Gadgets Make Our Lives Easier, What About Happiness?

Every year millions of dollars are spent on the latest phones, computers and other gadgets to make our lives easier but is making our lives easier making us happier?

Personally I am against the idea of being connected to the world 24/7, which has become the norm with American culture. With the recent popularity of Twitter and Facebook, the need for real-time news and information has hit an all time high. Our gadgets are constantly updated to make it easier to get this information at lightning speeds. The more we’re connected, the more our gadgets take over our lives.

A study by Solutions Research Group had some very interesting data suggesting that smartphones users are more likely to be working without realizing it. According to the research 33% of people believe that “devices like Blackberry chain you to work more than they liberate you.” The research also touched on the extra number of hours smartphone owners worked due to being “connected” 24/7.

What was more surprising about the study was 56% of smartphone owners chose time over money. Digital Life America’s study director suggests that because smartphone owners think they do more in less time but they end up doing “more, more of the time.”

Looking over the study, I had to agree. When I first started working out of college, I put in more hours than I ever thought just because it was so easy to do. I was able to use my iPhone to do some work, keep in contact with my bosses and stay updated on what was happening in the rest of the world. A lot of that was done at home, when I should have been relaxing or spending time with family. Instead I was putting in work hours, without really considering them as work hours.

Sometime in order to stay ahead of the competition, I found myself checking Twitter and news feeds regularly for the latest updates. To me, the advancement in technology and gadgets has not made me happier. Being connected 24/7 only allows business contacts to try to get a hold of me outside of work hours. And with many business contacts, a quick reply is necessary or a deal could fall through. I avoid doing certain things because I’m constantly on my iPhone or starting at my computer screen trying to stay ahead at work, sometimes without really realizing it.

Leave us a comment if you think gadgets and technology make you happy or make your life worst. We’d love to hear your opinion.