Retirees spend a significant portion of their day watching television, with averages ranging from over 4 hours up to 7 hours daily, totaling nearly 30 to 49 hours per week. This activity accounts for over half of their total daily leisure time, making it the primary leisure activity for those over 65.
- Daily Averages: Data suggests that retirees watch about 4.2 hours of TV per day. Another, more extreme study, suggests up to 7 hours a day.
- Demographic Breakdown: Men 65 and older watch more TV (approx. 4.73 hours daily) than women (3.74 hours). Those 75 and older watch the most.
- Context of Leisure Time: While seniors have about 7–8 hours of daily free time, the largest portion is spent on “passive leisure” like TV or screen time.
- Health Risks: Watching more than 3–5 hours of TV daily is associated with increased risks of stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
The high volume of television viewing often replaces the time formerly spent working, frequently resulting in a sedentary lifestyle.
The question for you is what are you going to do with your leisure time?
Answer!
As a retiree you need to build a balanced leisure lifestyle. Consider a mix that includes at least one activity in each of the following leisure categories:
- Entertainment
- Education
- Travel
- Exercise
- Social activity
- Hobbies
Here is a brief explanation of each activity. For a detailed account, read Chapter 6: Developing a Balanced Leisure Lifestyle, Retirement: The Ultimate Life Journey.
- Entertainment: (reading, limited TV, attending concerts, ballgames, etc.)
- Education: (learning a new language, craft, studying genealogy, etc.)
- Travel: (in your own province, country, across the nation, around the world)
- Exercise: (bowling, hiking, fishing, gym membership, swimming, etc.)
- Social activities: (joining a service club, go dancing, visit relatives, attend bingo)
- Hobbies: (photography, gardening, flower arranging, woodworking, folk art, etc.)
Finding the right combination to match your lifestyle and personality takes time and effort. Experiment. But don’t put off your search! Start checking out the fun stuff and get building your leisure plan today!
