Use of Leisure Time - Implications for Health and Well Being

The American Time Use Survey, reports from which are featured on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, reveal some interesting data about how people spend time. Of particular interest here are two activities, television and Internet usage, that consume significant portions of available leisure time. For example, watching TV accounted for half of the leisure time available to men and women (2.62 and 2.88 hours per day on average). As might be expected, young people from 15-19 spend more leisure time on computers than people of other ages. The average for this age group was around 50 minutes per day. In contrast, leisure activity involving sports, exercise or other types of recreation averaged slightly less than 30 minutes per day.

The implications of these statistics for health should be apparent. Sedentary activities may be interesting, but they don't provide the kind of movement necessary for maintaining fitness, including strength, endurance, and proper body mass index (percentage of fat) to avoid risk of obesity, heart disease and other chronic conditions. Movement burns calories, and regular exercise coupled with moderate and appropriate food intake helps to maintain weight within healthy limits.

How people use time, obviously, not only has significant consequences for physical fitness, but it also influences other types of "psychological fitness", such as how interested or bored they are, and how challenged or motivated they may be to participate in activities that lead to skill development, accomplishment, and improvements in self-esteem or self confidence. Research shows that when people are successful in new activities or projects, they are more inclined to undertake additional challenges. These cumulative successes create the sense of meaning that we need to live our lives with energy and purpose .

Unfortunately, time use surveys have not yet begun to gather data on qualitative factors, such as the feelings one might have that are associated with doing a particular activity. Part of those feelings, of course, are based on the context in which an activity is done ( that is, who is with us, what motivated us, what need will be served, etc.); but time use scientists generally feel that the opportunity exists for gathering more qualitative data in such surveys.

As time use science evolves, there will be more objective evidence to provide guidance to people on how to design their lives for optimal health and happiness. This is just another part of the interdisciplinary science of everyday living.

How do you use your time?

The informal time use survey now being conducted in the right lower quadrant of this page provides a glimpse into the growing science of time use. The truth is, many people aren't really aware of precisely how they use their time. They can remember what they did and usually describe the order of events, but when it comes to accurately estimating how much time they spent doing different categories of activities, they often misjudge.

Depending on the activity, they over or under estimate the actual amount of time spent doing it. For example, they often overestimate the amount of time they spend working (imagine that!) while underestimating the amount of time spent doing things that may be more enjoyable but less productive (talking casually with co-workers, for example). This observation, while perhaps not surprising, invites discussions of how time use is experienced. This is a dimension of time use studies that is just now beginning to be recognized as an important (but difficult) factor to measure in the science of time use.

Believe it or not, there is an international society of time use scientists known as the International Association of Time Use Research (IATUR). These scientists provide expert support for conducting and analyzing the studies of time use often used by nations.

At this point you may be wondering why governments would be interested in studying the time use of citizens? The reasons are varied, but accurate estimates of population time use can be helpful in planning and scheduling services, estimating exposure to environmental conditions, determining the productivity of a country's people who are working within the informal economy (caring for family members at home, for example), and for determining general trends that reflect changes in lifestyle. Companies that sell certain goods and services are also interested in time use data, because such information provides guidance for estimating market demand.

The United States has now joined other nations in participating in a standardized approach to gathering time use data. You can learn more about time use (and even see summaries of recent surveys) at the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) website, within the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

Given the important link between well being and time use (time use is really about lifestyle, after all), it makes a person wonder why the Department of Health and Human Services is not a sponsor of this activity. I'd love to hear your thoughts about how you use your time?

Welcome Doers!

You are among the first to read the inaugural post of this blogspot about daily life. I welcome your questions, comments and stories. Please share answers to questions such as: What have your experiences taught you about everyday living? What is your typical daily routine and why? How do you decide how to use your time, or do you simply let life flow where it takes you?

Lately, some people are overwhelmed with how much they have to do and how little time they have to do it. What does "life balance" mean to you? How do you achieve balance in your life?

When people remember an event, it is usually because it has some significance or meaning in their life. Feel free to share a story about such an event. Ask questions of others, and share books, articles and links.