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Americans spent nearly 10 waking hours a day at home in 2020, compared to less than eight hours the year before. They also spent a lot more time alone. (The New York Times) |
NH: The BLS has just released the results of their 2020 American Time Use Survey.
The report demonstrates how drastically Americans changed their living habits during the first year of the pandemic. A number of these changes are trends we have commented on in past NWs.
For many Americans, 2020 was a lonely year. The average time spent alone each day rose 57 minutes. And the average time spent with people outside the home fell by an hour and a half.
Over the last year, we have reported on surveys showing that feelings of isolation and emotional distress have skyrocketed since the pandemic began. (See “America Is Registering Record Levels of Unhappiness.”)
But perhaps a silver lining to the situation is that people spent more time with their housemates. This rose by 31 minutes.
In many cases, this meant people spent more time with their family members, nurturing closer relationships. (See “Lockdown Silver Lining: Closer Mother-Daughter Bonds.”)
The survey also spotlighted major changes in our working lives. The amount of time Americans spent in the workplace fell by 1 hour and 33 minutes per day, while the amount of time Americans spent working at home rose by just around the same amount: 1 hour and 38 minutes.
These changes were more pronounced for workers with higher education levels. And as we have written, a majority of white-collar workers want to keep working remotely. (See “The Looming Battle Over Remote Work.”)
The survey also showed that time spent “grooming” fell for almost everyone. No need to shave or put on makeup when you aren’t seeing anyone in person.
And as for video calls, well, the grooming standard there got set pretty low. (See “Are Dress Clothes Making a Comeback?”) That said, the youngest Americans polled (ages 15-24) were the exception to the decline.
It could be that young people feel the greatest pressure to look presentable on social media, even if they're not going out.
Our leisure time changed, too. Younger Americans spent more time with digital entertainment, particularly games.
Among 15- to 24-year-olds, the amount of time spent using computers/smartphones and playing video games jumped by 10 and 24 minutes per day, respectively.
The increase in gaming time was much steeper among this group than it was among older age groups. We have often discussed the rise of esports culture among young adults, and the pandemic certainly accelerated the trend. (See “Esports Continues to Skyrocket.”)
This age bracket was also the only one in which time spent exercising declined, which doesn't bode well given the recent findings on growing youth obesity. (See "How the Pandemic Triggered America's Latest Obesity Surge.")
Older Americans spent more time focusing on chores. Time spent doing housework increased for everyone, except those ages 65+. And time spent cooking increased for everyone, except those ages 15-24.
We have written about surveys that show increased home cooking is continuing despite restaurant reopenings. (See “Eating at Home is Here to Stay.”)
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ABOUT NEIL HOWE
Neil Howe is a renowned authority on generations and social change in America. An acclaimed bestselling author and speaker, he is the nation's leading thinker on today's generations—who they are, what motivates them, and how they will shape America's future.
A historian, economist, and demographer, Howe is also a recognized authority on global aging, long-term fiscal policy, and migration. He is a senior associate to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., where he helps direct the CSIS Global Aging Initiative.
Howe has written over a dozen books on generations, demographic change, and fiscal policy, many of them with William Strauss. Howe and Strauss' first book, Generations is a history of America told as a sequence of generational biographies. Vice President Al Gore called it "the most stimulating book on American history that I have ever read" and sent a copy to every member of Congress. Newt Gingrich called it "an intellectual tour de force." Of their book, The Fourth Turning, The Boston Globe wrote, "If Howe and Strauss are right, they will take their place among the great American prophets."
Howe and Strauss originally coined the term "Millennial Generation" in 1991, and wrote the pioneering book on this generation, Millennials Rising. His work has been featured frequently in the media, including USA Today, CNN, the New York Times, and CBS' 60 Minutes.
Previously, with Peter G. Peterson, Howe co-authored On Borrowed Time, a pioneering call for budgetary reform and The Graying of the Great Powers with Richard Jackson.
Howe received his B.A. at U.C. Berkeley and later earned graduate degrees in economics and history from Yale University.
