Final answer:
Increased time-pressure has spurred the demand for time-saving goods and services like lawn care and housecleaning, while unhealthy market goods have replaced home-produced items. Technology's promise of time-saving benefits often falls short due to heightened expectations of constant availability. Consumerism offers enjoyment and counters stress but also contributes to environmental and health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The increased time-pressure faced by people today has notably spurred the demand for goods and services that save time. This can be seen in the rise of services such as lawn care and housecleaning services, which cater to people's desires to manage their time more efficiently. In addition to these services, there is a significant consumption of unhealthy market goods, like processed foods and sweetened drinks, which have begun to replace home-produced goods due to their convenience.
Despite advancements in technology that promise time-saving benefits, the expectation for constant connectivity and responsiveness has paradoxically increased the amount of time individuals spend working. The immediacy of information transfer has removed the natural breaks that used to exist, such as waiting for postal mail delivery. This has led to a situation where, despite the existence of devices like dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, the average amount of time spent on housework remains the same as it was decades ago.
On a broader scale, consumerism in affluent societies provides a sense of enjoyment and a way to counter environmental stressors. This comes in the form of various goods and services, including recreation and education, which not only offer leisure but also play a role in personal and social development. However, the flip side of this consumerism is that while it does replace more biosphere-friendly forms of enjoyment, it also contributes to problems such as obesity, especially when there is an overconsumption of calorically dense, yet nutritionally poor food.