People Raised In The 60s, 70s & 80s Usually Appreciate 8 Things About Life That Younger Generations Can’t Stand
melissamn / Shutterstock As you get older, you often realize that many things you took for granted during your childhood were actually pretty special. Times always change, but not always for the better.
Looking back at the life they led as kids, many people who were raised in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s now appreciate several aspects of life for their simplicity and the joy they brought, even though people in younger generations seriously cannot stand them.
People raised in the 60s, 70s, and 80s often appreciate these parts of life that younger people can’t stand
1. Unexpected phone calls and visits
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Many young people now experience phone anxiety, especially when they get a call they’re not expecting. They’re more likely to send a call straight to voicemail out of annoyance than they are to pick up the phone and happily engage in a conversation.
However, for older generations, getting a phone call from someone is a sign that they are on that person's mind. Rather than feeling anxious or uncomfortable about the mere thought of social interaction, they see calls from people they enjoy as an exciting part of daily life. They appreciate those who want to stay connected with them, and they are grateful when others feel the same way.
2. Dressing up for work and travel
Dressing up for the airport and taking pride in their professional attire are things people raised in the 60s, 70s, and 80s can fully appreciate. They see the chance to wear different types of clothing for different types of occasions as a fun way to express their style and separate different aspects of their lives.
For Gen Z and millennials, dressing for comfort isn't just about personal style or following trends, but more about keeping their emotional bandwidth clear. They believe they can be more productive at work and more fully authentic in social situations if they wear what feels most natural instead of worrying about conforming to rigid expectations.
As fashion psychologist Dr. Dion Terrelonge explains, this shift toward comfort among young people is about survival in a time when mental health and general discomfort are serious struggles amid daily life. Their attitude about dress codes is rooted in personal priorities that are far more nuanced than they may seem to their parents and grandparents.
3. Hard work
People raised in the 60s, 70s, and 80s appreciate a pull yourself up by your bootstraps mentality and the sense of agency that comes from more traditional mindsets about hard work.
Resilience is a part of Gen X and boomer personalities, written into their psyche from childhood. However, for Gen Z, convenience and comfort matter more. That’s why they’re unlikely to sacrifice micro-experiences or small luxuries daily in search of bigger investments that already feel somewhat out of reach.
4. Boredom
Plenty of older people turn to their phones for entertainment. However, many still appreciate the simple things about life, like being bored and sitting in silence after a long day. Gen Z and younger generations, however, are even more likely to turn to their phones as a buffer when facing the stillness of alone time.
Their intolerance for boredom in the face of constant stimulation from their phones may help explain why Gen Z is the first generation to be less cognitively capable than their predecessors. Their attention spans are shrinking, and they’re avoiding true critical thought because of the convenience of technology and their cell phones.
5. Annual vacations
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Even vacation preferences look different from generation to generation. People raised in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, with their strong work ethic and company loyalty, often like taking an annual trip. They work hard to earn their time off, and when it comes around, they want to make the most of it.
Gen Z and millennials prefer to take several mini-vacations. They spend mornings grabbing coffee, which they see as a micro-experience before going into work. Gen Zers appreciate the kinds of things older generations tend to sacrifice when saving for their big annual trip.
Of course, most young people would love an annual vacation, but taking occasional days off on a random weekday and turning weekends into little trips to break up their professional obligations is how most would prefer to spend their time and money.
6. Fixing things themselves
Many older people appreciate the grit it takes to fix something themselves with their very own hands. Instead of paying someone else to come do it, they leverage the practical life lessons they learned early on and figure out how to do it themselves.
Their figure-it-out mentality lets them take ownership and pride in these seemingly mundane tasks. In contrast, Gen Z has grown up with a love of convenience, so having to put themselves out by doing it themselves is just a bummer.
7. Have a regular restaurant to eat at
Nearly 75% of Gen Zers are self-proclaimed adventurous eaters, with a desire to try new foods and expand their palates with restaurant choices. For them, going out to eat is a micro-experience. It may not be a daily habit or even part of their routine, but it’s a way to invest in their communities and create meaning in the mundane parts of daily life.
Compared to older generations who’ve been socialized into a very different kind of frugality, of course, they’re more likely to stick to the same places. With food quality as a main priority, once they find a restaurant that works for them and they know they can trust, there’s an interesting kind of loyalty that brings them back again and again.
8. Paper trails and analog habits
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Despite adapting to digital technology pretty well, Gen X and younger boomers still have an appreciation for doing things the old-fashioned, analog way. They grew up trusting printed documents and calendars, so using them now gives them a sense of control over their bills and information that digital alternatives sometimes make harder.
With convenience always top of mind, Gen Z and millennials are more likely to choose completely digital routes over managing a checkbook or investing in a filing cabinet.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
