What does progress cost our bodies?

Edited by the editorial team following a thought from the Elmicaella newsletter of 31 October 2026.

Many things have become convenient. Food keeps for longer, clothing repels water and dirt, and a small device in our trouser pocket connects us to the world at any moment. These are achievements that hardly anyone would want to do entirely without. Even so, a simple question is worth asking: is everything that makes our everyday life more convenient also good for us in the long run?

Practical is not the only criterion

Such questions are not a rejection of progress. They help us to choose more consciously.

• Where glass, wood or metal were once a matter of course, we now often find plastics and coated materials. Yet not every new material is problematic, nor is everything old automatically better. What matters is which substances a product contains, how we use it and whether we need its additional properties at all.
• Detergents are meant not only to clean but to smell nice for as long as possible.
• Food is meant to be quickly available, look appetising and keep for a long time.
• Does freshly washed laundry still need to smell perfumed weeks later?
• Does every object need a special coating?
• And does a ready meal really make our everyday life easier – or is a simple, home-cooked meal sometimes just as uncomplicated?

What makes up an environment in which we can get well?

This question becomes particularly clear where people need care and treatment. Modern medicine can achieve much that was unthinkable in the past. At the same time, basic needs remain: good food, rest, daylight and human attention. The submitted newsletter recalls sun terraces, fresh air and nourishing meals as parts of care. This need not lead to a romanticised picture of hospitals of the past. Not everything was good back then by any means, and today’s institutions differ considerably. But the thought behind it deserves attention: good care is also shown by whether the individual person is noticed with their everyday needs. Technical equipment and this kind of caring belong together.

• Is a meal suitable and good to eat?
• Does someone receive support when they lack the strength to eat?
• Are avoidable disturbances at night reduced?
• Is there time for a conversation?

Making more conscious decisions in our own everyday lives

Not every change requires great effort or a new purchase. Often it begins with examining our habits. We can prepare simple meals ourselves more often, leave out unnecessary scented products and look more closely at materials and ingredients the next time we shop. Things we already own do not have to be thrown out straight away. Conscious consumption also means continuing to use what is still serviceable. Likewise, we are free to question how much space digital devices take up. Does every message have to be answered immediately? Or would we rather spend the evening with a conversation, a walk or a little peace and quiet? In hospital, too, it is fine to ask questions: what food alternatives are there? Can someone help with eating? Is it possible to spend time outdoors? Food brought in from outside and special requests can be agreed with the treatment team.

Conclusion: progress should serve people

We do not have to turn back the clock to shape some things more consciously again. We may use new possibilities and still ask what benefit they bring to our lives. Independence also begins with not adopting sales promises and habits unexamined. Freedom means deciding for ourselves what we need – and what we wish to do without. Progress should be measured by whether it makes our lives not only faster and more convenient, but also more worth living.