5 Boomer Rituals That Gen Z Would Swipe Left On

There was a time when the pace of life revolved around simple rituals—early dinners with the family, writing out checks at the grocery store, and chatting for hours on a landline with that coiled cord stretched across the room. As the world has moved on, these small but meaningful rituals serve as snapshots of a time when life felt more deliberate, more connected, and yes, a little slower.

Eating Dinner at 5 p.m. Was the Norm

Back then, eating dinner early wasn’t a quirky habit; it was practical. Families gathered before prime-time TV, and workdays wrapped up earlier. Restaurants even catered to this timing with “early bird specials.” Today, dining at five seems rushed, but for boomers, it was the perfect way to enjoy evenings together.

Answering Machines Were Game-Changers

When answering machines arrived, they felt revolutionary. Boomers embraced leaving and retrieving voice messages like pros, transforming communication. Missing a call no longer meant missing an opportunity. Today, voicemail feels outdated in the text-heavy world, but for the boomer generation, it was the coolest way to stay connected.

Matching Furniture Sets Were a Must-Have

There’s just something about coordinated furniture sets—think matching sofas, loveseats, and coffee tables. For boomers, it symbolized status and sophistication, turning homes into catalog-like displays. While modern styles lean toward mixing and matching, boomers believed harmony and symmetry made a house truly beautiful.

Cash or Checks Were King

Before debit cards and online payments, boomers relied on cash and checks for everything. Writing checks at grocery stores or paying bills by mail was standard. Handing over physical money brought a sense of control and tangibility that today’s tap-to-pay generation rarely experiences.

Phone Etiquette Meant Respectful Conversations

Answering the phone was serious business. Boomers always greeted callers formally and never hung up without saying goodbye. Long phone chats were a social staple, especially on landlines with curly cords. In contrast, today’s short, emoji-filled messages make these thoughtful exchanges feel almost poetic.