Listening While Doing: How Much Do We Retain?

Listening to podcasts isn’t just a way to gain new information. They can help us find like-minded people and integrate ourselves into new communities. They can tell us stories, challenge our views, or even keep us up to date with the latest news. For many people, podcasts also act as a kind of digital companion, keeping us entertained when we are alone and making boring activities that bit more interesting.

This being said, the modern world demands a lot from us, and it can be hard to find the time to just sit down and listen to a podcast. As such, we tend to tune in to an episode or two while engaging with other tasks. But if this is how we are approaching podcast listening, how much do we actually retain? In this article, we’ll examine some of the most popular activities people engage with while listening to podcasts, and whether or not these enable us to really take in what we are hearing.

Gaming

Many people turn to podcasts while gaming; however, doing so can lead to significant distractions from the content we are listening to. If you’re someone who enjoys merging your podcast time with your gaming time, then it’s a good idea to turn to simpler, almost mindless games that require very little attention to complete.

A good example of this comes from the casino world. If you enjoy playing online on casino platforms, but want to listen to podcasts while you engage, then it's a good idea to look to simpler options, such as slot machines, rather than more strategy-based games like poker. Luckily, the majority of these sites offer new players free spins, which enable them to jump straight into the game. The simplicity and chance-based nature of these games make them the ideal companion to podcast listening.

Travelling

Travelling is perhaps the most effective activity you can do while listening to podcasts. Out of all modes of travel, it is public transport, like trains, buses and taxis, that allows the listener to pay the most attention to what they are hearing, as it does not require any concentration other than knowing where your stop is. Beyond this, walking is also a good option. If you do wish to walk while listening to a podcast, however, we suggest you choose a route that you know well, as this will enable you to enter a kind of autopilot where listening becomes infinitely easier.

Some people also listen to podcasts while driving or riding a bike. Though this does work well for some people, not as much information can be retained, as drivers and cyclists need to keep a certain amount of concentration on the road or path ahead of them. Because of this, it is generally advised that podcast listeners leave their favourite episode off while driving or cycling, to ensure their safety as they travel.

Mindful Activities

Out of all kinds of activities you can engage with when listening to a podcast, mindful ones tend to allow for the most information retention. This is because, despite the name, mindful activities are actually quite mindless. Things like colouring, washing the dishes and yoga don’t require much thought, and so, while doing them, we can direct our attention to what we are listening to. This is why it is a great idea to listen to podcasts while cleaning the house or doing chores, as not only does the content distract us from what might otherwise be quite a boring activity, but the mindlessness of these tasks can divert almost our full attention to the podcast itself.

With that in mind, there are some mindful activities, such as cooking and gardening, that do not make for the easiest podcast listening experience. Engaging with podcast episodes is possible, of course, during these activities, but they tend to require a little more concentration than the other options noted here.

Activities that Don’t Allow for Effective Podcast Listening

It goes without saying that some activities simply don’t allow for effective podcast listening. Activities that involve listening to something, such as listening to music or watching TV and films, simply will not allow for any effective podcast listening time.

However, the majority of other tasks, including even complex work activities, can be undertaken while a podcast is playing. Granted, not much information might be retained from these podcasts, but many people find it helpful to have them playing in the background, and even see an improvement in their productivity while doing so.