I can recall several essays in the 60's predicting that society in the future will have much more leisure time with 32 hour work weeks and more opportunities to pursue enriching activities.
However, a report released this week suggests that Canadians are caught in a time crunch and the dream of a leisure society is disappearing.
Families are caught between caring for children and elderly parents, and stressed by jobs that require weekend and evening work; the average person is more likely to turn to the television or the computer for entertainment than to take a walk in the woods or play pick-up hockey or volunteer in community initiatives.
"In short, the hours that Canadians spend refreshing their minds and their bodies through leisure and cultural activities – and moments shared with family – are being condensed and it’s affecting their well-being."
The report by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing is called 'Caught in the Time Crunch: Time Use, Leisure and Culture in Canada.'
In a Globe and Mail article one mother said,“If the house burns down, bring the calendar." Most of us would probably express similar dependence.
The report offers a number of recommendations. Among other things, it suggests a need for more family-friendly work policies such as flex hours and more vacation time, better supports for people caring for children and parents, more walkable neighbourhoods, and increased engagement of volunteers.
These findings encourages one to think about how well we are handling this time crunch and whether or not we are finding a proper balance.
