New research: Did the pandemic accelerate the trend toward staying home?

Americans now spend about 51 minutes less per day on out-of-home activities compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new study released in the Journal of the American Planning Association.

This decrease, seen across various activities, reflects a continuation and acceleration of a trend toward more in-home activity since 2003, with the pandemic significantly deepening this shift.

Travel time also dropped by about 12 minutes, with out-of-home activities such as work, shopping, and social events experiencing substantial reductions. Notably, this decrease in travel and out-of-home engagement only slightly rebounded by 2023, suggesting lasting changes in travel and daily activities.

The study by scholars from Clemson University and UCLA analyzed data from 34,000 respondents to the American Time Use Survey from 2019 (pre-pandemic period), 2021 (pandemic period) and 2022 and 2023 (post-pandemic period). The article was authored by Eric Morris from Clemson University, along with Brian Taylor, professor of urban planning and public policy, and Sam Speroni, graduate student researcher, both with the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies.

While the increase in time spent at home may seem relatively minute, the authors say its implications for land use, transportation, housing, and everyday life could be transformational.

City planners must adapt to these shifts, exploring policies such as repurposing underused commercial spaces for multi-unit housing and relaxing restrictions on curb space for deliveries.

For individuals, the rise in remote work can bring time and cost savings associated with reduced commuting, along with lower emissions. However, lasting psychological and emotional impacts from increased time spent at home remain to be seen.