Busyness as Usual.

This article explores philosophical issues in the context of U.S. national survey data concerning trends in time pressures and stress in the activities of individuals, as of June 2005. Some changes in time pressure and busyness since 1965 may be expected due to the increased presence of newer technologies that consumers now have in their homes. Not only did more households contain dishwashers or microwave ovens, but these appliances now featured more options and conveniences. There was a parallel growth in home entertainment systems. Cellular phones allowed people to be on call and reachable, anytime, anyplace. Another significant change was the increased diffusion and use of home computers--at first used to streamline household accounting and to play more sophisticated computer games, but more recently allowing people to communicate inexpensively through e-mail and to surf the world wide web.