Somehow, they seem less anxious.
Across the US and UK, many people in their 60s and 70s quietly stick to habits that predate smartphones. These routines look outdated to younger generations, yet research suggests they may support calmer minds, stronger relationships, and better health than we tend to assume.
Why old habits suddenly look new again
Digital life constantly pushes people to react fast, scroll more, and stay reachable. Older adults who grew up before this pressure often keep a different rhythm. They write things down, show up in person, and protect their time from constant alerts.
Contrary to the cliché, “old-fashioned” habits often align closely with what psychologists now recommend for mental health and focus.
Several long-term studies on ageing show that social contact, physical movement, and predictable routines delay cognitive decline and reduce loneliness. Many older adults maintain those pillars almost by instinct, simply because that is how they learned to live.
1. Calling instead of texting
Plenty of people in their 60s and 70s still reach for the phone to talk, not to type. They want to hear tone of voice, pauses, and laughter. Younger relatives sometimes see these calls as intrusive, yet the emotional effect can be powerful.
Surveys on communication show that phone calls, especially longer ones, create a stronger sense of closeness than messaging. The awkwardness tends to fade after a few minutes, and the brain responds to human voices with more emotional engagement.
For isolated older adults, a weekly voice call can act like a social anchor, lowering stress hormones and lifting mood.
While tech-focused generations juggle multiple chat apps, many seniors keep a simple habit: one call, full attention. That undivided focus can make relationships feel more real, even when the conversation stays light.
Small rituals that support stronger calls
- Calling at predictable times so relatives expect and welcome the conversation.
- Keeping a short list of topics or questions to avoid the “nothing to say” feeling.
- Letting silence sit for a moment instead of rushing to fill it.
These rituals look modest, but they turn communication into an event, not background noise.
2. Handwritten notes, diaries and address books
Paper looks clumsy next to cloud storage, yet many older adults still maintain handwritten diaries, recipe books, and address lists. The act of writing by hand uses more senses than tapping a screen. That extra effort helps information stick.
Neuroscience studies show that handwriting activates parts of the brain linked to memory and understanding. People often recall events more vividly when they first captured them on paper rather than in a notes app.
When a 70-year-old writes a birthday card instead of sending an emoji, they are not just being sentimental; they are building connection through effort.
Physical notebooks also avoid one modern problem: constant distraction. No banners, no notifications, just ink and thoughts. That quiet space can reduce mental clutter, especially for those who feel overwhelmed by digital feeds.
3. Walking to the shops instead of ordering everything online
For many retirees, a trip to the local shop is not simply about groceries. It provides light exercise, social contact, and a sense of belonging. Cashiers know their names. Neighbours stop them for a chat. The outing breaks up the day.
By contrast, younger adults often outsource errands to apps, saving time but losing small sources of movement and interaction. That trade-off shapes both physical and mental health.
| Habit | Typical for older adults | Likely benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Walking to the shop | Daily or several times per week | Light cardio, balance, local ties |
| Ordering online | Common among younger adults | Convenience, but fewer steps and contacts |
Regular short walks can lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality. For people in their 60s and 70s, using errands as built-in exercise keeps movement attached to real-life tasks, not just gym schedules.
4. Fixed mealtimes and phone-free tables
Many grandparents still insist on set mealtimes. The table stays for food, not for screens. That habit can frustrate younger guests, yet those shared meals create moments where everyone looks at one another, not at a device.
Family psychologists repeatedly point to shared meals as one of the simplest predictors of emotional stability in children and teenagers.
Older adults who grew up with strict dinner routines now offer a rare screen break. Stories appear. Arguments happen face to face. People finish their sentences. Compared with eating alone in front of a laptop, this rhythm feels almost luxurious.
Structure around food also helps regulate appetite and digestion. Late-night snacking while scrolling tends to disturb sleep, a pattern many older people avoid because their body refuses it.
5. Keeping hobbies offline and with their hands
Knitting, gardening, woodwork, stamp collecting: these hobbies can look slow next to gaming or social media. Yet they give older adults a clear feeling of progress. You plant, water, and later harvest. You start a scarf and finish it. The feedback loop stays simple and satisfying.
Psychologists describe these activities as “flow-friendly”: people lose track of time, but in a calm, grounded way. Hands stay busy, and the mind settles into a focused but relaxed state. That contrasts with the restless attention that many younger users experience while jumping from one app to another.
Working with the hands can dampen rumination, the mental habit of circling around worries without resolution.
Physical hobbies also create visible traces of effort. A shelf of home-grown jam jars or handmade quilts serves as a quiet record of competence. For retirees who no longer receive performance reviews or promotions, these visible results still say, “I made that, and it works.”
6. Protecting quiet time and accepting boredom
Many people in their 60s and 70s grew up with fewer entertainment options. They learned to cope with boredom by daydreaming, reading, or simply staring out of the window. That muscle for doing “nothing” still works, and it may explain part of their emotional resilience.
Young adults often reach for their phone at the first hint of discomfort or waiting time. The habit blocks small moments of reflection that help process stress. Older adults who sit on a bench without headphones or scroll-free on the bus give their brain space to reset.
Boredom, when accepted rather than feared, works like a mental buffer: it slows stimuli and lets emotions settle.
Quiet routines also help sleep. A 70-year-old who reads a paperback in bed usually drifts off more easily than a 25-year-old scrolling through blue-lit screens past midnight.
Where generations meet: blending old and new
The point is not to romanticise every past habit or reject technology. Many older adults use smartphones, video calls, and digital health tools with enthusiasm. The difference lies in how they frame those tools: they often see them as helpers, not rulers.
Some families now experiment with a mixed approach:
- Video calls for long-distance relatives, plus regular voice calls with no video pressure.
- Online ordering for heavy items, combined with local walks for smaller purchases.
- Digital calendars for appointments, but a paper diary for personal thoughts.
This blend preserves the convenience of modern tech while keeping the grounding routines that older generations practice daily.
Practical ideas younger people can borrow today
Younger readers who feel drained by constant connectivity can test some of these habits without turning their life upside down. Start with simple, time-limited experiments rather than drastic changes.
For one week, you might try:
- Making one meaningful phone call instead of three separate text threads.
- Writing a short daily note by hand about what went well that day.
- Doing one local errand on foot, even if it takes longer.
- Keeping dinner fully screen-free at least twice.
- Scheduling 15 minutes of “deliberate boredom” with no audio, apps, or notifications.
People often report an initial discomfort, followed by a quiet relief. The nervous urge to check a screen still appears, but it weakens after a few days, especially when routines feel rewarding on their own.
For those in midlife or already retired, clinicians often suggest combining these habits with regular health checks and light strength training. The habits described here mostly support social and emotional well-being. Pairing them with medical follow-up and safe exercise tends to produce better ageing outcomes, from balance and mobility to mood.
These old-school routines may not look glamorous, yet they form a kind of low-tech mental health toolkit. They cost little, demand modest effort, and leave room for technology where it genuinely helps. The quiet satisfaction many people in their 60s and 70s describe does not come from nostalgia alone; it grows from daily patterns that gently steady the mind while the world keeps speeding up.