Real Simple magazine released the surprising results of a recent study about women and time. The magazine, whose goal is “to make life easier every day,” commissioned the study, which revealed women need more free time. The survey, designed for Real Simple by the Families and Work Institute, collected information from more than 3,000 American women within the age range of 25 to 54.
The not-so-surprising results: almost half – 49 percent – of the women who participated in the survey believe they do not have enough free time. About a third of the women surveyed feel that if they did less around the house, it would be more difficult overall. But the most interesting revelation of the study, however, was that the pressure women feel about time is often self-imposed.
The study, “Women & Time: Setting a New Agenda,” also revealed that there was a significant connection between happiness and free time for women: those who do schedule free time for themselves are more satisfied. As well, there was a serious connection between a woman’s ability to delegate and her level of happiness.
In an effort to connect the study to real women, Real Simple managing editor Kristin van Ogtrop met with four very busy women to discuss the study: Ruth Davis Konigsberg, senior editor of TIME magazine; Claire Shipman, a news correspondent for ABC; “Tiger Mom” Amy Chua; and Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Brown suggested that scheduling free time required women to adjust their attitudes and that watching the Adam Sandler movie Click could help provide the needed perspective. In the movie, Sandler’s character uses a special remote control to fast-forward through life events, only to realize that he’s missed everything that was truly important.
Shipman, who is writing a book about confidence in women, says she’s discovered that in their effort to be perfect, women lose the capacity to be present. She suggests that women work on letting go of the idea of being perfect. Shipman also believes that flexible work environments can lead to more happiness for women, particularly if the employer is willing to understand the other priorities women tend to juggle as they build their careers.
Konigsberg sees a connection between a woman’s inability to schedule free time and her overall health. The combination of stress and lack of prioritizing oneself leads to health complications that only exacerbate the issue. In trying to define what free time is, Konigsberg explained that interruptions are what take away from free time.
Van Ogtrop says, “We hope these findings will spark a national dialogue to help women everywhere reclaim their free time and use it in a way that will ultimately make their lives better.”