Eat, Drink, and be Merry

This blog preaches a lot about living in the moment and enjoying every day. Who is actually doing it? The OECD has released their latest survey (2006 data) of time use in developed countries, and the Economist has printed a chart here showing two of the key lifestyle components for various countries. On the horizontal axis is total time sleeping per day, while the vertical axis represents the total time eating and drinking every day.

My first observation: who knew Americans sleep so much? Nearly nine hours a night, according to the chart, only 15 or 20 minutes less than the world-beating French. One question for the OECD: whom did you interview here? Most people I know seem perpetually tired and are lucky to get anywhere near 8 hours a night, let alone close to nine. Perhaps that's because the majority of my friends have small children, which are proven sleep destroyers. But seriously, if almost nine hours is the average, who are the people getting more than that?

My second observation: Vive la France! To come top of the chart in either one of sleeping or eating/drinking would be reason for pride, but to top the league tables in both is truly a feat to be commended. This opens up many questions for further study, such as: is the sleeping related to the drinking? Does anyone in France work? Did they count the time Americans spend eating in their cars?

I like the title to the Economist chart, which alludes to "simple pleasures." They are indeed; sleep is free, and getting enough improves life in so many ways. We have to eat to live, of course, but to take time to eat a proper meal, savoring the food and enjoying the company of those with whom you are eating it, is a life-affirming use of precious minutes in your day.

Let's do our part to boost America's standing in the world: eat at the table with your family or friends, slowly and well, and go to bed early tonight!