More work, less free time for Nova Scotians

This report assesses trends in Nova Scotians’ free time and work hours. It also looks at which Nova Scotians are most time stressed, and at who has more free time and who has less. And for the first time, it puts a dollar value on Nova Scotians’ free time, based on the value that free time has as a buffer against stress and as a condition of physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The report also looks at how Nova Scotians spend their free time — how much time do they spend watching television, socializing, reading, playing sports, going to movies, and eating out at restaurants. And what are the trends in these activities? Are Nova Scotians watching more TV and reading more than they used to, or less?

The GPI study also breaks down free time hours and leisure time activities by sex, age, work status, marital status, age of children, and time of week to find out which groups are doing which activities and for how long. And it examines major changes over the last two decades in male-female work and free time patterns.

Free time is one of 20 core components of the Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index because it is one of the most basic conditions of wellbeing and quality of life. According to Dr. Andrew Harvey, Department of Economics, and Director of Time Use Research at Saint Mary’s University, who is the report lead author, “free time is the only time we have to do what we want, not what we have to do—to pursue our interests and enjoy our lives.”