"These days" means "recently". But "recently" is used to talk about things that have happened over the last few weeks or months. "These days" is usually a longer time period, from the last 6 months to the last 20-30 years. You use "these days" to talk about major changes in your life or in society:

Everybody seems to be critical of the President these days, but I still believe in him.

I'm so out of touch with pop culture these days.

It's getting harder and harder to earn a living as a photographer these days.

We have it so easy these days.