The Generation of Instant Gratification

My dad asked me something today that really made me think:

"If you get everything in 10 minutes, where are you spending the time you gain?"

It's such a simple question, but it's been stuck in my head. These days, almost everything is instant - groceries, phones, even gold - and while that's convenient, it's also made me realize how many small experiences we've quietly lost along the way.

I remember when buying something used to be a whole process. Grocery shopping meant going out together as a family. Buying a new phone involved discussions, research, and the excitement of visiting a store. Now it's all just a few clicks. Recently, I ordered something big online instead of going with my dad who pushed that we go get it together. At the time, it felt easier and I thought "why bother". Now I realize it could've been a nice outing with him - a shared moment we'll never get back.

Even things like clothes shopping used to be special. Before every new season, my mom and I would spend a day going from store to store, trying on things, talking, and laughing. Now I just scroll and buy whenever I feel like it. Shopping used to be something to look forward to; now it's something to pass time.

And I keep asking myself — when did that change?

We're told these apps "save us time," but I'm not sure we're really using that time well. We still work, we still sleep, but we connect less. Festivals that used to mean visiting friends and family have turned into messages and deliveries. We're "keeping in touch" without really being in touch.

I know instant services help a lot of people who need them, and that's a great thing. But for the rest of us, maybe we could slow down a little. Maybe we could bring back a few of those small moments - going to the store with a parent, meeting a friend instead of texting, giving gifts in person or calling to wish on someone on their birthday/engagement instead of commenting on their Instagram post.

I'm not saying I've figured it out. I'm in the same cycle as everyone else ("the impatient generation"). But I want to try changing it, even if it's in small ways. Because if everything takes 10 minutes now, maybe it's worth asking: what are we doing with the time we've saved?