How Can You Better Spend 2.6 Hours a Day?
September 5th, 2007
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently published the Time Use Survey for the U.S. in 2006. The chart for leisure time on an average day, for ages 15 and over, appears above.
The most striking thing about the chart is its neat division down the center. Just over half of all leisure time is spent consuming TV. TV makes up more than all of the other leisure activities combined. If you add in use of the computer for leisure, then total “screen” time is getting close to 60% of the pie.
I posted recently about the rubbish being shown on TV. It is full of stress and negative energy. Good news and happy endings just don’t sell. TV is especially unhelpful for us people with mood disorders.
My wife Anna told me tonight that the type of TV program that I watch has a big impact on my mood. A movie that is very violent, dark or disturbing can trigger or worsen a depressive episode. Even the nightly news can trigger symptoms like anger and irritability. At the same time relaxing in front of a comedy or light, airy movie can be helpful. It took Anna about 5 years to figure this out. Longer for me.
In your life, how much time do you spend on the right hand side of the pie? How much can you move across to the left, and what other categories of leisure can you add in that will benefit your health?
On a slight tangent, I’m interested to hear how other parents manage leisure time for their kids.
I’m not saying that I’ve sorted it all out, but for the moment I like the rules in place for our 3 kids (ages 4, 7 and 9). Firstly we don’t distinguish between TV, DVDs, Nintendo, etc. We let them have 45 minutes of “screen time” on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 1 hour 20 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. Mondays and Tuesdays are “screen free days”. The exceptions are schoolwork and “typing tutor” (which is gathering dust).
Looking at the above chart I can see that we are strict parents, but it’s fair to say that the kids have a good balance of leisure activities. Much better than I do! And of course, if I’m alone at home with the kids and I’m ill, the screen rules disappear.
September 5th, 2007 11:14
Five hours of leisure time a day? Uh huh. I wish.
September 5th, 2007 12:05
Great topic. Great tips. I have no life, no leisure. I’m thinking I might need to do something about that. Therese
October 3rd, 2007 15:24
I know what you’re saying about dark movies/shows and most especially the news; I deliberately chose some years ago NOT to watch, read, or listen to the news. Stories about rainbows and butterflies are not on the news, stories about death, liars, war and general mayhem are. These things contribute to your own personal stress. Stress will weaken your immune system, allowing you to catch more colds, flus, etc…. and depressive attacks.
My philosophy on the news is this: I already know the world is a bad place. People die in wars and rich people embezzle and politicians lie and all the rest. I don’t need to know the details, they will make my depression worse.
If something is going to affect me directly, my friends and family will tell me about it. If there is a forest fire coming my way (which is not uncommon in my state), or a change in local laws, etc… I’ll hear about it through word of mouth. I don’t listen to any of the mass media out there. It’s actively harmful to my health.
As for other forms of entertainment, I admit to spending far too much time on my computer (well look where I am right now, but is this time wasted? I don’t feel it is). I also do a lot of reading, escaping from this depressing reality by turning to fictional realities. It’s a coping technique, used quite deliberately to diffuse or pre-empt depressive attacks.