How Do I Keep My Life from Moving so Fast?
Society
Increasingly rapid pace is a prominent feature of life today. With the help of the internet, people can learn about news on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds. Workers around the world commute by public transportation every day. Instead of writing letters, we video-call our friends and relatives using mobile phones whenever we want. Technology has made our daily life extremely convenient. Some may claim that this fast-paced living style has deficiencies as well as benefits. From my perspective, despite the undesirable side effects, there have been more merits than problems from speed and technology.
No one would deny that our life is considerably more efficient than 100 years ago.
With the advent of the assembly line, factories can produce goods on larger scales, thus reducing costs. As a result, issues such as hunger problems become resolved and people’s living standards improve. Household appliances such as dishwashers can do chores efficiently, thus liberating people from the dull routine of repetitive housework.
Furthermore, the public transportation system, on the other hand, reduces people’s commuting time significantly. Time has been saved with the help of these new techniques. As information is more accessible with the assistance of the internet, knowledge, and quality education are no longer luxuries. Emergencies can become handled better, too. For instance, if a pedestrian has a heart attack on the street, the ambulance will come in five minutes. Swiftly innovated technologies and treatments These techniques, all together, make our life speedy and convenient to an unparalleled extent.
Concerns, however, also arise with the growing pace of modern society.
With the overflow of information, people start to lose their ability to think critically. Some would take whatever they see online without questioning its credibility. The desire for immediate effect sometimes makes people impatient and myopic. Years ago, craftsmen spent years polishing their skills. Nowadays, some university students can not finish reading a long novel.
People tend to rush into quick decisions without thorough deliberation and refinement of thoughts. Which may, in the long term, lead them astray. The accelerating pace of life gives rise to mental health issues as well. Excessive pursuit of productivity is one of the factors causing people stress. Paradoxically, instead of freeing people from drudgery, technology-induced speedy life patterns lead people to feel pressed for time.
Moreover, afraid of losing their competitive edge, workers work restlessly.
Lack of relaxation and overwhelming tension exerts a detrimental effect on their mental status, sometimes causing severe depression. Although the advent of mobile phones made it easier to communicate, people become more and more indifferent toward each other. Instead of going out and socializing in real life, some young people spend all of their free time in the online virtual world. Apart from doing goods, the fast pace of modern life poses new troubles that should not be ignored.
Admittedly, the fast pace in modern society exerts a positive influence on our daily life. Providing us with unprecedented efficiency in human history. However, although people in modern society are better off in general. It also creates problems that are yet to be solved. However, sometimes we should also slow down our paces and take some time to reflect, to percolate, and to empathize. In general, this lifestyle will do better than harm. As long as we take preventative measures to eliminate the negative side effects it brings about.
