I think there's also been a distinct focus on specialization at a level never before seen.
When the economic unit is the household, as it was in basically all pre-industrial periods, basic upkeep means that you have to complete a relatively wide variety of tasks. Farming, cooking, cleaning, home construction and repair, furniture production, clothing production, tool production, animal husbandry, tending/nursing, child care, etc...
Even divided on traditional gender roles - there was a lot of diversity in available work. Tasks changed by season and need.
Modern society rewards you for specializing - do one thing forever, better than others. But people are hardwired for exploring and learning. We can get bored, tired, apathetic and disillusioned if we follow a monotonous routine at work. Even if that routine is genuinely beneficial to society at large.
When the economic unit is the household, as it was in basically all pre-industrial periods, basic upkeep means that you have to complete a relatively wide variety of tasks. Farming, cooking, cleaning, home construction and repair, furniture production, clothing production, tool production, animal husbandry, tending/nursing, child care, etc...
Even divided on traditional gender roles - there was a lot of diversity in available work. Tasks changed by season and need.
Modern society rewards you for specializing - do one thing forever, better than others. But people are hardwired for exploring and learning. We can get bored, tired, apathetic and disillusioned if we follow a monotonous routine at work. Even if that routine is genuinely beneficial to society at large.