→ Life Design Wiki

Gadgets such as Smartphones, PDAs and organisers can be useful but are also often our worst enemy. They can prove irresistible, because we all like gadgets: They’re fun, they give us something to play with and some of them are status symbols, making them even more desirable.

However, while gadgets may save us time, they will certainly cost us time.

Beyond the one-time cost of acquiring a gadget, the recurring follow-up costs need to be considered as well. You have to choose the product, buy it, and then learn how to configure or apply it to the problem it is supposed to solve. It then has to be maintained, kept up to date, serviced if it breaks or fails and checked regularly to make sure it’s still useful.

Whenever a gadget tempts you, make sure to consider not only its monetary cost, but also its potential demand on your time. Depending on how much your time is worth, over the lifespan of the gadget, this may cost you several times the object’s initial price.

This also applies to software programs such as todo list managers, social bookmarking tools and newsreaders, that promise to drastically enhance our lives. Consider if you can realistically save more time than you spend if you need to go through the initial download, then register, install, customise, learn to use and adapt the product to your needs and environment, download regular updates and deal with the unavoidable irritations.

Ultimately, these products can do more harm than good, but the fact remains: The appeal of gadgets is undeniable. What’s more, there is no need to deny ourselves, so long as we are aware of what they can actually achieve and we don’t delude ourselves.

→ Related term at Wikipedia: Gadgets
→ More about our Life Design e-book

→ Next term: Gain Control of You Time