As I understand it, this is largely inaccurate. People just read "days off" as "more time", even though peasant farmers would need to engage in a lot of labor around the farm or household even on "days off" (your cows and chickens don't care that you're on vacation).

Of course people still do some chores today even on days off, but it's a lot less than you need to do on a farm, ask basically any farmer.

The amount of toiling they could do without dying was calorically limited. Having lethargy induced by a shortage of food doesn’t necessarily mean a preferable lifestyle.

Hunter gatherers had more leisure than farming peasants. Surely, one can spot the trend.

[citation needed]

"Who's going to teach those idle medieval peasants to read, Ben? Augustine-man?!"

Pfft, disagree. Got laid off a year ago and have had nearly 100% free time since