For full disclosure, we saw this data present in a few charts created by The Visual Capitalist earlier this week, and the results were both interesting and a little depressing. However, we felt that there was a different way to visualize the results of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data. In this week’s Chart of the Week, we present our version of how to tell the story. 

Not surprisingly, the peak amount of time Americans spend with their family is in the mid-teen years. This number starts to drop as kids move out of the house and possibly start a family of their own. Time alone becomes the most time spent at age 19, on average, and never drops out of the first position through the age of 85. In our early 20s, we spend more time with co-workers than family and friends combined. Meanwhile, time with a partner or significant other hits a plateau around age 30 and holds relatively steady through 59, when it continues to increase for the next 20ish years. 

Here are the key takeaways from this week’s chart:

• ⚖️Men and women have similarities: The amount of time spent with friends is roughly the same for men and women throughout their lives, with the exception of 20 to 26, when men tend to spend more time with their friends. Time with family is also very similar, although women spend slightly more hours per day with their families. 
• 🌗Men and women also have differences: Up until age 65, men spend more hours alone than women, and spend more time with co-workers from age 32 to 49. Women are more likely to spend more time with their children from mid 20’s through about age 50 than men do. In fact, women spend the most hours of the day with children from ages 29 to 39.  
• ⤵️Bend the curve: The steady increase in hours spent alone is sad to see, especially when Americans are in their 40s and 50s, when time with kids and coworkers begins to dip, but there is not a measurable increase in time spent with friends, family, or partners.