The diminishing returns of convenience

Labor-saving conveniences make a life of physical inactivity possible.  This outcome probably seemed desirable before we reached it, since for much of history people had to toil endlessly just to avoid starvation, and that toil itself was probably not only unpleasant, but unhealthy.  So with every incremental technological advance that relieved us of some of that burden, the idea of a life requiring no physical exertion could have seemed like a distant, yet attainable ideal

Our modern freedom from physical demands is a freedom to be idle, not a mandate to be so.  Obviously we have a tendency toward laziness.   I would guess that this drive to conserve our energy served us well as cavemen with limited caloric intake.  But now we risk our health and well-being when we live inactively.Perhaps the health-minded individual can take advantage of our victory over labor and obtain his needed amount of exercise only through enjoyable activities.  Playing tennis rather than harvesting barley.  Kayaking instead of running from a mountain lion.

But I think another option is to find a balance between labor-saving technology and physical labor.  By doing so, we can stop resenting a fair amount of physical work, since it fills our need for physical activity.  For example, we may want to reject powered lawn mowers, weed whackers, and snow blowers.  Shoveling and pushing a reel mower are pretty good exercise.  You just have to remind yourself that people actually pay for gym memberships.

This is one of a bunch of ways automobiles and their supporting infrastructure have diminishing returns.   Driving to all your destinations just isn't healthy.  (I find that driving somewhere and seeing the motion outside the windshield gives me a false sense of physical exertion.)  Living in a walkable community, one can incorporate regular, pleasurable physical activity into daily life.

I think a healthy amount of physical activity helps us feel more like our whole selves, where we embrace our animal capacity to use our physical bodies.  We should of course enjoy our freedom from excessive toil, but some activity is a necessary part of a healthy and worthwhile life.