Leisure can be defined in three main ways:

• Time: It's seen as free time when one is not engaged in work or essential personal care activities.
• Activity: Specific activities considered leisurely like watching TV, sports, reading, etc.
• State of mind: Engaging in enjoyable or pleasurable activities.

Leisure activities are undertaken outside work for purposes such as pleasure, entertainment, improvement of knowledge, and relaxation. These can include hobbies, which allow for personal interest and skill acquisition.

Example: People might enjoy leisurely activities like playing soccer in the park, reading a thrilling mystery novel, or learning how to paint.

Leisure is the second-largest time category, after personal care, across 18 OECD countries, taking up 22% of time on average. However, this varies with Norway at the highest (27% of time) and Mexico at the lowest (16% of time).

Example: This could mean that a person in Norway, on average, spends about 6.5 hours per day on leisure activities, while a person in Mexico spends roughly 3.8 hours.

The growth of leisure time is facilitated by:

• Shorter work days/weeks
• Increased wages and disposable income
• The growth of leisure activities
• More early retirement
• Self-employment flexibility
• Technological advancements

Example: Today, because of automation technologies like washing machines, people spend less time on household chores, freeing up more time for leisure activities like streaming movies online.