GDI: The Swiss have more time than ever - and more stress

The Swiss population has more free time than ever before. Actually. Because the demands of work, family and leisure are growing. Time stress is becoming a social trend that affects all areas of life. And time management is one of the biggest challenges in everyday life. This is shown by a representative survey from the study "Ausgebummelt - Wege des Handels aus der Spass- und Sinnkrise" by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI).

Over the past 150 years, working hours have steadily decreased. Thanks to technological progress and the regulation of the labor market, people in Switzerland now have more free time than ever before. Automation and artificial intelligence could continue this trend. However, despite the steady increase in free time, the data from the GDI survey shows that around 30% of the Swiss working-age population (aged between 15 and 64) often or almost always suffer from time stress. Almost 60 percent of respondents state that time stress has increased in the last five years. With almost a third of all working people rushing after one obligation after another day after day, and the trend is rising, time stress is a social trend.

Time stress, especially among younger people

The results also show that a lack of time is a phenomenon in all areas of life: at work, in leisure time and in everyday life in general. While 36 percent of the Swiss population are often or almost always under time stress at work and in education, 19 percent of the working-age Swiss population often or almost always experience time stress in their leisure time.

Time stress in leisure time is particularly common among younger people. 34 percent of 16 to 24-year-olds often or almost always have time stress in their free time (work 47 %), compared to only 8 percent of 55 to 64-year-olds (work 28 %). Younger people often have the feeling that they have many obligations and expectations to fulfill. They want to try everything and are more driven by the fear of missing out.

Work-life blending is one of the biggest stress factors

Obligations at home also take up time. These include housework (32 % of respondents) and administrative tasks (25 %), such as dealing with the post or paying bills. But work that encroaches on leisure time also leads to increasing time stress (24 %). This work-life blending is one of the most important stress factors in leisure time. The expectation of having to be constantly available is a particular source of stress for the Swiss population (29 %). Both aspects are a consequence of hybrid working, which makes it difficult for many people to draw a clear line between work and leisure.

35% of all respondents in the GDI survey would like to have more time for themselves. This result illustrates how the tension between job, family and personal needs has intensified over the past five years, because how we organize our time has a direct impact on our life satisfaction.

More than 70 percent of those who never or rarely experience time stress are (rather or very) satisfied with their lives. Conversely, more than 40 percent of those who frequently or almost always experience time stress are not satisfied with their lives (neither satisfied, rather dissatisfied nor very dissatisfied). 50 percent of those who frequently or almost always experience time stress rate their mental state as rather or very negative.

When asked about their wishes, almost 40% of 25 to 54-year-olds would prefer to have more time than money, while the opposite is true for the older population. However, whether we feel happiness and satisfaction also depends on how much pleasure and importance we attach to an activity. The Swiss population perceives social activities such as spending time with family or friends and regenerative activities such as time spent relaxing or in nature as meaningful and enjoyable. Personal development, learning something new and gaining new experiences are also included.

Sport and work

Other activities are neither enjoyable nor meaningful. Commuting, for example, is perceived by most people as a waste of time and makes them unhappy. Housework is largely perceived as a time waster.

Other activities are less fun but are important. These include paid work or sport. Many people do not necessarily enjoy these activities at the time they are carried out, but they promote financial, physical and mental health in the long term. These activities also contribute to life satisfaction. The opposite is true for media entertainment: watching films or series is usually fun, but is rarely perceived as meaningful.

For the study, two representative consumer surveys were conducted in July and August 2023 among a total of 1,500 German-speaking Swiss. In addition, numerous international studies, scientific articles and databases were evaluated. On the one hand, this serves to validate the results. It also shows that the trends identified are valid beyond Switzerland's borders.

The study can here can be downloaded.