7 things boomers still do every morning that younger people abandoned decades ago

There's something fascinating about generational differences, isn't there?

I've noticed this more than ever since I started volunteering at my local farmers' market. The older vendors arrive with their physical newspapers tucked under their arms, while the younger ones are scrolling through their phones. It got me thinking about how our morning routines reveal so much about when we came of age.

Now, before you think this is about mocking anyone, let me be clear. I'm not here to say one generation has it all figured out. But there are some interesting patterns in how boomers start their day compared to millennials and Gen Z. And honestly? Some of these "old-fashioned" habits might be worth a second look.

Let's explore what's still happening in boomer households every morning that younger generations left behind years ago.

1. Reading a physical newspaper with breakfast

Picture this: coffee brewing, toast popping, and the rustle of newsprint as someone flips through the morning paper.

For boomers, this is still a sacred ritual. Many subscribe to their local paper and actually read it cover to cover. They like the feel of it, the layout, the ability to spread it out on the kitchen table.

Younger generations? They ditched this decades ago. Why wait for news to arrive on your doorstep when it's already on your phone the moment it happens?

But here's what's interesting. Research from Scientific American suggests that people who read on paper tend to retain information better than those reading on screens. The physical act of turning pages creates a mental map that helps with comprehension and memory.

I'm not saying we all need newspaper subscriptions, but there might be something to slowing down with information instead of constantly scrolling through headlines.

2. Making the bed immediately after waking up

My boomer neighbors don't just make their beds. They make them with hospital corners, fluffed pillows, and decorative throws.

For them, an unmade bed is basically a sign of chaos. It's the first task of the day, non-negotiable, done before coffee.

Most younger people? The bed gets made eventually. Maybe. Or it doesn't. Who's going to see it anyway?

But Admiral William H. McRaven famously said in his University of Texas commencement speech that making your bed gives you a small sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning. It sets a productive tone. As he noted, "If you can't do the little things right, you'll never be able to do the big things right."

I'll admit, I was a bed-maker-when-I-feel-like-it person for years. But after trying the daily bed-making routine, I noticed something shifted. Starting the day with one completed task, even a small one, does create momentum.

3. Eating a proper sit-down breakfast

Boomers still cook breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast, maybe some fruit. They sit down at the table with a plate and utensils.

This isn't a grab-and-go situation. Breakfast is a meal, and it deserves proper attention.

Younger generations revolutionized morning eating. Protein bars in the car. Smoothies at the desk. Maybe a breakfast burrito if there's time. The idea of sitting down for 20 minutes to eat scrambled eggs feels almost luxurious, or wasteful depending on your perspective.

I spent years eating breakfast standing up at my kitchen counter, checking emails on my phone. Eventually I realized I couldn't remember what I'd eaten by lunchtime. When I started actually sitting down, even for ten minutes, I felt more grounded. More present.

There's probably a middle ground here, but the boomer approach of treating breakfast as an actual event rather than fuel stop has merit.

4. Using a physical address book

This one blows my mind every time I see it.

Boomers maintain actual address books with handwritten entries. Names, addresses, phone numbers, all carefully recorded in pen. When someone moves, they cross out the old address and write in the new one.

Why? Because what happens if your phone dies and you lose everything?

Younger people store everything digitally. Contacts sync across devices. Addresses live in the cloud. The idea of manually writing down someone's information feels absurdly outdated.

But here's a question worth considering: how many phone numbers do you actually know by heart? Your own, maybe your parents', and that's probably it.

I'm not suggesting we all buy address books, but there's something about the deliberate act of writing information down that makes it stick in your memory.

5. Listening to morning radio shows

Turn on the radio in a boomer's kitchen and you'll hear the familiar voices of local radio hosts. Traffic updates, weather, news, some music, maybe a call-in segment.

These aren't just background noise. Boomers have their favorite shows, their preferred stations, their regular morning personalities they've been listening to for decades.

Younger people stream their own playlists or podcasts. Personalized content, no commercials, no traffic updates for roads they're not driving on.

The radio feels random and inefficient by comparison. Why listen to songs you didn't choose when you can curate everything?

But there was something communal about radio that we've lost. Everyone in your city hearing the same jokes, the same news, the same songs at the same time. It created shared cultural moments.

I'm not saying radio is better than Spotify, but the complete customization of everything means we rarely have those "Did you hear what they said on the morning show?" conversations anymore.

6. Writing checks for monthly bills

Yes, this still happens. Every month. Boomers sit down with their checkbook, a stack of bills, envelopes, and stamps.

They write out each check, record it in the register, address the envelope, seal it, stamp it, and put it in the mailbox. This process can take an hour or more depending on how many bills they have.

To younger generations, this sounds like some kind of elaborate performance art. Automatic payments handle everything. Why would you manually write checks when your bank can just send the money electronically?

The boomer answer usually involves trust, or rather the lack of it. They want to see exactly what they're paying and when. They want the control of initiating each transaction rather than hoping the automated system doesn't mess up.

And honestly? I've had autopay glitches that resulted in overdraft fees. There's something to be said for the intentionality of the check-writing method, even if it's wildly inefficient.

7. Calling instead of texting

This might be the most divisive one.

When boomers need to communicate something in the morning, whether it's confirming plans or checking in with family, they pick up the phone and call.

Not text. Not message. Call. With their voice. Expecting you to answer and have a conversation in real time.

For younger people, an unexpected phone call triggers mild panic. What's the emergency? Why didn't they just text? Phone calls require immediate attention and feel intrusive.

But boomers see it differently. A conversation is clearer, more personal, less likely to be misunderstood. Tone of voice communicates things that emojis can't.

I used to exclusively text my parents until my mom pointed out that she missed hearing my voice. Now I call on my morning walk a few times a week, and you know what? It does feel more connected than our previous text exchanges.

Final thoughts

Here's what strikes me about these morning habits: they're slower, more analog, more deliberate.

Boomers aren't rushing through their mornings trying to optimize every minute. They're doing things the way they've always done them, and there's a kind of steadiness in that.

Are younger generations more efficient? Absolutely. Technology has made mornings faster and easier in countless ways.

But efficiency isn't everything. Some of these "outdated" habits create space for presence, intentionality, and connection that our optimized routines have squeezed out.

Maybe the sweet spot is somewhere in between. Take the best of both approaches and leave behind what doesn't serve you.

What matters is being conscious about your choices rather than just defaulting to what everyone your age is doing.