Italians have more free time, but it is not always perceived as such. The latest Istat study reveals a society fighting to recapture its work-life balance, with some signs of improvement but also new contradictions. In 2024, compared to ten years ago, free time on weekdays is increasing: an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes each day, up from 3 hours and nine minutes in 2015. During the holidays, it remains higher (4 hours and 49 minutes), however it is somewhat reducing. Not only is quantity increasing, but so is satisfaction. More than six out of ten people say they are satisfied with the time they have, and more than 70% value the quality of their spare time, indicating an improvement over the past. However, substantial inequities emerge from these figures. Women, for example, continue to have 42 minutes less free time than males on holidays due to a much higher domestic and care burden. A gap that captures daily living while being distant from actual task sharing. Furthermore, the proportion of people who have no spare time at all, at least on weekdays, is increasing. Indeed, the number of people stating that they do not have even a moment to themselves is increasing. And, conversely, as the perceived distinction between work and private life grows, so does the proportion of people who work overtime or in their spare time, which is currently about one in two. The picture is one of a delicate balance: more space, sure, but constantly undermined by life and work rhythms that are intense. Free time exists and is more valued. But protecting it, today, is perhaps the most complex challenge.