I lived like a hermit for a week — and it revealed a scary reality about life in 2016

Kate Taylor

It's easy to live like a hermit in 2016. More than that — it's fantastic.

With the plethora of delivery apps available, there's really no reason to leave the house anymore. So I decided that for a week, I simply wouldn't leave.

For five days straight, I ordered all of my food via delivery apps. I downloaded all my workout plans. I purchased everything from lightbulbs to manicures online, to be delivered and completed in my little apartment in Brooklyn, New York.

The experience was wonderful — but also worrisome. When delivery is everywhere, why should anyone ever leave their home?

Here's what it's like to live like a hermit for a week in the age of apps.

I woke up bright and early on Monday morning, ready for my hermitage. Then I realized — I didn't have any coffee.

I had hoped I could get it delivered from Clowder, a delivery app that specializes in coffee. However, the service has not yet expanded beyond Manhattan's Financial District. From my apartment in Brooklyn, I was trapped.

Eventually, I figured out how to use my roommate's French press, using an "Oh, the Places You'll Go" mug for obvious, ironic reasons.

As I looked in the fridge for an accompanying breakfast item, it became clear that the first challenge to overcome in my hermitage was finding something to eat.

I turned to my reliable go-to grocery chain: Whole Foods.

In February, Whole Foods signed an exclusive delivery deal with Instacart. It's a good match — Whole Food's website is easy to shop for sales and best-sellers. I spent $66.90 on basics for me and my two roommates.

Online grocery shopping has a few negatives.

You can't pick your exact preference in fresh produce or make in-person replacements for things that are sold out. Whole Foods and Instacart alert you about replacements online, but I still felt a bit ripped off when my total bill ended up being $7 more expensive than my original order.