You’re a book nerd, but you’ll pull your hair out if you read another novel? Same.
I’ve lost count of the amount of books I’ve left unfinished this year. Some were too dull, others had characters that were too fanciful for my taste, and some self-help books made me feel worse about myself.
You might be in the same boat. So, what can you do if you’re still a champion of constant learning but don’t want to do it through reading?
This post will highlight 8 great alternatives to reading that won’t bore or overwhelm you.
Table of Contents
8 Alternatives to Reading
1. YouTube Videos
YouTube might be one of the best inventions on the internet. There’s a host of content from brilliant YouTubers like Matt dAvella, Ali Abdaal, Thomas Frank, Lavendaire, and Lilly Singh.
Most of my learning about blogging, freelance writing, personal finance, and self-improvement has resulted from watching inspiring videos.
Watching a video is more visually stimulating than reading a book. They’re also considerably shorter than a 90000-word novel and solve specific problems succinctly.
2. Audiobooks
Audiobooks are an alternate way to consume books and have gained popularity over the last few years.
I’m not a fan of them because I get easily distracted and can’t follow a story. However, many people swear by them because you can listen to stories anywhere, whether you’re driving, at the gym, or cooking.
Check out Audible or Audiobooks.com to access thousands of audiobooks at affordable subscription rates. However, make sure to grab a free trial before committing to a paid plan to see if it’s for you.
Related Post: How to Develop a Reading Habit (10 Tips)
3. Podcasts
Podcasts used to be known as “audio blogs” and were primarily created for the iPod. They later moved to other platforms like Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, etc.
Listening to podcasts is fantastic because, like audiobooks, they’re on the go.
Also, you’re guaranteed to find a podcast you love, whether it’s about money, business, relationships, writing, etc.
Some of my favorite podcasts are:
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty
- Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal
- The Colin and Samir Show
- The Lavendaire Lifestyle
4. Blog Posts
I know it still counts as “reading,” but the time to read a blog post is much shorter than reading a traditional book. Moreover, they offer more value quickly and are easily consumable and to the point.
I read hundreds of blog posts before I started my own blog, and they’re still, to this day, my biggest source of learning and inspiration.
Some of my favorite blogs are:
- Positivityblog.com
- Markmanson.net
- Zenhabits.net
- Timdenning.com
- Vishakablone.com
5. Online Courses
Online courses are convenient and flexible, give you a sense of purpose, and, most importantly, help you improve some area of your life.
Moreover, they’re easier than reading books as they’re packaged in short, easily digestible modules.
I’ve taken a variety of online courses on blogging, building self-esteem, online business, etc. And while books have helped me learn a lot, I remember information from my online courses much easier.
Find online courses through Skillshare, Udemy, and Coursera. You’ll find that most of them are free or very affordable.
6. Listenable
Recently, I tried Listenable, a platform that offers audio-only courses on self-improvement.
There’s a 7-day free trial before your fee goes through ($7.5 per month), which lets you test the courses first.
The first course I started was “Your Self-Love Toolkit.” I had the best experience during this course and was SOLD on Listenable. They also have an array of other courses on topics like communication skills, relationships, career and success, education, and so on.
I love that you can sit back, relax, and listen to something inspiring in your downtime. You don’t need to focus on a video or force yourself to be engrossed in a story.
Apple users can download the app from the Apple store, and Android users can use it via the browser.
7. Journaling
Sometimes, reading somebody else’s words is hard because you’d rather write some of your own.
Journaling is therapeutic and more beneficial than reading because it lets me get my inner ramblings onto paper. This way, I’m not escaping my life but rather becoming more in touch with my emotions.
I’ve found this to be a faster way to work through whatever mental blocks I’m facing.
Confronting and acknowledging your feelings always beats burying them and pretending they don’t exist.
You can start a journaling habit through the ‘Notes’ app on your phone, a Google Doc, Evernote, Notion, or a traditional pen and notebook.
8. Book Summary Apps
A few months ago, I started reading Deep Work by Cal Newport. It’s a classic in the personal development niche, and I found the topic fascinating. However, I struggled to finish it because I was burnt out and severely unfocused.
It bothered me that I was unable to finish the book because I’m the kind of person who thinks it’s cheating to leave a book unfinished.
So, I did the next best thing and googled its summary and came across StoryShots. This website gave me an entire rundown of Deep Work in one sitting. It communicated the main ideas concisely, and I didn’t feel like a waste of a human.
Book summary websites have existed for a while; however, this was the first time I was so invested in one. I researched a few other platforms and found Blinkist and Shortform.
Honestly, this is my favorite alternative to reading because now I can technically “read” more books faster and understand the main points without having to backtrack chapters and take notes.
So, I highly recommend trying these options if you want to grasp the knowledge of books without investing time and too much energy.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ll give some of these alternatives to reading a shot. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get entertained, escape, and learn without having to read books.