Poll Answer - What would allow you to spend more time outside?

Thanks to all those who participated in our recent poll - What would allow you to spend more time outside? Almost 70% of respondents noted that more time would allow for greater time spent outside. This further demonstrates just how busy our lives really are on a daily basis. A few telling stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent study (2008) on how Americans spend their time:

Leisure Activities in 2008

--On an average day, nearly everyone age 15 and over (96 percent) engaged
in some sort of leisure activity, such as watching TV, socializing, or
exercising. Of those who engaged in leisure activities, men spent more
time in these activities (5.7 hours) than did women (5.1 hours).

--Watching TV was the leisure activity that occupied the most time, ac-
counting for about half of leisure time, on average, for both men and
women. Socializing, such as visiting with friends or attending or
hosting social events, was the next most common leisure activity, ac-
counting for about three-quarters of an hour per day for both sexes.

--Men were more likely than women to participate in sports, exercise, or
recreation on any given day--21 versus 15 percent. On the days that
they participated, men also spent more time in these activities than
did women, 1.9 versus 1.3 hours.

--On an average day, adults age 75 and over spent 7.6 hours engaged in
leisure activities--more than any other age group; 25- to 44-year-olds
spent just over 4 hours engaged in leisure and sports activities--less
than other age groups.

--Time spent reading for personal interest and playing games or using a
computer for leisure varied greatly by age. Individuals age 75 and
over averaged 1.2 hours of reading per weekend day and 0.3 hour (17
minutes) playing games or using a computer for leisure. Conversely,
individuals ages 15 to 19 read for an average of 0.2 hour (10 minutes)
per weekend day while spending 1.0 hour playing games or using a com-
puter for leisure.

--Employed adults living in households with no children under 18 engaged
in leisure activities for 4.5 hours per day, nearly an hour more than
employed adults living with a child under age 6.



Bottom line - we all have to make time for getting outside. It's not easy, but for those of us who love the out-do-doors, it's what we have to do.