Time-saving technologies can still leave us feeling time-poor.

Social acceleration can fuel feelings of alienation.

Slowing down often isn’t enough to overcome burnout.

Meaningful connection helps us thrive in an age of acceleration.

We are living through an age of rapid technological transformation. Each development promises to maximize efficiency and enhance productivity. And yet, the reality is that most of us feel more time-pressed than ever before. We feel like we are constantly struggling to keep up. We are working harder and moving faster, and yet things don’t feel like they’re getting much better.

For centuries, new technologies have been developed to help us do more, in less time, with less effort. Whether that goes back to the invention of the washing machine, which saved the hours it took to go and wash your clothes in a well or stream, or more recent advancements brought by AI that can answer all your emails in seconds, new technologies have, in many ways, made life easier. So, why does it still feel as though we’re always rushing and running out of time?

Part of the answer lies in the human tendency for acclimatization. Our minds quickly adjust to changes in our environment, and with them, our expectations shift. Whilst previously you might have been expected to send a few letters........

© Psychology Today