Boomers were a very successful generation and we owe a lot of our knowledge to their hard work. In this article, you’ll find 18 things that boomers absolutely nailed and we should all follow.
Face-to-face communication
Many of us today hide behind online communication because we’re afraid that we don’t know how to be ourselves in person. Face-to-face communication can be daunting but it’s something that our grandparents had no problems with. They didn’t hide behind the text messages or phone calls.
Mending clothes
Back in the boomer days, everyone knew how to sew. According to Google Arts & Culture, “The 1970s saw a steep decline in home sewing. Pattern and sewing companies stressed individuality and original fashions at a reduced price to entice customers.” Knowing simple repairs could save us a lot of money.
Banking
Nowadays, it’s so easy for us to check the balance of our bank accounts by logging into an app. Back in the day, however, this luxury didn’t exist. Even still, people knew how much money they had in the bank because they were good at managing their money.
Investigation
Searching for information is something that we don’t have to do anymore. When we want the answer to a question, we can find it on the internet. In the days of our grandparents, they had to physically search for information in books and by talking to people.
Keeping up with the news
It’s easier now than ever before for us to find out the latest news reports. News apps, social media, and television have made news reports spread faster than they did in times past. Although news was harder to get hold of in the boomer days, they still kept up-to-date with the latest news.
Calculated spending
Bankrate says, “Over the last 12 months, U.S. adults have spent $71 billion on impulse buys based on what they saw on social media.””The boomer generation, however, doesn’t allow themselves to get caught up in impulse buys; rather, they think about how much they’re going to spend and stick to a budget.
Knowing what’s necessary
Many of us nowadays suffer from what people are calling information overload. We feel bombarded by all of the information that we can look at and find out. Boomers, however, are used to a slower pace of life and only take in the amount of information they can manage.
Reading books
Reading books is a pastime for many boomers, and it can keep them occupied for hours on end. Many of us, however, struggle to concentrate when reading for a long time. We get distracted easily, and reading becomes more of a chore than a hobby.
Balancing recreation
The boomer generation knew how to balance their time well and would spend time enjoying themselves in the evenings after work and dedicate time to learning a skill, such as a musical instrument. Many of us spend far too much time watching TV and don’t have time for anything else.
Family time
A “new study reveals the typical family only spends just six hours together each week,” says The Independent. Families are spending less time together than ever before due to distractions like the internet and other technology. Boomers, on the other hand, spent quality time with their families.
Being private
Boomers don’t like it when their information is everywhere. They are reluctant to use social media accounts because they don’t want people to know their personal information. The use of social media has put many in trouble with their employers—a problem that boomers have completely avoided.
Cooking from scratch
Boomers are used to cooking from scratch rather than buying ready-made goods from fast food restaurants. Because of this, they are often a lot healthier than we are and avoid eating too much processed food. We should take a leaf from their books and make our own meals.
Concentrating
People nowadays find it so difficult to concentrate on information for a long time because they’re always being distracted by technology. Boomers use technology a lot less and aren’t as dependent on it as we are, so they find it a lot easier to concentrate.
Talking on the phone
Boomers are used to the days of handheld telephones and can hold onto a phone while multitasking around the house without any issues. Many of us, however, find it difficult to multitask while having a conversation with someone, even when the phone is on loudspeaker.
Interacting with shopkeepers
Older people are very good at interacting with shopkeepers. They don’t rush when they’re shopping like we do and they’re good at building up a rapport with the people in stores. Most of us dash in and out before we can show personal interest in a shopkeeper.
Making time count
Scary statistics from Fortune show that “worldwide, internet users spend an average of 400 minutes—nearly seven hours—a day online, according to a new report.” Past generations, however, don’t spend nearly as much time on the internet and make their free time count rather than wasting it browsing.
Not wasting food
So many people nowadays waste food because of the sell-by dates on food or because they buy too many things and don’t eat them. Boomers are very resourceful people and know how to put all food to good use without wasting anything. They learned to live on less when they were growing up.
Homework
In generations past, doing homework was a chore. You couldn’t look up information on the internet to find the answers; rather, you had to visit the public library. Boomers had time for all of this and did their homework to an excellent standard without cheating.