Remember when your parents used to lecture you about writing thank-you notes by hand? Or how they’d insist on calling instead of texting for important conversations?
I used to roll my eyes at these “outdated” practices, thinking they were just stubborn resistance to progress.
But lately, I’ve been noticing something. While we’re all drowning in notifications and struggling to maintain genuine connections, the Boomer generation seems to have preserved certain habits that actually foster deeper relationships and better mental health. These aren’t just nostalgic preferences – they’re life skills we’ve quietly abandoned in our rush toward digital efficiency.
After spending time observing my parents and their friends, I’ve identified seven old-fashioned habits that deserve a serious comeback. Trust me, these aren’t about rejecting technology – they’re about reclaiming what we’ve lost along the way.
1. They still make actual phone calls
When was the last time you picked up the phone to catch up with a friend, not because you needed something, but just to hear their voice?
My mother calls at least three friends every week, conversations that stretch for thirty minutes or more. Meanwhile, I’ve watched friendships in my own life slowly deteriorate into occasional emoji reactions and birthday posts on social media.
Research found that voice communication creates stronger social bonds than text-based communication. There’s something about hearing someone’s laugh, their pauses, the way their voice changes when they’re excited – these nuances build intimacy in ways that perfectly crafted texts never can.
The Boomer habit of regular phone calls maintains social presence – the feeling of truly being with someone. While we’re efficiently managing dozens of surface-level digital relationships, they’re nurturing fewer but far deeper connections through the simple act of conversation.
2. They write everything down on paper
Walk into any Boomer’s kitchen and you’ll find it: the notepad by the phone, the calendar on the wall, the grocery list held by a magnet on the fridge.
We might mock their resistance to digital calendars and apps, but neuroscience backs them up. Studies show that writing by hand activates different parts of the brain than typing, improving memory retention and comprehension. When you physically write something down, you’re not just recording information – you’re processing it.
I started keeping a physical notebook after years of losing important thoughts in the chaos of my phone’s notes app. The difference was immediate.
Not only do I remember things better, but the act of writing slows down my thinking in a productive way. It forces me to be more intentional about what I’m capturing.
3. They maintain formal boundaries at work
Remember when there was a clear line between work life and personal life? Boomers still guard this boundary fiercely, and we’ve labeled them as “not team players” for it.
But here’s what I’ve observed: while my generation answers Slack messages at 10 PM and treats our managers like friends on social media, Boomers have mastered something we’ve lost – professional distance that actually protects their well-being.
They don’t feel obligated to share personal struggles with coworkers. They don’t anxiety-scroll through work emails on weekends. When they clock out, they genuinely disconnect. This isn’t about being unfriendly; it’s about preserving energy and maintaining perspective.
According to research, employees who maintain clear work-life boundaries report higher job satisfaction and lower burnout rates. The Boomer approach to professional relationships might seem cold, but it’s actually a form of self-preservation we desperately need to rediscover.
4. They fix things instead of replacing them
My friend’s father spent three hours last week fixing a lamp that would cost $20 to replace. When she suggested just buying a new one, he looked at her like she’d suggested burning money.
This isn’t just about frugality. The Boomer generation’s commitment to repairing things reflects a deeper relationship with their possessions and a problem-solving mindset we’ve largely abandoned.
When something breaks, their first instinct is to understand why and attempt to fix it. Our first instinct? Add it to our Amazon cart.
This repair mentality extends beyond physical objects. Boomers are more likely to work through relationship problems, stick with challenging hobbies until they improve, and see difficulties as puzzles to solve rather than signals to quit. In our disposable culture, we’ve lost the satisfaction that comes from making something whole again.
5. They read physical newspapers and magazines
“Why would you read yesterday’s news on paper when you can get updates instantly on your phone?”
This question misses the point entirely. The Boomer habit of reading physical publications isn’t about the speed of information – it’s about the quality of consumption.
When you read a physical newspaper, you’re engaging with information in a fundamentally different way than when you’re scrolling through headlines.
There’s no algorithm deciding what you see next. No notifications interrupting your reading. No temptation to immediately share your half-formed reaction. You sit, you read, you think. The physical boundaries of the publication create natural stopping points, preventing the endless scroll that leaves us feeling simultaneously overwhelmed and uninformed.
6. They show up in person
When someone in their community is sick, has a baby, or loses a loved one, Boomers don’t just send a text or comment on Facebook. They show up at the door with a casserole.
This might seem like unnecessary effort when you can express sympathy with a sad face emoji, but physical presence communicates care in a way digital gestures never can. It requires planning, effort, and genuine sacrifice of time. It says, “You matter enough for me to be here.”
We’ve convinced ourselves that digital communication is more efficient, but in our efficiency, we’ve lost the comfort of genuine human presence. The Boomer generation understands that sometimes, the most important thing you can do is simply be there.
7. They commit to regular social gatherings
Book clubs, poker nights, bowling leagues – Boomers don’t just suggest getting together “sometime.” They commit to regular, scheduled social activities.
While we struggle to pin down plans with friends for weeks through endless group texts, they’ve mastered the art of consistent community. Every Tuesday is bridge club. Every first Friday is dinner with the neighbors. These aren’t obligations – they’re the infrastructure of social connection.
The predictability we mock is actually what makes these relationships resilient. You don’t have to wonder when you’ll see your friends next. You don’t carry the mental load of constantly trying to coordinate schedules. The routine creates space for relationships to deepen naturally over time.
Final thoughts
These habits aren’t about romanticizing the past or rejecting progress. They’re about recognizing that in our sprint toward the future, we’ve left behind practices that served essential human needs.
The irony is striking: we have more ways to connect than ever before, yet loneliness is at epidemic levels. We have infinite information at our fingertips, yet we struggle to focus long enough to truly understand anything. We’ve optimized everything for efficiency, yet we feel more overwhelmed than ever.
Maybe it’s time to admit that our parents got some things right. Not everything needs to be disrupted, digitized, or optimized. Some old-fashioned habits persist because they work – not for productivity metrics or engagement rates, but for the messy, inefficient, beautifully human business of living a meaningful life.
