-
ORDER OUR BOOK TODAY
Now available in paperback.
How people in the US spend their day
The New York Times has a fascinating set of graphics about how different groups of people in the U.S. spend their time.
The data for the graphics came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey. The people surveyed were over the age of 15 and were asked to record what they did every minute of the day. I am a little surprised by some of the data, but mostly it is to be expected. I’m especially interested in the “household activities” category, as it is probably the most closely tied to uncluttering and cleaning activities.
Americans typically eat lunch between 12:10 and 12:20 p.m. and dinner at 6:10 to 6:40 p.m. What little socializing takes place happens between 5:50 and 8:00 p.m. (and people with advanced degrees appear to do the least amount of socializing in the evenings but the greatest amount of household activities). People without children work the least and socialize the least in comparison to people with children. And, women do more household activities than men.
To check out all the different sets of data, select the words in the chart above the graph:
And to see specific percentages, move your arrow on the top of the graph.
How do you compare to your peers? I definitely play more sports than others in my age bracket (you can only see “sports” labeled on the graph for the category Age 15-24). I think it would be extremely interesting to see how people in other countries spend their time.
(via Lifehacker)
20 comments posted
Posted by mandie - 08/04/2009
Wow. That is one extensive chart! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by kat - 08/04/2009
What baffles me is the TV use! Two and a half hours per day on average? I’ve seen those stats before, but they always startle me.
I don’t even OWN a TV, much less watch it for 2.5 hours per day. That just seems insane to me. Where do they find the time??
Posted by Another Deb - 08/04/2009
Wow, what a data collection! I am always trying to show students different kinds of graphical representations of data and will be using this for a warmup activity in the future. We will then talk about time management!
As a teacher, my work time extends way beyond the hours at school, so that golden line would be very long. I don’t watch TV, so that category would be subsumed by the computer use time. I have no children to care for at home. Looks like I ought to have more time for exercise and decluttering!
Posted by Sue - 08/04/2009
Great link, but every time I try to look at the various parts of the graph IE crashes. I’ll try this at home.
I also “play sports” more than the average person. But that’s an interesting choice of a label. Does that include working out at the gym and other forms of exercise that aren’t necessarily sports?
Posted by Lose That Girl - 08/04/2009
Weird! People without children work the least and socialize the least? Not where I come from.
Posted by Brett - 08/04/2009
I find it crazy that so many people are up so late! I’m lucky to make it to 11p on an averave night.
Posted by Erin Doland - 08/04/2009
@Lose That Girl — The data collection begins at age 15 … so a good portion of the people in that category are probably still in school full time. So, I imagine that it’s students that are bringing down the average working time for the age group. I’m more surprised by the reduction in socializing, though. When I was in school a great portion of my time was spent socializing …
Posted by Michele - 08/04/2009
I think I socialize more than my peers. I watch very, very little TV — I probably spend the equivalent time reading and on the Internet — and try to get out and be sociable whenever I can. But I’m also single, so any “watching cable/Netflix with the boyfriend/husband” time that I may have is spent reading, on the Internet, or out with friends.
Posted by infmom - 08/04/2009
I love the way they formatted the chart to look like one big sinkhole.
Posted by Dave - 08/04/2009
1% on computers ant about any time, I doubt that one, and only 7% looking for a job that don’t have one, that might be why a lot of them can’t find one. TV I have the TV on, but not focused on it in the evening for a few hours.
Posted by Lori Paximadis - 08/04/2009
Interesting, but it doesn’t seem to accommodate for doing two things at once. For example, I could count taking a walk with friends as both exercising (“playing sports” I guess) and socializing. Lots of people eat while they work (I often do, for lunch anyway — not that that’s necessarily good). When I’m working, I’m on the computer 90% of the time, so those are almost total overlap categories.
Still, completely fascinating, and fun to play with.
Posted by Sara - 08/04/2009
Wow, you’re only age 15-24? You’re very organized and mature for someone in that age bracket!
Speaking of age brackets, I hate how the chart groups those age 25-64 together. I know that’s supposed to be the “prime” working years, but still – a 25-year-old spends their time much differently than a 64-year-old. I would have liked to see the age range broken up a bit more. Other than that, the graph is great and a lot of fun.
Posted by Erin Doland - 08/04/2009
@Sara — I’m in my late 30s.
Posted by Sara - 08/04/2009
@Erin: Sorry, I guess I misunderstood your statement “I definitely play more sports than others in my age bracket (you can only see “sports” labeled on the graph for the category Age 15-24).” I thought you meant your age bracket was 15-24. My fault!
Posted by Erin Doland - 08/04/2009
@Sara — Oh yes, my writing is incredibly unclear there! Ack!!
Posted by meg - 08/04/2009
This data collection has actually been going on for years. I’m currently reading “Bowling Alone” which was published in 2000 and has analysis of the changes in this time spent since the middle of the 20th century. TV has definitely shifted the way we spend leisure time. Also, the amount of time spent on things like work vary around the country. It’s a very interesting data set, though. Makes us wonder if we’re spending our time as well as we can, for our own well being. I have started trying to watch much less TV lately and get out an participate in the community and socialize with my friends. I don’t miss the TV at all, and feel much happier and healthier as a result.
Posted by Kel - 08/04/2009
Great graph – it’s neat to see how people spend their time
@Kat: I have friends that come home from work around 5-6ish, turn on the tv, make dinner & eat in front of the tv, then stay there till about 9-10 pm. We don’t have a tv so when visiting them it’s a treat for me, but after 2 days of that I’m ready to go back to my tv-less existence. They do that 3-5 nights of the week. It’s kinda sad really.
Posted by Anne - 08/04/2009
I would love to see comparison charts for other countries. I recently read about Denmark being much more laid back than the US; similar story with Germany. That would be interesting to see!
Very fun chart!!
Posted by Karyn - 08/05/2009
I think it’s kind of sad that “Watching TV or movies” crowds out “Relaxing and thinking” for the 25-64 age group. Says a lot about our society, right there.
As for the amount of socializing in a given age bracket, children at home or not, etc., one important factor being overlooked is introversion vs. extroversion: We introverts place a premium on setting aside enough time for Quality Solitude, in which we “relax and think.” My life is focused, by choice, on solitude, punctuated by selected socializing. I like to think, deeply and extensively, and to write; it’s hard to imagine how a life full of constant external activity would leave room for that!
When I do socialize (whether in-person or online), not surprisingly much of it is focused around discussing ideas and the inner life.
TV? What’s that?
Posted by Oliver Ruehl - 08/05/2009
Hi Erin,
That is a very interesting, but also shocking chart.
It shows how much need there is for entertainment after a day of hard work. Not even enough time to think or to socialize.
As long as our work ethics don’t change (us germans work the most hours in the whole of Europe, but for what price?) these charts will look devastating.
Need to go back to my TV. Errrrr. Book! Book!
I wish I’d get this chart for Europe, too
Kind regards
Oliver
Comments are closed for this entry.