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Americans work less than ever before but still feel like there's no free time - and there's a simple explanation

Chris WellerNov 18, 2017, 21:51 IST

WPA Pool / Getty Images

The number of hours Americans work has gone down over the last several decades, according to data from the OECD, while leisure time has gone up. But that's hardly the perception for many working people.

How come?

The psychologist Adam Alter offered one reason in his 2017 TED talk "Why our screens make us less happy." He says that screen-based devices eat up what precious free time we have left.

But that may only be part of the story when it comes to the lack of leisure time. Here's why it feels like you have no free time anymore.