Leisure time monitor 2018

The BAT Foundation for Future Issues is presenting its "Leisure Monitor 2018" today, September 5, 2018, in Berlin. For this study, which has been conducted regularly since 1986, over 2,000 people aged 14 and over were interviewed (face-to-face) in a representative sample about their leisure behavior, leisure activities, and leisure wishes.

Core results:

• Television remains the most common leisure activity
• On average, eight different leisure activities are pursued per day.
• Leisure time is increasingly becoming mandatory time.
• Large gap between desire and reality in leisure activities

Television has been the undisputed most popular leisure activity among German citizens since 1986. Currently, 95 percent of all Germans watch television regularly – meaning at least once a week. Two out of three even watch television daily.

„"For most German citizens, public and private broadcasters serve not only to inform and entertain, but also to help reduce stress and relax. Many enjoy the background noise at home on the sofa in the evening as a contrast to the hectic pace of everyday life."“, according to the scientific director of the foundation, Professor Dr. Ulrich Reinhardt.

Even though TV consumption is generally very high in Germany, television is not the most frequent leisure activity at every stage of life. For childless couples, spending time with their partner is paramount, while families most often listen to the radio in their free time. For young adults and singles, television only ranks fifth, far behind their favorite leisure activity: internet use.

Overall, media use during leisure time continues to increase and even dominates it. For families and young seniors, seven of the ten most frequent leisure activities are already media-related. For teenagers and childless couples, this figure rises to eight, and for young adults, it is as high as nine out of ten.

Singles are the most frequent users of media in their free time: all of their top 10 most common activities involve media use. In contrast, retirees only list five media activities in their top 10: watching television, listening to the radio, reading newspapers, talking on the phone, and listening to music.

Besides media use, only three social activities (spending time with one's partner, talking about important things and drinking coffee) and four regenerative activities (reflecting on one's thoughts, sleeping in, taking care of oneself in peace, lazing around) are practiced by a majority of the population.

Every German citizen engages in eight different leisure activities per day. On average, each person participates in 23 different activities per week. A year-on-year comparison reveals a significant increase in activities, as in 1998 there were just 12 weekly activities per person. Thus, the number of activities has almost doubled within 20 years.

Within the population, only minor differences can be observed. For example, teenagers with nine activities a day are only slightly more active than young seniors who pursue seven different activities daily.

This intensification of leisure activities leads, firstly, to an increasing tendency to do things simultaneously. Instead of "one thing at a time," as was the case in the past, today it's "doing more in the same amount of time." While watching a film, for example, one might also be talking on the phone, surfing the internet, eating, or ironing. Secondly, the duration spent on a single activity is decreasing.

Reinhardt: „Many citizens tend to jump from one activity to the next. After all, they want to experience a lot, be involved in everything, and above all, not miss out on anything.“

In this context, he views the increasing fear of boredom among the population as a critical issue: „"Out of fear of being bored, people try to fill every free minute with something. They would rather be distracted or entertained than have a moment of free time without an activity. Yet this leisure time could be the basis for relaxation, creativity and new ideas."“

Germans consider their leisure time almost sacred. It's a time to relax and do exactly what they feel like – without obligations, considerations, restrictions, or external control. However, this ideal of leisure time is increasingly less reflected in reality.

Before dedicating themselves to relaxation, hobbies, or friends, many Germans first want to be productive or have something to accomplish. Differences between the sexes are particularly evident in this regard. Significantly more women than men still take care of household chores (941 to 571) and shopping (891 to 701). Men, on the other hand, more frequently use the phone for work during their free time (211 to 131), work more hours (151 to 111), and participate in further education more often (231 to 171).

While numerous leisure activities are being pursued more frequently than in the past, social obligations such as performing voluntary work (−6 percentage points) or providing neighborly assistance (−14 percentage points) are declining.

Reinhardt: „"Leisure time is increasingly becoming stressful time. Some people are afraid of missing out, whether at work or with friends, while others worry about not meeting their own needs or those of others. Consequently, there is an attempt to optimize leisure time and accomplish more and more in less time. This not only negatively impacts friendships and the quality of activities, but also relaxation, satisfaction, and well-being."“

The gap between desired leisure activities and actual leisure pursuits is significant. A comparison with the most common leisure activities clearly shows that current leisure behavior hardly reflects aspirations. For example, when asked which leisure activities they would like to do more often, Germans very rarely mention media-related activities such as watching television or surfing the internet. Instead, Germans desire more spontaneity, more outings, and more time for friends and relationships. The need for relaxation is also strong. The majority would like to sleep in more often or simply do nothing at all.

Reinhardt: „"The more complex, planned, and transparent one's life becomes, the greater the need for simple things. Just like in childhood, one wants the freedom to follow one's intuition – whether that's the desire for a get-together, an activity, or simply to chill."“

Number and representation: over 2,000 people aged 14 and over in Germany
Survey period: July 2018
Method: Face-to-face interviews
Survey institute: Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK), Nuremberg