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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Tom Gill

Write a card, read a poem, take fewer photos: how to feel more human in 2026

An illustration of a man's head with flowers growing out the top
We use technology to ‘optimise’ our time but in doing so we risk losing a fundamental part of what it is to be human: the messy, unexpected nature of life. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

At the turn of the millennium daily life looked very different. The modern internet was just a decade old, mobile phones were far from universal and our social lives were mostly physical – and local.

In the 25 years since, technology has changed how we live in profound ways. Most people check their phone within minutes of waking and return to it on average 186 times a day. Computers and the systems that sit behind them mediate every aspect of modern life, shaping how we move through the world.

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