Technology is a wonderful thing. It has improved our lives in so many ways that it’s hard to even remember what life was like a few decades ago. Just slightly over ten years ago, smartphones started replacing our old cell phones. Back then, all we could do with our phones were to make calls and send text messages, but with the smartphones of today, we can all that and more – from browsing the web to shopping online, the possibilities are endless.
However, while technology has indeed made our lives better as a whole, we have begun to take all the convenience for granted, and in turn, it has made us complacent, lazy, and even unhealthy in more ways than one. For example, when was the last time you went out to do something fun, instead of just lying at home and binging on Netflix? Or when was the last time you went out to a mall and shopped, instead of just buying stuff from your phone while you were lounging on the sofa?
Here are some of the ways we are being negatively affected by the conveniences of modern technology.
Slaves To Smart Devices
The next time you’re at on a bus or train, just casually observe the number of people with their heads down looking at their phones. It’s probably safe to assume the majority of the people onboard will be on their phones — either listening to music, browsing social media, or just surfing the web.
Our smartphones nowadays are the gateways to almost anything. There’s just about an app for everything these days, so it’s not hard to see why people are so glued to their devices. Hungry for some food but don’t want to head out and buy some? Just get one of the numerous food delivery service apps to get some for you. Need some new clothes but you’re lazy to head to the mall? Shop online and get your parcel delivered to you the next day. The level of convenience offered is just astounding.
What is not apparent immediately is how our behaviour is changing, thanks to all the assistance we get from our little virtual companion. We become lazier and overly dependent on our digital devices, which can lead to multiple health problems. For starters, the LED screens on most smartphones emit blue light, which can be detrimental to eyesight and cause us to develop poor sleeping habits. This can then lead to weight gain and obesity, and thus increasing our risk of developing chronic illnesses.
Yet another negative effect would be the psychological effects of social media. While the use of social media helps people to stay connected and keep in touch with one another, it can also develop feelings of inadequacy and envy, especially among the younger teenage users. Constantly being bombarded with articles and images telling them how they need to look and act can cause them to have low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence, which is not good for their mental health.
Entertainment At Home
On the topic of becoming lazy, another culprit is likely the rise of the home entertainment centre. On-demand video streaming services like Netflix and YouTube allow us to pick and choose what we want to watch, so we’re constantly glued to the screens. Back when regular TV shows were on, we would at least stand up and stretch if there was a commercial break, but with on-demand content, there are no advertisements, so many people just watch until they fall asleep.
Video games are also increasingly becoming the entertainment of choice for many. Sitting on the couch for hours on end, staring at the screen while their hands twiddle away at the joystick or controller.
All these convenient entertainment options at home are making people lead sedentary lifestyles. This means that they tend to be sitting or lying down for long periods of time, and as a result, they neglect physical activities and personal fitness. This will eventually lead to weight gain and obesity, which increases the chances of diabetes, heart diseases, and even cancer.
Processed Junk Food
With the fast-paced lifestyle many people lead, time is a valuable commodity. Finding time to do the things you want can be very tough, with all the other responsibilities we have. This lack of time causes many people to find shortcuts wherever they can, so they can get some leisure time.
One way many people choose to save time on is meals. Instead of buying fresh produce and cooking at home, many either choose to eat out, order in, or they buy ready-to-eat meals and tinned food which is easy to prepare. However, these options are generally less healthy and not as nutritious as home-cooked food. In fact, ready-made meals and most tinned foods are known as processed foods, which means they contain large amounts of sodium, sugar, and other preservatives to help extend their shelf life. You probably guessed by now, but these foods made for our convenience are harming our bodies with all the extra additives, which is not ideal at all if we want to remain healthy.