BLS - Leisure and Sports

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published the results of its latest survey "Time spent in primary activities and percent of the civilian population engaging in each activity, averages per day, by sex, 2018" in 2019.
• According to the report, American men spend an average of 5.69 hours on leisure (free time) and sports each day.
• On the other hand, American women spend an average of 4.87 hours on leisure (free time) and sports each day.
•  Both sexes spent an average of 5.27 hours on leisure and sports per day in 2018.
• The full report and summary of the American Time Use Survey can be accessed here.

Sports, Exercise and Recreation

• The report's technical note defines this activity category as including attending, participating, or watching sports, exercise, and recreation activities.
• According to BLS, American men spend an average of 0.36 hours on sports, exercise and recreation each day.
• American women spend an average of 0.23 hours on sports, exercise and recreation each day.
•  Men also spent more time on sports, exercise and recreation than women during weekends/holidays at 0.46 and 0.22 hours respectively.

Socializing and Communication

• The report defines this activity category as including face-to-face communication as well as hosting or attending social events and functions.
• BLS reports that American men spend an average of 0.59 hours socializing and communicating each day.
• American women spend an average of 0.69 hours socializing and communicating each day.
•  Women also spent more time socializing and communicating than men during weekends/holidays at 1.05 and 0.91 hours respectively.

Watching TV

• BLS includes this activity under the category of general leisure activities along with reading, relaxing or thinking, playing or listening to music, using computer for leisure, playing games, and other related activities.
• According to the report, American men spend an average of 3.09 hours watching TV each day.
• American women spend an average of 2.61 hours watching TV each day.
•  Men also spent more time watching TV than women during weekends/holidays at 3.71 and 3.12 hours respectively.

Reading

• The report includes this activity under general leisure activities along with watching TV, relaxing or thinking, using computer for leisure and other related activities.
• According to BLS, American men spend an average of 0.24 hours reading each day.
• American women spend an average of 0.29 hours reading each day.
•  Women also spent more time reading than men during weekends/holidays at 0.31 and 0.26 hours respectively.

Playing Games and Computer Use for Leisure

• The report includes this activity category under general leisure activities which include playing board, card or digital games as well using a computer or surfing the Internet for personal interest.
• BLS reports that American men spend an average of 0.59 hours playing games and using computers for leisure each day.
• American women spend an average of 0.35 hours playing games and using computers for leisure each day.
•  Men also spent more time playing games and using computers for leisure than women during weekends/holidays at 0.75 and 0.40 hours respectively.

Leisure Time

•  The Atlantic reports that women's working hours have increased but time spent on house chores and child care has not declined, taking up more of women's free time compared to men.
• Sociologist Liana Sayer stated that "The gender gap in leisure is intertwined with college [education] because of the ways college increases paid work time … and also with marriage and parental status, which increase women’s unpaid work more than they increase men’s paid work."
• This has lengthened leisure gap between men and women to roughly half an hour.

Sports, Exercise and Recreation

• The BLS' 2018 American Time Use report defines this activity category as including attending, participating, or watching sports, exercise, and recreation activities.
• The 2017 State of Women's Wellness US survey (latest version) placed fitness as the number one factor positively affecting women's mental and emotional wellness.
•  21% of women across all generations ranked it as the number one factor for personal wellness.
•  25% of Millennial women identified fitness as the number one factor affecting personal wellness.
•  21% of female Boomers identified fitness as the number one factor affecting personal wellness.
•  19% of Gen X females identified fitness as the number one factor affecting personal wellness.
• Sociologist Liana Sayer observed that women, especially mothers, are made to feel guilty for taking time for recreation such as socializing or enjoying exercise and recreation.
• Women feel they should spend more time on their children rather than pursuing sports, exercise or recreation.
• However, men generally do not need to justify the same need to enjoy leisure time.
• The Women's Health Matters organization in California stresses that taking time to exercise is beneficial to women's mental health and overall wellness whether they have a condition or not.
• Exercise has been shown to improve sleep and ease anxiety.
• Staying active has also been shown to improve memory and increase energy levels.
• Dr. Valerie Taylor of Women's College Hospital said, "I think exercise should be part of a wellness program for all of us... So if you make this ‘me time’ something that you do to prioritize your own health, that can only be good."

Socializing and Communication

• The BLS report defines this activity category as including face-to-face communication as well as hosting or attending social events and functions.

• The State of Women's Wellness survey identified socializing as the second top factor positively affecting women's mental and emotional wellness.

•  13% of women across all generations ranked social life and trusted relationships as the second top factor for personal wellness.
•  19% of Millennial women identified it as the second top factor affecting personal wellness.
•  11% of female Boomers identified social life and trusted relationships as the second top factor affecting personal wellness.
•  10% of Gen X females identified it as the second top factor affecting personal wellness.

• According to Medical News Today, face-to-face contact is similar to a 'vaccine' that triggers the nervous system to release neurotransmitters that regulate stress and anxiety.

• Socializing and face-to-face communication also increases a person's resilience to stress over time.
• Social support and interaction boosts people's mental and physical strength.
• It can also help improve memory and protect the human brain from neurodegenerative diseases.
• The article also reports that several research studies have linked social connection to more healthful habits and lifestyle in general.
• Staying socially active also contributes to higher later-life satisfaction.
• Lastly, combining fitness with socialization has been shown to help decrease stress levels and boost mental well-being over a period of 12 weeks.

Watching TV

• BLS includes this activity category under general leisure activities along with reading, relaxing or thinking, playing or listening to music, using computer for leisure, playing games, and other related activities.

• The State of Women's Wellness survey identified watching informative TV as a way for women to feel informed, empowered, and in control of their wellness.

•  8% of women across all generations watched informative television to feel informed, empowered and in control of their wellness.
•  10% of Millennial women watched informative television to feel informed, empowered and in control of their wellness.
•  7% of female Boomers watched informative television to feel informed, empowered and in control of their wellness.
•  8% of Gen X females watched informative television to feel informed, empowered and in control of their wellness.
•  Woman's Day reported that watching TV is beneficial for women's emotional and mental health.
• Dr. Barna Donovan at Saint Peter's University in New Jersey said that strong female role models inspire women: "Fictional entertainment inspires women to persevere through the ups and downs and challenges of everyday life through on-screen heroines who triumph through tough times or strive to achieve their dreams."
• Psychologist and researcher Alexis Conason said that watching TV recharges the mind by providing an escape from daily stresses, an important factor for wellness.
• Watching TV also offers an outlet for expressing repressed emotions, which can be a way to recharge.
• Dr. Michael Grabowski of the Neuroscience and Media stated that fiction can give viewers a new perspective and model positive behavior in similar real-life situations.
• Laughing at TV comedy can also act as a 'dynamic coping mechanism' to release physical energy generated by stress.
• Lastly, TV and entertainment challenges viewers to exercise their imagination, contributing to overall mental wellness.

Reading

• The BLS report includes this activity category under general leisure activities along with watching TV, relaxing or thinking, using computer for leisure and other related activities.
• The State of Women's Wellness survey identified reading trusted books as a way for women to feel informed, empowered, and in control of their wellness.
•  19% of women across all generations identified reading trusted books as a way to feel informed, empowered, and in control of their wellness.
•  22% of Millennial women read trusted books to feel informed, empowered, and in control of their wellness.
•  19% of female Boomers read trusted books to feel informed, empowered, and in control of their wellness.
•  18% of Gen X females read trusted books to feel informed, empowered, and in control of their wellness.
•  Integris outlines several ways reading can benefit mental health and wellness in general.
• It only takes an average of six minutes of reading a good book for a person to relax.
• Reading reduced stress by 68% and was the highest-ranked form of relaxation.
• Reading helps people sleep and find a mental pathway to restfulness.
• It can also help slow memory decline by keeping the brain active.

Playing Games and Computer Use for Leisure

• BLS includes this activity category under general leisure activities which include playing board, card or digital games as well using a computer or surfing the Internet for personal interest.

• The State of Women's Wellness survey identified work-life balance as a top factor positively affecting women's mental and emotional wellness.

•  8% of women across all generations ranked work-life balance as a top factor for personal wellness.
•  11% of Millennial women identified work-life balance as a top factor for personal wellness.
•  5% of female Boomers identified work-life balance as a top factor for personal wellness.
•  7% of Gen X females identified work-life balance as a top factor for personal wellness.
• According to HelpGuide, play benefits adults as a form of relaxation and stimulation.
• The article reports that play relieves stress by releasing endorphins which provide a feeling of well-being.
• Playing games such as chess and puzzles also improves brain function and prevents poor memory.
• Play also helps stimulate the imagination and encourage people to be creative in solving problems.
• Engaging in play with others helps strengthen relationships and social connection.
• Play helps adults feel energetic, increase vitality, and boost their resistance to disease.
• Additionally, play with other adults can heal emotional wounds by reinforcing positive behavior and actions.

Lululemon Athletica

•  Lululemon Athletica topped the list of the 20 Best Companies for Wellness Initiatives as rated by women this March 2020.
• The company garnered a 4.8 star rating for wellness initiatives.
• Lululemon's EVP of Americas and Global Guest Innovation Celeste Burgoyne made a pledge to support and promote mental wellness last month at the MAKERS Conference held in Los Angeles.
• Burgoyne stated, "The next major step in our journey is leading the way in mental wellbeing because we know in order to be 100% authentically you, you need to be well."
• Burgoyne also said that the company commits to offering its employees mental health benefits and managerial training around mental health conversations in 2020.
•  78% of Lululemon's 20,000 employees are women.
•  60% of its senior leadership team are also women.
• Burgoyne points out that the initiative's messaging is to establish Lululemon as a top workplace for leadership development: "This mental health pledge is really in our journey in... being the number one place that people come to work and develop as leaders."
• Though the initiative has yet to deliver tangible success (having started only last month), Lululemon has proven its support of women and mental wellness.
• The company reported that it has achieved 100% pay equity in 2018 among male and female employees.
• It has also established a parenthood program offering 6 months' paid leave for both mothers and fathers.
• Lululemon has also implemented several social impact initiatives towards promoting mental wellness for women.
• One example is its partnership with Embody, a nonprofit organization that provides access to physical and mental wellness education.
• Lululemon and Embody celebrated International Women's Day by drawing attention to women's issues as well as yoga as a way to empower women.
• Lululemon also held numerous free yoga and mindfulness classes in partnership with Embody at its stores in Grand Rapids.

Johnson & Johnson

•  Johnson & Johnson has been active in promoting women's mental wellness over the years.
• One of its initiatives was the launch of the Johnson & Johnson 7 Minute Wellness for Expecting and New Moms™ App in 2016.
• The free and science-based wellness app is meant to help expecting and brand new mothers care for their body, mind, and baby.
• The app includes personalized sessions to match the user's week of pregnancy or postnatal phase.
• It also includes Mind and Body sessions to help new and expecting mothers find balance and relax their mind.
• The app's mental wellness techniques helps moms relieve stress and discomfort as well as take good care of their body during the prenatal and postnatal periods.
• Len Greer, President of J&J Health and Wellness Solutions, encapsulated the initiative's messaging as empowering mothers: "We want to help moms maximize their energy so they can feel and be their best – for themselves and for those who matter most to them."
• Greer also added that the 7 Minute Wellness app reflects Johnson & Johnson's commitment to provide innovative and personalized solutions towards helping people stay healthy and well.
• The app has been positively ranked 4.5 stars out of 512 reviews.
• It has also been praised by users and influencers such as MommyPalooza, A Sweat Life, MommyBunch and HustleMomRepeat among others.