Walk into any electronics shop or scroll through social media, and you might get the feeling that your home is actually supposed to be jam packed full of smart tech and various gadgets, like smart speakers, smart lights, smart fridges, smart doorbells… smart everything. And you might think you’re falling behind if you’ve not got all that stuff somewhere in your home.
But how much tech do you actually need? The real answer is probably less than you think because although a lot of it is definitely useful and some of it’s fun, a lot of it just adds clutter and those annoying notifications you didn’t ask for. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more.
Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash
Start With What You Actually Use Every Day
Before you even think about adding anything new to your home, the best thing to do is to look at what you actually use every day. After all, most homes are going to have the basics, including a smartphone, a laptop, a TV, and maybe a tablet or games console, etc. For a lot of people, that’s all they need to cover work, entertainment, and communication.
If you’re happy with how those devices work in your life, there’s no real reason to add more (apart from the pressure you might be feeling because other people have them or you’re told they’re a good idea). The point of tech is that it’s meant to solve problems and make things easier, so if it’s not going to do that, there’s no reason to add it to your home.
Are Smart Home Devices Helpful?
Smart home devices can be genuinely useful. Smart thermostats, for example, can help you manage your heating, smart bulbs can make lighting more flexible and cheaper, and smart speakers can set timers, play music, and control other devices, all just by using your voice.
But the thing is, they’re not actually essential. If you’re happy to adjust the heating manually, and flipping a light switch isn’t an issue, you’re not missing out on anything life-changing by not having tech that does it for you. When you think about it, smart tech is usually about convenience and novelty and not necessity, and that’s something to remember when you’re considering buying some.
A good rule is to add smart devices when they solve a specific problem. For example, if you’re always forgetting to turn the lights or heating off, smart controls can help. But if everything’s already working just fine, you’re just adding some more complications that you don’t need.
Less Can Be More With Entertainment
It’s so easy to basically build your home around screens – big TVs, various screening devices, gaming setups, surround sound systems, and so much more… it can all take over pretty quickly.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying entertainment tech, but it’s definitely worth thinking about how much you really use it. A high-end TV might be wasted if you only watch a few shows a week, and a gaming console might end up gathering dust if you only place every now and then.
And there are other ways to be entertained that don’t need a load of fancy equipment. For example, a quick game of online hearts can be a fantastic and easy way to unwind without needing a full gaming setup, and it fits a lot more easily into a home if you’re not wanting to fill the entire space up with tech.
Tech For Work And Productivity
If you work from home, tech can make a massive difference. If you’ve got a reliable laptop, a decent monitor, a good chair, and stable internet, you’re going to be able to do what you need to do – and did you notice we didn’t mention any extra gadgets and gizmos? That’s because they’re not necessarily important if you’ve got the basics covered.
You don’t need a fancy setup to be productive, and very often a second screen and a comfortable workspace can improve your day a lot more than a new app or smart device can. That’s why it’s best to focus on the tools that make things easier, like fast internet and simple organisation apps, so you can get more done in less time and have a chance to enjoy your downtime more.
Is Security Tech Worth It?
Home security tech has become a lot more accessible in recent years, with smart cameras, video doorbells, and various alarm systems at different levels and budgets. And these can all be useful because they’ll give you peace of mind, especially if you travel a lot or you live in a busy area, for example.
However, what you don’t need is a full surveillance system to feel safe. Good locks, outdoor lighting, and just being aware of things can go a really long way. Of course, if tech makes you feel better and more secure, it can be worth it, but it shouldn’t make you feel more anxious or start to get obsessed with checking notifications because you’re sure something’s wrong. If that’s how you feel, it’s time to get back to basics.
Health And Lifestyle Gadgets
Wearables, smart scales, sleep trackers, and fitness apps all promise to improve your health, and some people really do love the idea of seeing the data and they find it motivating. Others, however, find it quite stressful, so they’ll just ignore it after a while, making the tech they’ve chosen redundant.
The fact is, you don’t need a wearable device to be healthy because you already know what you need to do, like more exercise, eating a healthy, balanced diet, sleeping the right amount, drinking enough water, and so on. That can all be done without tracking it, meaning less stress and you’ll still get the same results.
The Hidden Cost Of Too Much Tech
Adding a lot of tech to your home has its positives, but it can have a downside too – more devices means more updates, more passwords, more notifications, and more things that can go wrong and break.
And then there’s the mental part of it. When you’ve got constant alerts and reminders happening, that can make it hard to relax, and sometimes a simpler solution is better than a smart one that’s always trying to get your attention.
The key is balance, as it so often is. Some tech genuinely can make life easier, and some makes it harder even when it’s not meant to. Working out which is which is crucial.
