Our Society: Technology and Instant Gratification

"I hate traffic." "What is the hold up, here?" "I know, but I just couldn’t wait." "Don’t put me on hold!"

Did any of those phrases seem familiar to you? No one likes to wait these days. No matter what it is that they have to wait for, it seems that people just can’t wait. The fact of the matter is that technology has spoiled us. Some of us are just spoiled rotten. The internet, microwaves, cell phones, fast food, EZ pass, drive-up atm, and credit cards have all provided wonderful conveniences, yet robbed us of the virtue of patience.

As the human race, we are always looking to better ourselves to make things easier and faster, so we eventually have to do less on our own. Over the passed couple hundreds of years we have developed several new ways to travel, communicate, and entertain ourselves. It is both a fantastic and terrible thing that technology has brought us such conveniences.

What is so wrong with technology?

We have become a lazy society. We don’t have to cook because we can grab food from a restaurant, or better yet have it delivered. If not, we can always heat up a frozen meal in the microwave. Some people use their cars to travel a total of two blocks so that they don’t have to walk. The television is often the babysitter. There are too many people who can’t cook, don’t get any exercise, and don’t take the time to teach and discipline their children.

We have also become an unhealthy society. While we might be one of the wealthiest nations on the planet, we did not rank high in health. The top five healthiest countries are Japan, France, Iceland, Sweden and Cuba. Heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are killing the health of our nation, and technology is a major contributor to our death.

It is not that there is a problem with technology itself, but it’s the abuse of that convenience.

The use of cell phones while driving has caused tons of accidents, yet so many continue to do it everyday. If many of those people are honest with themselves, it is not that they don’t have time to talk later, it’s that they just can’t wait. Teenagers text each other during class, and fill their heads with popular music in the hallways at school. It is not only distracting students from learning, but it feeds their need for instant gratification.

Abusing credit cards is just saying that you can’t wait to earn enough money to buy things. The debt system is such a common pitfall. It drives us to work more, which causes more stress, which makes us feel anxiety, which makes us want to rush everywhere and do everything super-fast. Do you see the cycle impatience is causing?

How can we overcome the ill-effects of technology?

Remember that good things come to those who wait. If you can discipline yourself not to get so angry and frustrated when things don’t happen quite as quickly as you like, you will find yourself happier. Make the most of the time that you have to wait. Look at it this way, maybe you aren't exactly where you want to be, but you could be avoiding an accident that you didn't know would happen. Sometimes unexpected delays can save our lives.

Take some time away from technology. Turn off your cell phone every once in a while. Go for quiet walks on your own. Make something with your own hands. Cook a meal from scratch. Coming back down to the natural earth without all of the wires, computer chips, rings, and beeps can keep you grounded and reduce your stress. Reducing stress improves your health.

Good health is worth waiting for, isn’t it? Enjoy the moments that you have because life it too short to rush through everything.

Take you time, otherwise you will lose it.