8 little things boomers do in public that Gen Z secretly admire

Every generation has its quirks. Boomers love paper maps, landline phones, and dressing up for the airport.

Gen Z loves soft pants, filters, and questioning every system that has ever existed.

But here is the funny part.

Even with the constant jokes flying across TikTok, there are a handful of things boomers do in public that Gen Z genuinely appreciates.

Secretly. Quietly. Maybe even a bit begrudgingly.

And honestly, some of these things are worth learning from.

Let’s get into it.

1) They talk to strangers

When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation with someone you did not know?

Boomers will chat with cashiers, baristas, dog owners, and anyone who makes eye contact for more than half a second. And while Gen Z might pretend to cringe at this, they actually admire the ease of it.

Connection is a skill we are losing. Whenever I travel, I notice how rare spontaneous human interaction has become.

Everyone is looking at a screen, myself included. Meanwhile, boomers are out there on park benches building entire temporary friendships.

There is something grounding about that. Something simple. Something human.

And deep down, Gen Z knows it.

2) They call instead of text when things matter

You might disagree with me, but texting sometimes feels like trying to solve a puzzle that keeps changing shape.

Boomers skip the whole thing and call.

No overthinking punctuation. No wondering if "sure" means "sure" or "I am annoyed at you." Just two people hearing each other’s voices and getting on with it.

I have spent years writing, and one lesson hospitality taught me is that tone is everything. A phone call clears the air in seconds.

You can hear warmth, hesitation, excitement, or humor. It makes communication feel richer and more human.

Gen Z may not love answering calls, but they appreciate the clarity.

And honestly, so do I.

3) They dress like they are leaving the house on purpose

Have you noticed how boomers will dress properly for even the simplest errands?

They will iron a shirt to go to the grocery store. They will wear real shoes instead of slides. Some will put on cologne to mail a package.

Meanwhile, most of us treat public spaces like our living rooms. Comfort first. Always.

But here is the thing.

There is a certain confidence that comes from showing up like you meant to be there.

I spent years in luxury hospitality, and the one thing I learned from guests who carried themselves with poise is that presentation affects how you feel.

It is not about conforming. It is about intention.

Gen Z notices that energy, and although they will never say it out loud, they quietly aspire to it.

4) They read physical books in public

I am not sure when reading became a flex, but pulling out a real book with actual pages is quietly becoming cool again.

Boomers never stopped doing it.

Whether they are on a train, at a café, or waiting for an appointment, they will open a book and get lost in it. No notifications. No doom scrolling. No blue light.

Gen Z admires the vibe. It is aesthetic. It is grounding. It reminds them that attention is a muscle, and most of us have not trained it in a long time.

I used to read only on planes or vacations. Now I carry a physical book when I travel, and there is something almost luxurious about it.

5) They complain, but they also take action

One thing boomers love is a good public complaint.

The train is late. They will tell five people. The cafe is out of scones. You will hear about it.

But here is what Gen Z actually admires. Boomers do not just complain into the void.

They do something. They talk to the manager, fill out the form, call customer service, or write the email.

They do not suffer in silence. They advocate for themselves.

A lot of younger people joke that boomers have main character energy, but in reality, it is assertiveness.

The ability to speak up. To ask for what you want. To question things that do not make sense.

In a world where many of us are afraid of seeming difficult, there is something refreshing about people who simply handle things.

6) They practice patience in places where everyone else is rushing

Whenever I see a boomer slowly navigating a grocery store aisle like it is an art gallery, I am reminded of something I read in a book about time perception.

Rushing is often a habit rather than a necessity.

Boomers have a surprising ability to slow down the pace of their day.

They will wait their turn without huffing. They will let someone go ahead in line. They will stop to talk to a neighbor they run into.

It is not inefficiency. It is presence.

Gen Z has grown up with everything delivered instantly. Messages, entertainment, information, groceries. Speed is the default.

Even though they tease boomers for moving slowly, many actually admire that unhurried energy. It is like watching someone inhabit their life instead of racing through it.

Whenever I catch myself rushing for no reason, I think about this. What if slowing down is a productivity hack we have overlooked?

7) They are loyal to places and people

Boomers will go to the same café for 15 years. They will stick with the same barber. They will order the same breakfast every Saturday morning.

It sounds old fashioned, but Gen Z finds something comforting about it.

In a world filled with endless choices, loyalty feels rare.

Even in hospitality, I saw it constantly. Regular customers were not just guests.

They were part of the place. They knew the staff. They respected the space. They were familiar.

Gen Z admires that sense of continuity. That ability to keep showing up. That feeling of belonging to something.

And honestly, that is a kind of emotional wealth.

8) They live offline even when they are outside

Lastly, and this one really hits, boomers can be present without documenting everything.

They eat meals without photographing them. They take walks without filming them. They enjoy concerts without holding up their phones for half the show.

As someone who works in digital spaces, I have to remind myself to pull back from the instinct to capture everything.

It is easy to fall into the idea that every experience needs to be recorded. But some things become more valuable when they exist only in memory.

Gen Z secretly respects this.

They talk about digital detoxing, but boomers just live it.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are juggling screens like they are oxygen tanks.

And here is the twist. The older generation’s tech resistance sometimes looks a lot like wisdom.

The bottom line

Boomers get plenty of jokes thrown at them, but some of their habits are genuinely admirable. They talk to people. They show up with intention.

They slow down. They live offline. They practice presence in a way that feels almost rebellious today.

And maybe that is the real lesson here.

Every generation has something to teach the others.

And if we are willing to observe without judgment, we might find ourselves adopting a few of these small public behaviors one tiny habit at a time.

If even one of these resonated with you, that is a pretty good place to start.

Until next time.