Aisha Rahman

1Convenience is everywhere in Singapore today. With a few taps on a phone we can order dinner, book a ride and pay our bills without leaving the sofa. Some people argue that this has made us lazy and worse at looking after ourselves. I agree to a large extent, because convenience removes the small efforts that used to keep us healthy and independent, although it also gives us time that can be used well.

2Firstly, convenience has changed how we eat. Food delivery apps make it easy to order fried chicken at midnight, and many teenagers does this several times a week. A survey I read shows that most young people prefer delivery to cooking. When every meal arrives at the door, we never learn to cook a simple dish or to judge what a balanced meal looks like. This shows that convenience is harmful.

3Secondly, convenience weakens our ability to manage daily life. My cousin could not find his way to a clinic alot of times when his phone battery died, because he had always relied on a map app. Skills such as reading a map, planning a budget or waiting patiently are slowly dissapearing. However, it would be unfair to blame technology alone, since people still choose how to use it.

4On the other hand, convenience can help us to look after ourselves better. Health apps remind the elderly to take their medicine, and online consultations let busy workers see a doctor without queuing for hours. The time saved can be spent on exercise or sleep. The problem is that few people actually use the saved time in this way.

5In conclusion, convenience has made many of us worse at looking after ourselves, but the real cause is our own choices. If we use convenient tools with discipline, they can support rather than replace the habits that keep us well.