A great article from the Atlantic (via Farnam Street) that explains why we have more time than ever but are still busier than ever.
This reminds me of the similar topic of Keynes' prediction that we would work less in the future and the fact that we don't. In 1930 he said that the working week would be drastically cut, to perhaps 15 hours a week, with people choosing to have far more leisure as their material needs were satisfied. He was right in that our material needs are more easily met, but wrong in that we choose not to use that time for leisure. Perhaps because work became more fulfilling and valuable to the individual - i.e. it doesn't feel like "work" - but for most people that still isn't the case. There are a lot of theories and arguments at every angle on this topic, and the good ol' fashioned "keeping up with the Jones'" actually has a lot to do with it.
Derek Thompson provides more interesting color to this topic in the Atlantic article. Summary points and short commentary below:
"Better technology means higher expectations—and higher expectations create more work."
"Americans tend to use new productivity and technology to buy a better life rather than to enjoy more downtime in inferior conditions."
Washing machines, dishwashers, and vacuums make it easier to clean, for example, but then we clean so much more because it's easier, so your total time spent cleaning could be the same, although with of course a cleaner house. This is true across all efficiencies, to the point that we work more (either in or out of the house) than ever despite increased efficiencies across the board.
"And when material concerns are mostly met, Americans fixate on their status and class, and that of their children, and work tirelessly to preserve and grow it."
Self explanatory - we fight to keep the status that we gained or were given, an embarrassingly useless waste of time from my perspective and, likely, counterproductive in terms of happiness maximization. This is the "keeping up with the Jones'" problem that causes so many to choose more work and the pursuit of things over their true happiness drivers.
"But most Americans don’t have the economic or political power to negotiate a better deal for themselves. Their working hours and income are shaped by higher powers, like bosses, federal laws, and societal expectations."
We don't always have control of our time - often we've got to do what they've got to do to get by. Which leads to the final wrap-up point...
"To solve the problems of overwork and time starvation, we have to recognize both that individuals have the agency to make small changes to improve their lives and that, without broader changes to our laws and norms and social expectations, no amount of overwork will ever be enough."
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