Why is today's generation so unhandy?

It comes as no news that today's generation is less handy than previous generations. It's a trend that has been going on for many years and has several causes. But why is that?

A few reasons for an unhandy generation:

1. We're more connected than ever

One of the main reasons today's generation is less handy is that we're more connected than ever before. We spend a lot of time in front of screens and have less time left for practical tasks. This applies especially to young people who have grown up with smartphones and social media.

Pandy's tip! Psst… tutorial generation! There's free and fast access on YouTube, TikTok and loads of other platforms when it comes to tutorials on how to do things yourself. Which means you don't have to remember or think for yourselves at all!

2. Ready-made products are easier to buy than to build yourself

Another reason is that we have access to ready-made products that are easier to buy than to build ourselves. Just buying flat-pack furniture from IKEA to assemble yourself can feel scary and difficult for most of today's generation. That's a real difference from just a few decades ago, when it was common to build your own furniture, repair your own car and fix up your own house. Today it's much more common to buy ready-made products and hire tradespeople to do the work for you.

3. Changes in school education

A third reason is that school education has changed. In the past, you learned more practical subjects such as woodwork and home economics at school. Today, theoretical subjects and digital tools are much more common. This means young people have less knowledge of practical tasks.

4. Cultural norms

There may be a shift in cultural norms where young people are no longer encouraged to be handy, or where other skills are considered more important. Who doesn't respect a handy person? But it's easier to fit in with trends by doing what everyone else does, especially when you're young. What used to be normal can be seen as "lame" or "nerdy" today.

5. Less access to tools and space

It can be harder for young people to experiment with and explore practical skills if they don't have access to the tools and space to do so. This is partly because young people today move out of home later and later, and when they do, they live in very small homes and don't prioritise a workbench and lots of expensive tools. Just a generation ago, the housing market looked different, and you could snap up houses at bargain prices, even in big cities.

Pandy is there for everyone who needs help

We at Pandy see & hear you. We've taken seriously the fact that today's generation is less handy, and our handyman service is for all of you who can't, don't dare or don't want to. We want to help revive interest in practical tasks and show that being handy can be both fun and rewarding. 💜🐼