From mocking my parents' yogurt container hoarding to secretly washing out every jar in my kitchen at 2 AM, I've discovered that those "embarrassing" Boomer habits I ridiculed weren't about being old-fashioned—they were life hacks disguised as outdated quirks.
Remember when we used to roll our eyes at our parents for their "outdated" habits? The way they'd save every plastic container, go to bed at 9 PM, or insist on calling instead of texting?
I'll admit it: I spent my twenties thinking I was so much more evolved than the generation before me. Their routines seemed rigid, their preferences old-fashioned, and their constant worry about saving money felt unnecessarily stingy.
Fast forward to my forties, and here I am, washing out yogurt containers for storage and turning off lights in empty rooms like my life depends on it.
The truth is, those "boring Boomer habits" we mocked? They weren't about being stuck in the past. They were about something we millennials are just now figuring out: sustainability, financial wisdom, and the art of slowing down in a world that never stops spinning.
Let me walk you through eight habits I once thought were hopelessly outdated but now embrace with the wisdom that only comes from living through a few economic downturns and realizing that instant gratification isn't all it's cracked up to be.
1. Going to bed early and waking up at dawn
In my twenties, staying up until 2 AM felt like freedom. Sleep was for the weak, right? My parents' 9 PM bedtime seemed like they were missing out on life.
Now? I wake at 5:30 AM to hit the trails before sunrise, and honestly, those quiet morning hours have become sacred to me. There's something profound about being awake when the world is still sleeping. The clarity I get from those early morning runs beats any late-night Netflix binge I ever had.
When I worked as a financial analyst, I discovered that my most productive hours were between 6 and 10 AM. Not coincidentally, these were the hours when the office was quiet, emails weren't flooding in, and I could actually think.
The Boomers were onto something: early to bed, early to rise really does make you healthier, wealthier, and wise.
2. Saving and reusing containers
My mom's cabinet of mismatched plastic containers used to drive me crazy. Why not just buy a matching set? Why keep every single takeout container?
These days, I get it. Every glass jar becomes storage for bulk grains. Every sturdy plastic container gets a second life holding leftovers or organizing my garden supplies. It's not about being cheap. It's about recognizing that single-use anything is wasteful, both financially and environmentally.
Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about finding the perfect container for something instead of buying yet another organizational product that will eventually end up in a landfill.
3. Preferring phone calls over texts
"Just call me," my dad would say, and I'd groan internally. A phone call for something that could be a two-line text?
But after years of miscommunications via text, endless back-and-forth messages that could have been resolved in a two-minute conversation, and the exhaustion of being constantly available through messaging, I've come to appreciate the efficiency and humanity of an actual phone call.
When I left my finance job to pursue writing, I had to deliver the news to several longtime clients. Those phone calls, hearing their voices and sharing a real moment of connection, meant infinitely more than any email could have conveyed.
4. Reading physical newspapers and books
The sight of my parents with their morning newspaper used to seem quaint. Why not just check the news on your phone?
Now I understand the ritual. The intentionality of sitting down with a physical publication, the absence of pop-ups and notifications, the ability to actually finish reading something without seventeen hyperlinks pulling you in different directions.
My morning routine now includes actual books and magazines, and my comprehension and retention have noticeably improved.
There's also something to be said for not starting your day with the blue light of a screen. Those Boomers knew what they were doing.
5. Keeping a landline
Okay, I don't actually have a landline, but I understand why my parents refuse to give theirs up. It's not about resistance to change. It's about having a backup, about reliability, about having a number that stays constant even when you switch cell providers.
What I have adopted is their philosophy of not being completely dependent on one system. I keep physical copies of important documents. I have backup methods for everything crucial. Because technology fails, and when it does, those "outdated" analog backups suddenly seem brilliant.
6. Shopping with a list and clipping coupons
My mom's coupon envelope embarrassed me as a teenager. The careful meal planning seemed excessive. Why not just grab what looks good?
Twenty years in finance taught me that the small leaks sink the ship. Those impulse purchases add up. That "just grabbing what looks good" approach? It was costing me hundreds of dollars a month.
Now I meal plan every Sunday, shop with a list, and yes, I use digital coupons. The Boomers understood something we're just learning: financial discipline in small things creates freedom for big things.
7. Fixing things instead of replacing them
When something broke in our house growing up, my dad's first response was to try fixing it. This seemed like such a waste of time when you could just buy a new one.
But here's what I've learned: the satisfaction of fixing something yourself is incomparable. The money saved is significant. And perhaps most importantly, the mindset of maintenance and repair over constant replacement is better for both your wallet and the planet.
Last month, I spent an afternoon fixing my garden hose instead of buying a new one. Cost: $3 for a replacement part. Satisfaction: priceless.
8. Having designated quiet time
The sacred afternoon quiet time, the "no TV during dinner" rule, the insistence on moments of silence. These seemed unnecessarily strict when I was younger.
Now, after years of constant connectivity and the exhaustion that comes from never truly unplugging, I crave those quiet moments. I've instituted my own "quiet hours" where devices are off, and I'm just present with my thoughts or a book or the garden.
The Boomers understood something we're just discovering: constant stimulation isn't enriching, it's exhausting.
Final thoughts
Looking back, I realize these habits were never about being old-fashioned or resistant to change. They were about intentionality, sustainability, and the radical act of not letting consumer culture dictate every aspect of life.
At 37, when I walked away from that six-figure salary to pursue writing, I was terrified. But all those "boring" Boomer habits I'd adopted? They're what made it possible.
The early mornings gave me time to write. The financial discipline gave me a safety net. The ability to find satisfaction in simple things made the transition from analyst to writer feel less like a sacrifice and more like coming home.
Maybe the real wisdom isn't in being cutting-edge or constantly embracing the newest thing. Maybe it's in recognizing which traditions and habits have stood the test of time for good reason.
So here's to washing out yogurt containers, to early bedtimes, to quiet mornings, and to the humble recognition that maybe, just maybe, our parents knew what they were doing all along.
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