Sometimes the best thing you can do is just be present during a walk without headphones, noticing small details that usually get drowned out by whatever's playing in your ears.
Sundays have always had a different rhythm to them.
For Boomers, they've been sacred territory. A day to slow down, to do things intentionally, to reset before the week begins again.
And here's what's interesting: Gen Z is quietly starting to pick up some of these same habits. Not because they're trying to be retro or nostalgic, but because these rituals actually work.
Let's explore what's making a comeback.
1. Reading the physical newspaper
I'll admit, when I first noticed this trend, I was skeptical.
Why would anyone go back to paper when you can get breaking news on your phone in seconds? But then I tried it myself one Sunday morning at a local coffee shop.
There's something about the tactile experience of flipping through pages that forces you to slow down. You're not bouncing between tabs, not getting distracted by notifications, not falling down algorithmic rabbit holes.
According to a Scientific American report, reading on paper can lead to better comprehension and retention compared to screens. Your brain processes the information differently when it's physical.
Gen Z is discovering this too. They've grown up with infinite digital content, and now some are craving the opposite. A defined beginning and end. A curated selection of stories. A reason to put the phone down for 30 minutes.
It's not about rejecting technology. It's about choosing when to use it.
2. Attending religious or community services
This one might surprise you, but hear me out.
Gen Z isn't necessarily becoming more religious in the traditional sense. But they are seeking out community gatherings, whether that's church, meditation groups, or other organized meetups on Sunday mornings.
After years of digital connection replacing physical presence, something shifted. People realized that Zoom calls and group chats don't quite fill the same need as being in a room with other humans.
I've seen this firsthand in my neighborhood. The local meditation center that used to be mostly older folks now has a waiting list. Young people are showing up, looking for structure, for ritual, for a sense of belonging.
It's about finding your people and committing to showing up regularly. That kind of consistency builds something that random hangouts never quite achieve.
3. Cooking a proper Sunday roast or big meal
Remember when Sunday dinner was a thing? When families actually gathered around a table for a proper meal that took hours to prepare?
Boomers never really stopped doing this. And now Gen Z is rediscovering the appeal.
I started doing this about six months ago. Every other Sunday, I'll spend the afternoon cooking something elaborate. Not because I have to, but because the process itself is meditative.
There's no rushing. You're chopping vegetables, checking on things in the oven, adjusting seasonings. Your phone sits forgotten on the counter because your hands are covered in flour or marinade.
For a generation that's been conditioned to optimize every minute, to hustle constantly, to view cooking as just fuel, this is radical. It's choosing to do something slowly when you could easily order delivery.
The meal itself almost becomes secondary to the ritual of making it.
4. Taking a proper afternoon nap
Boomers have been unapologetic about their Sunday afternoon naps for decades.
Gen Z is finally catching on.
We live in a culture that glorifies exhaustion. Everyone's busy, everyone's tired, everyone's running on caffeine and determination. Sleep has become something you sacrifice rather than prioritize.
But here's what research keeps confirming: naps work. A study from the Sleep Foundation shows that short naps can improve mood, alertness, and performance.
Sunday naps aren't about laziness. They're about intentional rest. About recognizing that your body and mind need recovery time.
I've noticed more of my younger friends embracing this. They're setting aside Sunday afternoons specifically for rest, treating it as essential maintenance rather than an indulgence.
It's a small rebellion against productivity culture. A quiet acknowledgment that you don't have to be "on" every waking moment.
5. Going for a leisurely walk without headphones
When was the last time you went for a walk without listening to anything?
No podcast, no music, no audiobook. Just you and your thoughts and whatever sounds exist in the world around you.
Boomers have been doing this forever. It's just a walk. But for younger generations who've been conditioned to constantly consume content, this feels almost transgressive.
I remember the first time I tried this. It felt weird. My brain kept reaching for stimulation, for something to fill the silence. But after about 15 minutes, something shifted.
I started noticing things. The way light filtered through trees. Conversations happening on porches. The smell of someone's dinner cooking. Small details that usually get drowned out by whatever's playing in my ears.
This practice is quietly spreading among Gen Z. They're discovering what Boomers have known all along: sometimes the best thing you can do is just be present.
If you're curious about understanding what drives you beneath the surface—what instincts move you when the noise quiets down—I recently took The Vessel's Wild Soul Archetype Quiz. It reveals which power animal walks with you: the Phoenix, the Buffalo, the Dragon, or the Wolf. During one of those quiet Sunday walks, I found myself thinking about my results and realized how much clarity comes when you actually give yourself space to reflect on your own nature instead of constantly consuming content about everyone else's.
6. Calling family members just to chat
Texting is efficient. It's easy. It lets you maintain relationships without requiring much time or emotional energy.
But it's also hollow in ways we don't always acknowledge.
Boomers never really switched to text-only communication. They still pick up the phone on Sundays and call their siblings, their parents, their old friends. Not because there's news to share, but just to hear a voice.
I've mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating: the quality of connection matters more than the quantity.
Gen Z is starting to figure this out. After years of maintaining friendships through sporadic texts and likes on social media, some are craving something more substantial.
Sunday phone calls are making a comeback. Not the quick "what's up" kind, but real conversations that meander and last for an hour. The kind where you actually learn what's going on in someone's life.
It requires more effort than sending a meme. But the payoff is so much bigger.
7. Doing absolutely nothing productive
This might be the hardest one for Gen Z to adopt.
Boomers are comfortable with downtime. They can sit on a porch and watch the world go by without feeling guilty about it. They don't need to be optimizing, learning, networking, or building something.
For younger generations raised on hustle culture and personal branding, this is almost impossible. There's always this nagging feeling that you should be doing more.
But slowly, some are learning to resist that urge.
Sundays are perfect for this. It's the one day where you can give yourself permission to just exist without an agenda.
I've found that my best ideas often come on these supposedly "wasted" Sundays. When I'm not trying to force anything, when I'm just letting my mind wander, that's when clarity shows up.
8. Preparing for the week ahead
Boomers have always treated Sunday evening as prep time.
They'll lay out clothes for Monday, check their calendar, maybe meal prep a few things. It's not about being neurotic. It's about reducing Monday morning chaos.
Gen Z is discovering the wisdom in this approach.
After years of winging it, of starting each week in reactive mode, some are trying a different strategy. They're using Sunday evening to get organized, to set intentions, to create a bit of structure.
This isn't about rigid planning or sucking the spontaneity out of life. It's about giving yourself a smoother start to the week.
When I started doing this, Monday mornings became so much less stressful. I wasn't scrambling to figure out what to wear or what to eat. Those small decisions were already made, which freed up mental space for more important things.
It's a simple habit, but it creates a ripple effect that carries through the entire week.
The bottom line
So there you have it.
These Sunday rituals aren't about being old-fashioned or rejecting progress. They're about recognizing that some things actually work, regardless of which generation figured them out first.
Gen Z isn't copying Boomers out of nostalgia. They're rediscovering practices that create space, that build connection, that offer respite from the constant noise.
Maybe you already do some of these things. Maybe you've been hesitant to slow down on Sundays because it feels unproductive.
Either way, it might be worth experimenting. Pick one or two of these habits and try them for a month. See what happens when you give yourself permission to do things the slow way.
What’s Your Plant-Powered Archetype?
Ever wonder what your everyday habits say about your deeper purpose—and how they ripple out to impact the planet?
This 90-second quiz reveals the plant-powered role you’re here to play, and the tiny shift that makes it even more powerful.
12 fun questions. Instant results. Surprisingly accurate.
