Modern isn’t skinny jeans or slang or whatever the internet decided this week.
There’s this weird story we tell ourselves about “modern” people.
They’re young, they’re glued to the newest app, they speak in memes, and they have strong opinions about oat milk.
However, modern is a mindset.
It’s how you respond to change when it shows up at your door, uninvited, wearing a hoodie and asking for your password.
If you’re over 50 and you’re still doing any of the things below, I’d argue you’re not behind at all:
1) Staying curious about new tech
You don’t need to be first in line for the latest gadget to be modern.
Do you try new tools without immediately saying, “That’s not for me”? Do you poke around, press buttons, Google the weird error message, and keep going?
That behavior is more “modern” than owning three smart speakers you never set up properly.
I’ve seen people in their 50s and 60s use tech the way it was meant to be used: As a lever.
They use a calendar app because it reduces friction, they use a grocery delivery app because time is valuable, and they use video calls because relationships matter.
Honestly, some of the most modern people I know are the ones who treat new tech like a bicycle.
Just useful once you stop overthinking it.
2) Changing your mind without making it a big deal
One of the most modern moves you can make is simple: You update your beliefs because you ran into better information.
A lot of people think maturity means locking in your opinions and defending them forever.
Modern people do the opposite because they’re willing to say, “I used to think that, but I don’t anymore.”
They don’t turn it into a dramatic confession, and they don’t need a parade.
This is how good decision-making actually works: You take in new data, you notice what’s no longer true, and you adjust.
That’s software updates for the brain.
3) Treating mental health like routine maintenance
Do you take your car in when it starts making a weird noise, or do you wait until the engine explodes on the freeway?
Now apply that to your mind: Modern people don’t treat stress, anxiety, burnout, and sadness as personal failures.
They go to therapy, they read about emotional regulation, they set boundaries, and they take walks without turning it into a productivity contest.
Moreover, they say things like, “I need a break,” without apologizing for it.
This is a huge shift from the old-school approach of “push through it and don’t talk about it.”
If you’re over 50 and you’re willing to learn your triggers, name your feelings, and do the unglamorous work of calming your nervous system, you’re part of the future.
4) Building a personal learning habit
Modern people keep learning on purpose, in a practical way.
They have a system:
- Audiobooks on walks.
- A couple of newsletters they actually read.
- A course every few months.
- Borrowing library books and taking notes like they’re still in school.
The point is: They don’t assume the education part of life ends at 22.
They treat learning like brushing their teeth: Small, regular, and non-negotiable.
If you’re doing this past 50, you’re quietly separating yourself from a huge chunk of the population that decided growth was optional.
Modern is about how fast you can learn what you don’t.
5) Spending with values in mind
Want to know what feels modern in 2025? Not buying stuff mindlessly.
Modern people ask, “Do I actually need this?”
They ask, “Where did this come from?” or, “What does this support?”
This shows up in a bunch of ways, and not everyone does it the same.
Some people buy secondhand, some people choose repair over replacement, and some people prioritize local, ethical, lower-waste options.
For me, this is also where being vegan fits in.
I became vegan because once I learned more about how food systems work, I couldn’t unsee it.
Once you make one values-based choice that actually sticks, it tends to spill over.
You start reading labels, you start caring about supply chains, and you start noticing how marketing tries to replace your decision-making.
If you’re over 50 and you’re spending with intention instead of impulse, you’re living like someone who understands what influence really is.
Every purchase is a vote, and modern people act like it.
6) Keeping relationships alive in new ways
Some people still think “real life” only happens in person, but modern connection is flexible.
It’s a voice note to a friend while you’re making coffee, a group chat that turns into a support system, or sending a photo because you saw something that reminded you of someone.
It’s also knowing how to bring it back offline when it matters: A quick call, a walk, or a dinner that’s not posted anywhere.
What feels modern here is the intention.
You’re using the tools available, without letting the tools become the relationship.
I learned this while traveling years ago, bouncing between cities where I didn’t know many people.
The folks who made it look easy were the most consistent because they followed up, introduced people, and remembered details.
If you’re over 50 and you’re still actively nurturing friendships, especially across distance, you’re doing something a lot of younger people struggle with.
You’re proving connection is a practice.
7) Reinventing yourself instead of “settling”
Here’s a question that cuts straight through the noise: Do you still experiment with who you are?
Modern people don’t treat identity like a finished project.
They start side hobbies at 55, they change careers at 60, they go back to school at 52, or they pick up a camera, join a class, start writing, start lifting, start volunteering.
They keep moving.
A lot of this comes down to not letting “that’s just how I am” become a cage.
I’ve met people who look ten years younger than their age, and it’s because they’re still in motion mentally.
They’re still beginners.
As someone who’s watched entire industries shift (music blogging included), I can tell you this: The people who thrive are the ones who stayed adaptable.
If you’re over 50 and you’re still trying new identities on for size, you’re staying alive to your own life.
The bottom line
Modern isn’t skinny jeans or slang or whatever the internet decided this week.
Modern is staying curious, updating your thinking, choosing values over autopilot, and building a life that can evolve.
If you’re over 50 and you’re still doing these things, don’t let anyone talk you into feeling behind.
You’re practicing the skill that matters most now: becoming.
