — driving, doing chores, or working outside — so I’m not quite as focused as when I have a book or Kindle in my hands. Still, I love that audiobooks keep me connected to stories when I’d otherwise have no time to read. And honestly, sometimes hearing a book read aloud makes it even better — the right narrator can bring the story to life in a way the page alone just can’t.

Emily:
Absolutely! Listening lets me fit stories into the busiest days. If I’m driving or doing dishes, I’m “reading” — even if my hands are full.

Getting Creative About When and How You Read

Sometimes the best reading tips for busy moms come down to creativity. Reading doesn’t always look like curling up on the couch anymore — it’s audiobooks in the car, a Kindle app in the waiting room, or a paperback tucked in your purse “just in case.” Staying connected to stories in unconventional ways is how we keep reading alive through the noise.

Making Reading Portable

Q: What’s your favorite way to sneak in reading these days?

Katie:
If there’s even the slightest chance I might have a few minutes of downtime, I bring something to read. Usually that means my Kindle, but sometimes it’s whatever paperback I’ve tossed in my bag. It’s been a total game-changer. Car lines, waiting rooms, a few minutes before bed — if I’ve got a story close by, I’m happy.

Emily:
Same! If there’s laundry to fold or floors to sweep, my AirPods are already in. I’ve learned to turn chores into bonus reading time — it’s the ultimate mom hack.

Q: Where’s the weirdest or funniest place you’ve read a book?

Emily:
I have read during the middle of a Tornado Warning, with sirens going off…that counts for something, right? 

Katie:
If you’re in your safe spot, why not?! We all know those tornado warnings can drag on forever. I’ve read while out on baby watch on the farm — cows, goats, pigs, you name it. If they’re calm and I’ve got a few minutes, I’m cracking open a book. Priorities, right?

Audiobooks on the Go

Q: Have audiobooks changed how much you read these days?

Katie:
Absolutely! Any time I’m kid-free and driving, it’s reading time. Just my daily school drop-offs and pick-ups give me over four hours of audiobook time each week. Add in a grocery run — that’s another two hours. And when I’m driving back to visit family? That’s basically a whole book right there. Audiobooks have turned all that “wasted” time into my favorite little reading retreat.

Emily:
Same! Before audiobooks, I feel like I would get in my own head and remind myself how much I dislike household chores, but now I see it as a way to get in a few more chapters 😉

Q: What kind of books are easiest to pick up when you’re tired — short, funny, cozy?

Emily:
Ohh, good question. I try to pick up my physical book instead of my Kindle at bedtime. Those tend to be more literary fiction type books with a longer storyline….so not spooky or alarming that close to bedtime!

Katie:
Same here! I save the heavier books for daylight hours. At night, it’s all about short chapters and happy endings — give me a cozy romcom or something feel-good that lets me drift off smiling.

Keeping Books Within Reach

Q: What tricks or routines help you keep a book within reach?

Katie:
I’ve learned that if I want to read more, I have to make it easy. I keep something to read in my bag and another by my bed. My Kindle is my go-to when I’m out, but if I forget it, I’ll use the app on my phone. That way, there’s always a book waiting — no matter where I am.

Emily:
Yep, same here. That’s why I have multiple formats going at any time.

One Page at a Time

Reading doesn’t have to look traditional to be meaningful. Whether it’s through earbuds, a screen, or a dog-eared paperback pulled from a bag, these small habits keep stories woven into real life.

However you read, it counts.