Over a lifetime, many of us spend hours, days, weeks, and even months in their covered, climate-controlled, everything-under-one roofs. Shopping malls didn’t only change the way we shop, they changed the way we think about shopping. And for better or worse, they changed the way we spend time.

The invention of the sealable plastic container in 1946 changed the way we shop for food, the way we cook, and the way we eat. They allow us to eat on the move, prep in advance, and reduce food waste. But somewhere along the way, did they also contribute to an expectation of hyper-productivity?

Originally invented to save lives, the disposable cup would become an international symbol of busyness, a must-have multitasking accessory. But is it all an illusion? Do these single-use cups actually save us any time? Or do they simply contribute to our perpetual on-the-go, no-wait culture?