On the whole, I’m glad to give up balancing a checkbook and waiting in several lines every week. But as my conveniences pile up and tasks turn into taps on a screen, I increasingly feel like I’m missing something other than a treacly lollipop. 

Errands were a burden, sure, but they were a reason to leave the house. Without the obligation to go places, it’s easy to spend all day alone, switching from paying bills on my phone to watching videos on my phone to passively scrolling on my phone, ignoring the outside world and the people in it. Even the indulgences running errands allowed—a gourmet coffee or a fast-food combo meal—can be ordered ahead or dropped off.

Some of these high-tech offerings let us do our errands from anywhere, while others insist we stay home. Miss a grocery delivery, and you risk warm yogurt or potential theft. 

For nonperishable deliveries, a doorbell camera lets you avoid going to the door to greet a stranger. You can stare through a virtual peephole all day, monitoring when packages arrive and clandestinely recording any passersby who look at them.