Americans spending more time alone?

Honestly, I'm spending so much time pressing the flesh, glad handing, promoting myself...I barely have time to meditate and contemplate the impact I'm having on the world of journalism.

I need more time alone dagnabbit!

Americans are spending more time at home and alone, and money shapes who can opt out

Sherwood News

Feb 16, 2026

With the Covid lockdowns now a moderately foggy memory for most, the last few years have seen many habits that defined the pandemic era become more normalized: Peloton bikes now double as coat racks; Zoom’s share price is almost back to where it started; and Del Monte is stuck with mountains of unsold canned fruit.

But one lifestyle change has proven far more permanent than any fitness fad or panic-buying spree, and turns out to be part of a much larger phenomenon. Americans are spending more time at home, and alone… and not everyone has the means to break that trend.

According to the annual American Time Use Survey, Americans now spend about 30 more minutes sleeping per day than they did two decades ago, as well as spending roughly 11 more minutes on household activities. On the flip side, we’re spending less time commuting, going shopping, and taking in-person classes — activities that usually have us interacting with others out in public.

In 2003, the average American spent 7.7 hours per day at home; by 2024, that figure had risen 18% to 9.1 hours, with the pandemic only accelerating the climb. Time spent alone has followed a similar trajectory: nearly 7 hours a day in 2024, up from 5.8 hours in 2010.

Time is money

But not everyone is experiencing the shift in the same way. As evidence for the K-shaped economy — where some groups thrive while others struggle — becomes harder to ignore, income is proving to be a big influence.

Indeed, households earning under $35,000 now spend about 10 hours a day at home, almost an hour and a half longer than those earning $150,000 or more. So, what’s keeping lower-income Americans indoors?