Put more succinctly, if people suddenly are just as happy with less consumption (e.g. due to covid changing people's habits and setting them back on the hedonic

Put more succinctly, if people suddenly are just as happy with less consumption (e.g. due to covid changing people's habits and setting them back on the hedonic treadmill), that should be celebrated and encouraged. Overall enjoyment per unit of work has gone up, and it's great! We now have to do less work to be just as happy and satisfied. The newly spare capacity can now go into making our lives better in more lasting ways than immediate consumption! E.g. automation, healthcare improvements, making our habitats more pleasant, etc. Or simply go towards leisure, which is fine too!