I do a lot of needlework and I like to have something to listen to while I'm doing it, multitasking is the way to go!  My son is like you though, he says after a short time it's more background noise than anything.

 

It works for long commutes (two hours one way every Tuesday), and for non-cognitive tasks (like drawing, working on graphics, data entry, etc). If the brain's gotta be present though, it's music in the ear buds for me.

Not to mention 12 hour flights.  And as for the earbuds, that's the only way I can listen to them.  If I just use the player on my computer it does tend to be background noise and find myself not paying attention.

Hah. I am in Singapore now. A 2 hr commute will get me in Malaysia or Indonesia. It's a 20 min commute for me now.

 

But I spent a whole year spending 2 weeks in Munich and a week in NYC. Back and forth for the whole year. Audio books def helped me then.

I spent 4 1/2 years in Shanghai, going home twice a year.  Never would have made the flights without MK and KR since I'm horribly claustrophobic.