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RSSThe Harris Interactive survey of 1,010 adults between October 16 and 19, 2008 found that:
- The biggest changes this year in how people are using their precious leisure time were in TV watching (up 6 points), exercise (up 3 points) and spending time with family and kids (up 3 points)
- Since 1995 the largest changes in how people are spending their leisure time are exercising (up 6 points), computer activities (up 5 points), spending time with family and kids (up 5 points) and swimming (down 5 points)
- 30% of Americans say their favorite activity is reading (up from 29% in 2007) while 24% say it is TV watching and 17% say it is spending time with family and kids (up from 14% in 2007). Rounding out the top five leisure time activities are exercise (8%) and computer activities and fishing (each at 7%);
- The median amount of time spent working, including housekeeping and studying, is now at 46 hours per week, slightly from 45 hours in 2007. In 1973, when this question was first asked, the median was 41 hours a week
- Generation Xers (ages 32-43) are working the most hours (55 each week), followed by 50 hours each week for Echo Boomers (18-31) and Baby Boomers (44-62). As many Matures are retired, they are only working 15 hours each week.
In 2008, Americans increased their work week one hour, yet claim to have lost four hours of leisure time. As the American economic situation worsened, opined the report, people who were worried about their jobs spent more time "just checking in" via computer or wireless device and didn't consider it as time working, nor did they count it as leisure time.
Also, as leisure time shrinks, four of this year's top activities are reading, watching TV, exercising, and computer activities. The research indicates that US Internet penetration is at an all-time high, it adding credence to the theory that Americans may be spending just as much or more time on computer activities, yet are considering this time as neither work nor leisure.
| Top 10 Favorite Leisure-Time Activities (% of Respondents, Unaided Responses) | ||||
|
| 2003 | 2004 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Reading | 24% | 35% | 29% | 30% |
| TV watching | 17 | 21 | 18 | 24 |
| Spending time with family/kids | 17 | 20 | 14 | 17 |
| Exercise (aerobics, weights) | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Computer activities | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| Fishing | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Going to movies | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Golf | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Walking | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Gardening | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Source: Harris Poll, October 2008 | ||||
| Biggest Favorite Changes Since 1995 (% of Respondents) | |||
|
| 1995 | 2008 | Change (Points) |
| Exercise | 2% | 8% | +6 |
| Computer activities | 2 | 7 | +5 |
| Spending time with family/kids | 12 | 17 | +5 |
| Swimming | 7 | 2 | -5 |
| Source: Harris Poll, October 2008 | |||
| Biggest Favorite Changes Since Last Year (% of Respondents) | |||
|
| 2007 | 2008 | Change |
| T.V. Watching | 18% | 24% | +6 |
| Spending time with family/kids | 14 | 17 | +3 |
| Exercise | 5 | 8 | +3 |
| Source: Harris Poll, October 2008 | |||
| Work Hours Per Week (% of Respondents; Hours a week spent at job or occupation, including keeping house or going to school, as well as working for pay or profit) | |
| Year | Median Number of Work Hours |
| 2008 | 46 |
| 2007 | 45 |
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2003 | 49 |
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2001 | 50 |
| 2000 | 50 |
| 1980 | 47 |
| 1973 | 41 |
| Source: Harris Poll, October 2008 | |
| Leisure Hours Available Per Week (% of Respondents; Hours each week to relax, watch TV, take part in sports or hobbies, go swimming or skiing, go to the movies, theater, concerts, or other forms of entertainment, get together with friends, etc) | |
| Year | Median Number of Leisure Hours |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 1980 | 19 |
| 1973 | 26 |
| Source: Harris Poll, October 2008 | |
| Work And Leisure Time Per Week (Demographic Categories) | ||
|
| Work hours | Leisure hours |
| All Adults | 46 | 16 |
| Age |
|
|
| Echo Boomers (18-31) | 50 | 14 |
| Gen. X (32-43) | 55 | 20 |
| Baby Boomers (44-62) | 50 | 20 |
| Matures (63+) | 15 | 24 |
| Region |
|
|
| East | 45 | 20 |
| Midwest | 49 | 14 |
| South | 50 | 20 |
| West | 40 | 15 |
| Gender |
|
|
| Male | 50 | 20 |
| Female | 40 | 15 |
| Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
| White | 50 | 20 |
| Black | 40 | 10 |
| Hispanic | 50 | 10 |
| Household Income |
|
|
| Less than $35,000 | 40 | 10 |
| $35,000 - $49,999 | 45 | 15 |
| $50,000 - $74,999 | 50 | 20 |
| $75,000 or more | 50 | 20 |
| Children |
|
|
| Households with children | 50 | 12 |
| Households with no children | 45 | 16 |
| Source: Harris Poll, October 2008 | ||
For additional information, please visit Harris Interactive here.
RSS FEEDS
What we have understood as "leisure time" is changing as we have come to multitask. If gardening is "leisurely", is farming? Can't I now be on a tractor watching Hulu?
As society has come to adapt a work style that is more personalized, specialized, localized, and customized, is it fair to say "leisure time" is shrinking? Or, becoming more compatible with our work life? I can graze at Facebook and still update my employer's profiles. Where is that study? :)