Things to do while listening to podcasts

November 22, 2010 12:35 PM

Podcasts have replaced TV as my relaxation method of choice and I need something to keep my eyes and hands occupied while I listen to them. I usually play tetris which works ok but I can't help thinking there must be something more interesting or creative I could be doing. It would have to require minimal concentration and be somewhat relaxing and it would be nice if I had a new skill to show for it. I've tried drawing but I'm a graphics student so it feels like work. My sister suggested knitting which doesn't interest me but it seems to have the right mix of creativity and repetitiveness.
posted by Chenko to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (21 answers total)

Best answer: I have to suggest a Rubik's cube. If you learn a solution like this then with enough practice you can commit the moves to muscle memory and solve one without any real conscious effort, plus people will think you're really smart.
posted by Spamfactor at 12:43 PM on November 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

As the first member of the Mefi Knitting Brigade on the scene, it is beholden upon me to suggest: knitting! That's what I do when I listen to podcasts, anyway.

Let your sister teach you the basics, and see what you think. It's worth giving it a try.
posted by ErikaB at 12:43 PM on November 22, 2010

I saw a really cool folk art pirate ship at a museum yesterday. It was built almost entirely out of toothpicks.
posted by mareli at 12:45 PM on November 22, 2010

Oh, and you could try crocheting, it's easier and much more forgiving than knitting.
posted by mareli at 12:45 PM on November 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

There's also crocheting and cross-stitching, which I do when I'm listening, but those might be too close to knitting. Really any sort of craft works really well... there are tons of types out there that might interest you. Jewelry making? Papercrafts? Sculpting? Perler beading? (fun to make videogame sprites with them) Maybe you can find some inspiration on Craftster.
In college I used to play tons of flash games on Neopets while listening to Eddie Izzard shows, and playing them earned me stuff in-game, so it wasn't a total waste (to me)... perhaps someone can suggest a game site where playing earns you something? I'm at a loss.
posted by mostlybecky at 12:46 PM on November 22, 2010

Best answer: Papercraft models? There are a ton of free downloadable printable 3D models out there, as well as plenty you can pay for. They take a long long time to cut out and a fair amount of patience to assemble, but most of it is relatively mindless once you understand how the model will go together.
posted by Knicke at 12:52 PM on November 22, 2010

perhaps someone can suggest a game site where playing earns you something? I'm at a loss.

Well, if you're into MMOs (a la World of Warcraft), there's always grinding on low-level, not-likely-deadly monsters... or gathering resources to sell to other players. But for that to be worth anything, you have to care about developing your character on the MMO.

MMOs are great sources of mindless repetitive tasks. I realize that's a backhanded compliment.
posted by AugieAugustus at 12:53 PM on November 22, 2010

If knitting turns you off because of its soft fibrousness, you might consider making chain mail which is similarly mindless & repetitive, and also way dorkier.
posted by xueexueg at 12:58 PM on November 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Michael's (the craft store, which may or may not be in your area) sells really neat wooden 3d puzzles. I've had a lot of fun putting them together (so far I've done a pterodactyl, a dragon, and a skeleton). They require enough concentration that you can't really watch TV while you're doing them but I think they would be perfect for podcasts. Googling "3d wooden puzzles" will give you an idea of what I'm talking about. There is a specific manufacturor that I like. If you're interested, memail me, and once I get home I can give you their information.
posted by sacrifix at 1:18 PM on November 22, 2010

Origami? Not the cranes and hats origami, but something more sophisticated. I'm a big fan of making origami boxes with cool papers, and there are lots of books on modular origami. I particularly like Tomoko Fuse's Origami Boxes book.
posted by metarkest at 1:19 PM on November 22, 2010

Best answer: Running? Seriously, endorphines will make it relaxing, plus you might find out you really like it.
posted by madeinitaly at 1:21 PM on November 22, 2010

Best answer: What about baking? Something like sugar cookies, which you have to mix, roll out, cut, bake, and frost, would take up time and keep you fairly busy without requiring too much concentration. Same goes for an apple (or peach, or plum) pie — mixing the crust, rolling it out, slicing the fruit, decorating the top.

Baking every single time you listen to a podcast might result in an unwieldy surplus of baked goods, but doing it once a week instead of one of the other hobbies mentioned above might be a nice (and tasty) change of pace.
posted by rebekah at 1:22 PM on November 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't know if they'd be too much like work for you, but what about origami or whittling?
posted by ldthomps at 1:23 PM on November 22, 2010

It's not a super-relaxing activity, but I clean while listening to podcasts. Cured me of my slob-iness.
posted by GatorX3 at 1:28 PM on November 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

I clean and do laundry while listening to podcasts and recorded books. Folding and ironing is just mindless enough.

I second the recommendation of origami. I'd add that modular origami -- objects made of many individually folded pieces -- can be mindless enough to accompany spoken word recordings.

In fact, any kind of art or sculpture that is made using a repetitive process (procedural art) would be good.

There are many non-profit organizations who would just love help with bulk mailouts. All that folding and stuffing makes for good listening time.
posted by cross_impact at 1:57 PM on November 22, 2010

learn some yoga poses and cycle through them

i'm also obsessed with this gorgeous modern felting

for other crafts and hobbies, try browsing etsy! find something and make a better version of it!
posted by acidic at 2:31 PM on November 22, 2010

I play sudoku online while listening to podcasts. I find that I don't have to concentrate much at all on the sudoku puzzles, and it's more engaging than just listening to the podcast.
posted by hootenatty at 4:22 PM on November 22, 2010

Wire weaving. Here's a random webpage about it. I don't do it myself, but a guy in my sewing circle did and made an interesting bracelet.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:55 PM on November 22, 2010

Knife throwing.
posted by orme at 6:30 PM on November 22, 2010

It's going to sound very lame, but I listen to podcasts while I do housework and yardwork. Changing the oil in the car? Podcast. Sorting or folding laundry? Podcast. Unloading the dishwasher? Yep, you guessed it: Podcast.

I come at it from the other direction. Any time my hands are doing 'busywork' that doesn't require much thought, I put on a podcast.
posted by Wild_Eep at 6:48 PM on November 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

I taught myself to juggle while listening to podcasts.
posted by fishmasta at 12:02 AM on November 23, 2010