"Add to Cart" - When was the last time we even saw a physical cart?

Pravin Wadhwani

"Don't worry, Mum. We can buy that online" is a sentiment close to our hearts and an event that has definitely occurred at some point in the last 5-7 years. Today, all our mothers are Amazon Addicts. The 21st Century has made our society slowly move toward a way of living which I like to call "convenient laziness."  I don't know about you but until recently, I was of those chaps who can't buy clothes online. I have an oddly shaped body so I need to try on clothes. ASOS isn't my friend. A trip down to M&S is more up my street. But nowadays, I feel as if I've become one of those conveniently lazy folk who'd rather buy online. If there's a size issue, screw it, I'll return it because I can actually do that without getting off my backside. And this ladies and gentlemen is my tale of the day: Backsides that do not feel the need to move.  Covid-19 has forced us all to stay at home. Staying safe means staying at home. I am no statistician but I'm certain there has been a rise in online grocery shopping. I know people in the UK who have put in a delivery slot for the first week of May as opposed to walking 5 minutes to the nearest supermarket (this order was placed in March!). This is purely to avoid the risk of Covid-19 and I am in favour of this move.  Once we return to 'normal' life there will be no need to wait weeks for groceries and thus we need to ensure that our backsides actually do get lifted once in a while. I have always said that technology has gotten us to the bring of laziness, but here I fear that we have hit even new levels of laziness when it comes to purchasing.  I plead to you all today, once this is over and you're sitting at home and you feel like buying a new sweater, don't take the easy route and scramble for a good option on Net-A-Porter but instead go down to the store, feel the material, get to know it before it becomes one with your body. Limit your clicks on Deliveroo, and go experience restaurant dining in all it's majesty. Mr. Bezos has enough money so next time you want to order a PlayStation game on Amazon, think about the alternative: going to the store and trying it out first!  There will be a time where we will be allowed out of our homes again and my point today is please ensure that when this happens, you stop living in a world of lockdown. Let's go back to a world where we did actually get off our backsides. Our backsides are warm enough now. Let them go out and play (Yes, I realise the undertone of that statement but please get your mind out of the gutter)