Ever stand in line at the grocery store and wonder just how much time you've spent (or wasted) doing just that? The American Time Use Survey, first introduced by the Department of Labor in 2003, offers a comprehensive annual analysis detailing how the average American's day breaks down. For instance, in 2005, the average American with a full-time job worked for 9.1 hours, slept for 7.6 hours, spent 3.0 hours on leisure/sports-related activities, and did household chores for 0.9 hours on their average weekday. Other interesting tidbits:
Married persons spent more time on household activities than single persons--2.1 hours compared to 1.4 hours.
Watching TV was the primary leisure activity of both men and women, accounting for half of all leisure time at an average of 2.6 hours per day. The next most common leisure activity--socializing--amounted to only 45 minutes per day.
Shopping occupied an average of 38 minutes for men and 58 for women.
For more detailed tables and demographic breakdowns, go to the American Time Use Survey home page.

