Ever had a moment where a boomer habit made you pause and think, wait… seriously?
Same here.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched someone from my parents’ generation leave a voicemail for something that could’ve easily been a text or insist on printing out a boarding pass in 2025. It’s like stepping into a time capsule—except we’re not visiting the past, we’re living alongside it.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s something comforting about old-school routines. But some habits? They’re less about tradition and more about just… refusing to evolve. And younger generations—Millennials and Gen Z—are looking at these quirks and collectively asking, why are we still doing this?
Today, we’re unpacking five such habits that boomers are still holding onto with a white-knuckle grip—and why the rest of us think they’re kinda ridiculous.
Let’s get into ‘em.
1. Relying on face-to-face meetings for everything
Let’s kick things off with a big one.
I used to work in a digital marketing role before becoming a writer, and I remember a few older clients who insisted on meeting in person for every discussion, no matter how small.
Even just reviewing a social media caption? Yup, they wanted coffee and a 90-minute sit-down.
Meanwhile, younger folks are out here thriving with async voice notes and Google Docs comments. A calendar invite with a Zoom link is already pushing it for some. It’s not about being anti-social—it’s about respecting time and energy.
For younger generations, efficiency trumps tradition, and not every conversation needs a handshake and a latte.
2. Emphasizing a single traditional career path
When I talk to older relatives, there’s a theme that comes up again and again: you pick a career, stay in it for 40 years, then retire with a pension.
Meanwhile, younger generations see themselves as multi-hyphenates. They might be a coder-designer-writer, or a marketer-influencer-entrepreneur, all rolled into one.
The boomer mindset of “loyalty to one company” (or one job) simply doesn’t resonate when entire industries are changing at the speed of light.
As the folks at the World Economic Forum have noted:
“The era of the passion economy and side hustles is here. New platforms are emerging for creators to monetize their craft and do what they love. The internet is shaping culture and transforming the way we work. Even white-collar professionals are quitting their day jobs to venture into the passion economy.”
Younger generations take that literally, juggling different roles and income streams. The habit of believing there’s only one “right path” just doesn’t fit into the modern world of endless possibilities.
3. Insisting on shopping in-store
There’s a certain nostalgia to walking through a department store, sure. But for many boomers, it’s not just nostalgia—it’s the way things should be done. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “I need to see it in person,” or “I don’t trust ordering online.”
Meanwhile, younger generations are adding to carts during lunch breaks, comparing reviews on TikTok, and getting same-day delivery—all without changing out of sweatpants.
The research seems to back this up; as of early 2023, around 43% of U.S. consumers said they prefer to shop mostly online rather than in-store, and that number is surely climbing.
For Millennials and Gen Z, the idea of driving to a mall, circling for parking, and standing in line just to buy toothpaste feels… excessive. Unless it’s a vibe-y boutique or a thrift haul adventure, most in-person shopping feels more like a chore than an experience.
Convenience, speed, and flexibility win—and if it doesn’t ship, it probably doesn’t sell.
4. Saving boxes of old paper documents
It’s not just about the environment (though that’s a big part of it). It’s the sheer volume of paper clutter. I once visited a boomer friend who had an entire closet stuffed with old bills, receipts, and bank statements from 20 years ago—just in case.
Younger folks, on the other hand, are used to digital statements, cloud storage, and scanning apps. The notion of physically storing mountains of paperwork is beyond outdated—it’s borderline nonsensical, especially in an age of password-protected PDFs and encrypted backups.
I get that physical copies can feel more tangible and “safe.” There’s a certain distrust among older generations about having all your important documents floating around in the digital ether. Yet it’s also worth considering the risk of natural disasters, misplacement, or just plain losing track of everything in those boxes.
5. Watching cable TV on a set schedule
For many boomers, I have noticed that prime time is sacred. They’ll plan their evening around the 6 o’clock news or make sure they’re home by 8 to catch their favorite show live. There’s a kind of ritual to it—plopping down on the couch, remote in hand, and flipping through the channels like it’s 1997.
Meanwhile, younger generations are living that on-demand life. We’re watching entire seasons in a weekend, skipping commercials like it’s a competitive sport, and streaming content across three devices from bed. The idea of having to wait a week for the next episode or schedule your night around a TV guide? Yeah… that’s not happening.
Streaming services, YouTube, and even TikTok have completely redefined what entertainment looks like. Content is now personal, algorithm-driven, and available exactly when you want it.
So when boomers clutch their cable packages and resist the switch to streaming, it feels like holding onto a pager in the age of smartphones.
Time has moved on—and our TVs have, too.
Putting it all together
The truth is, habits are hard to break—especially ones that have been around for decades. But as the world evolves, so do our tools, our values, and our ways of doing things.
Boomers may not be giving up these quirks anytime soon, but for Millennials and Gen Z, the shift is already well underway.
We’re not saying the old ways never work—we’re just saying… maybe it’s time to let a few of them go.
