The Eggbeater Effect: How Time-Saving Technology Just Makes For More Work

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Hatched by Glasp

Sep 12, 2023

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The Eggbeater Effect: How Time-Saving Technology Just Makes For More Work

In today's fast-paced world, we are constantly bombarded with new technologies that promise to save us time and make our lives easier. From project management apps to labor-saving devices, we are surrounded by tools that claim to streamline our work and increase our productivity. However, there is a hidden cost to these time-saving technologies that we often overlook.

Sarah Marshall, in a You're Wrong About episode, coins "the eggbeater effect" to describe how labor-saving devices actually raise our expectations of how we use our time. Instead of saving us time and allowing us to relax, these devices create the capacity for more work. The more time we save, the more work we feel compelled to take on. It's a strange paradox that in the face of so many labor-saving devices, little labor appears to have been saved.

Psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that lowering our expectations can actually make us happier. When we opt for "good enough" instead of constantly striving for the best, we are more likely to be satisfied with our choices. This philosophy aligns with Abby Covert's view on information architecture, where establishing what constitutes "good" is of utmost importance.

But why are we so driven to constantly work more? It seems that the way we spend our time has become a moral issue. If time is money and possessing money is a sign of success, then we are compelled to work more in order to earn more. Our society values productivity and hard work, often at the expense of our own well-being.

Economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that by the year 2000, technological advancements would reduce our workweek to just 15 hours. He believed that people would use this extra time to pursue the "art of life itself" instead of being consumed by work. However, it seems that our ability to manage our time and squeeze in more work has outpaced our ability to recognize what getting enough work done actually looks like.

In the world of social media, the same pattern emerges. Benedict Evans discusses the death of the newsfeed and how platforms like Facebook have become overloaded with information. According to Facebook, the average user is eligible to see at least 1,500 items per day in their newsfeed. This overload is a result of Dunbar's number, which suggests that we know enough people to friend several hundred on Facebook, and "Zuckerberg's law," the tendency to share more and more on social media over time.

The concept of the newsfeed is flawed because it treats all posts as equal. When we post something on our feed, it's seen by everyone, and this leads to an overwhelming amount of information. Facebook's algorithmic feed attempts to solve this problem by showing us what it thinks we want to see. However, getting this sample "right" is incredibly challenging, and it's constantly changing because people's desires and interests evolve.

The desire to be seen and heard on social media has led to an overload of information. We feel the need to constantly post and share, even if the content is not important. The focus has shifted from what our friends want or need to see to what we want them to see. We bundle our sharing into one unit instead of many separate items, which makes it more manageable for ourselves, but still overwhelming for others.

The solution lies in finding a balance between sharing and overload. We should focus on meaningful results and not add unnecessary work to our plates. Just because we can hire virtual assistants or use support professionals to do tasks doesn't mean we should. It's important to prioritize what truly matters and not get caught up in the pressure to constantly do more.

In conclusion, time-saving technology has created the capacity for more work rather than actually saving us time. We must be critical of how these technologies shift our expectations and be mindful of the work we choose to take on. Lowering our expectations and focusing on what constitutes "good enough" can lead to greater satisfaction and happiness. Before we get caught up in the race to do more and be more productive, let's pause and reassess what truly matters. Here are three actionable pieces of advice to consider:

  • 1. Prioritize meaningful work: Instead of constantly adding tasks to your plate, focus on what truly matters and will lead to meaningful results. Don't get caught up in the pressure to do more just because you can.
  • 2. Set realistic expectations: Lower your expectations and strive for "good enough" instead of constantly chasing perfection. Recognize that you don't have to do it all and that it's okay to prioritize your well-being.
  • 3. Find balance in technology use: Embrace technology for its benefits, but be mindful of how it can shift our expectations and increase our workload. Use technology as a tool to enhance your life, not as a means to constantly do more.

By implementing these actions, we can break free from the eggbeater effect and find a healthier balance in our work and personal lives.

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