„Time is money“: This formula by Benjamin Franklin, uttered over 250 years ago, still holds true today. Time is and remains a precious resource - and even more precious to Germans is their free time. But how much free time do Germans have? For the „Leisure Time Monitor 2011“ presented today in Berlin, the Hamburg Foundation for Future Studies, an initiative of British American Tobacco, surveyed a representative sample of 6,000 German citizens in face-to-face interviews about the amount of leisure time they have and their leisure activities. One key finding: the average amount of leisure time for all people aged 14 and over is four hours and three minutes per working day. Young people and retired people have the most free time and can do whatever they want for almost five hours. Families, on the other hand, have to make do with just over three hours of free time. The differences between women and men are small and West and East Germans are almost on a par.

Retired people have too much free time - families have far too little

Since 1950, the average working week has been reduced from 48 to 38.4 hours. In the same period, holidays have tripled from 9 to 30 days. Despite this objectively significant reduction in working hours, many Germans still feel that they have too little free time. The proportion of Germans who complain about having too little free time is almost three times as high as the proportion of those who say they have too much free time. The majority of families in particular would like to have more free time. „In addition to direct childcare, parents also have social duties in the family environment. From helping with schoolwork, to taking their own children to appointments and (leisure) activities, to socialising with other parents. All of this takes up time that is lacking in personal free time,“ says Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, Scientific Director of the Foundation. In contrast to families, most retirees are satisfied with the amount of free time they have. Only one in ten people in this phase of life would like more leisure time. In contrast, significantly more senior citizens (25%) complain that they have too much free time. Reinhardt: „For many retirees, the end of their working lives marks the start of a new era. However, sleeping in a little longer and having a little more time for breakfast is not enough to get through the day. What is missing is the routine of everyday life between commuting times, working hours and relaxation time in the evening. It is therefore important to cultivate social relationships early on, develop your own hobbies or take on voluntary work in order to be prepared for retirement.“

Leisure activities of Germans: Television use (still) twice as high as Internet use

Television is and remains the most common leisure activity for Germans. Almost every German citizen (97%) regularly - i.e. at least once a week - switches on the programmes of public and private broadcasters. This means that the leisure activity of watching television has maintained its top position for the 25th year in a row. There has also been little change in the following places. Since the mid-1980s, telephoning (91%), listening to the radio (89%), reading newspapers/magazines (79%) and spending time with the family (72%) have held the top spots. The popularity of the internet must be categorised realistically. Even though the majority of the population now has the opportunity to go online, not even every second German citizen uses it. At the same time, however, the annual comparative figures show the potential for growth, with the proportion of regular Internet users increasing by an impressive 9 percentage points to 48 per cent since 2007. Mobile phone use (up 8 percentage points), PC use (up 13 percentage points) and the use of video games (up 6 percentage points) have seen similar growth rates.

Young people inform themselves on the Internet - adults read newspapers
Women go shopping - men do DIY

Television remains the leading medium for all Germans. In every phase of life or age group, every region and size of town, every income level or educational class, TV consumption is the undisputed leader. The World Wide Web, on the other hand, primarily reaches young people, even after twenty years online. The Internet only occupies a place in the top 10 among teenagers and young adults. For these age groups, life without surfing the net is hardly conceivable. However, private Internet use decreases significantly as people enter working life. In return, the medium of newspapers/magazines receives increased attention, which continues to rise with age.
The differences in leisure activities between the sexes also remain large. Women are almost twice as likely to go to church, read books or write letters. And expected clichés can also be substantiated with figures: Women take more time to look after themselves in peace and quiet, go on shopping trips more often and spend more time on the phone. Men, on the other hand, devote much more time to DIY, go to the pub or the regulars' table and watch sporting events.

Youth. (14-17 J.)	Young adults. (18-24 J.)	Singles 25-49 J.	Couples 25-49 J.	Families 25-49 J.	Junior. 50-64 J.	Retired. From 65 yrs.
Television	Television	Television	Television	Television	Television	Television
Home phone.	Mobile phone.	Mobile phone.	Home phone.	Family	Radio	Newspaper and magazine.
Listen to CDs/MP3s	Home phone.	Radio	Radio	Home phone.	Home phone.	Radio
Mobile phone.	Computer	Home phone.	Partner	Radio	Newspaper and magazine.	Home phone.
Computer	Radio	Sleep in	Mobile phone.	Children	Family	Pursue thoughts
Radio	e-mail	Pursue thoughts	Newspaper and magazine.	Partner	Partner	Drink coffee
e-mail	Listen to CDs/MP3s	e-mail	Computer	Mobile phone.	Important things discussed.	Sleep in
Family	Important things discussed.	Computer	Important things discussed.	Important things discussed.	Pursue thoughts	Afternoon nap
Sleep in.	Internet	Newspaper and magazine.	e-mail	Computer	Drink coffee	Maintain in peace
Internet	Sleep in.	Important things discussed.	Family	Newspaper and magazine.	Sleep in	Family

Outlook

Germans engage in an average of 27 different leisure activities per week - almost two more than in 2007. It is therefore not surprising that many people constantly feel that they have too little (free) time. In their lack of time, the population reacts pragmatically and shortens the duration of activities or combines different activities. The fact that this fast pace often results in superficiality is (inevitably) accepted. At the same time, however, a renaissance of regenerative activities such as lazing around and doing nothing, sleeping in at the weekend or taking a midday nap during the week is on the horizon. Reinhardt: „Due to the multitude of consumer and media offerings, the hectic pace of everyday life and the stress of deadlines, the longing for rest and relaxation is growing. In future, many people will therefore withdraw more consciously and make regular leisure time a personal must. Leisure time will once again become free time.“

The „Leisure Time Monitor 2011“ contains detailed information in over 100 charts on the user and frequency structure of over 80 leisure activities, from television and PC use to museum and cinema visits, day trips and weekend trips.

The „Freizeit-Monitor 2011“ is available as a printed study or as a PDF file for a nominal fee of 49.00 euros from the Stiftung für Zukunftsfragen, an initiative of British American Tobacco, Alsterufer 4, 20354 Hamburg (see Contact us).