Ever sit back and laugh at how different life felt before smartphones, Wi-Fi, and endless notifications? I think about it all the time, and honestly, some of the things Boomers lived through feel like they came from another planet.

Kids today will never understand how different the world felt when everything moved slower, louder, and sometimes a little dangerously.

So, let’s walk through ten things Boomers experienced in the 60s and 70s that totally blow Gen Z’s mind. Trust me, you’ll probably nod, cringe, or chuckle your way through this list. Ready? Let’s go.

1) Saturday Morning Cartoons Were an Event

You didn’t just “watch cartoons” back then—you planned your entire Saturday around them.

Kids today binge shows whenever they want, but Boomers had to wait six whole days for that magical lineup. I still remember how I held my bowl of cereal like it was a trophy because I knew I only had a few precious hours before the grown-up shows took over.

Ever notice how waiting made things feel more special?

Boomers lived for classics like:

• Looney Tunes
• The Jetsons
• Scooby-Doo
• Tom and Jerry

And the best part? You never fast-forwarded anything because you literally couldn’t. That anticipation hit different, IMO.

2) Being Unreachable Was Completely Normal

Boomers walked out the door and disappeared for hours—and nobody panicked.

Imagine telling a kid today, “I’ll see you later, don’t text me.” They’d look at you like you just said the moon is made of cheese. But Boomers loved that freedom. When you left the house, you were gone, and everyone accepted it as part of life.

Ever feel like constant notifications drain the fun out of everything? Boomers never dealt with that. They lived in a world where you couldn’t be tracked, pinged, DM’d, or location-shared. And honestly, that kind of peace sounds amazing right now.

3) Finding Information Required Actual Effort

You didn’t Google anything—you hunted for answers.

Boomers cracked open encyclopedias, asked librarians real questions, flipped through card catalogs, and sometimes just gave up because the search was too much work.

You wanted to learn a fun fact? You checked:

• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Newspaper clippings
• Library reference desks

Ever notice how easy answers feel a little too easy sometimes? Back then, effort made the information feel valuable. FYI, you also needed patience—lots of it.

4) Three Television Channels and Nothing Else

Boomers didn’t channel surf—they basically channel strolled.

You had:

• ABC
• CBS
• NBC

And maybe PBS if your antenna behaved. That was it.

If nothing good came on, guess what? You watched it anyway because you had no alternatives. Kids today flip through 500 channels, streaming apps, YouTube, TikTok, and still say “There’s nothing to watch.”

I sometimes laugh because Boomers survived entire evenings with nothing but reruns and weather reports. Doesn’t that say something about expectations today?

5) Cars Had No Safety Features Worth Mentioning

Today’s kids ride around strapped in like astronauts, but Boomers? Nope.

Boomers jumped around in the back seat, slid across vinyl benches, hung out windows, and sat on laps—while the car moved. Seat belts existed but nobody cared. And don’t get me started on the metal dashboards that practically begged to knock someone out.

The “safety features” back then basically included:

• A horn
• Brakes that sometimes worked
• A steering wheel roughly the size of a hula hoop

Ever think about how wild it is that people actually survived this era?

6) Smoking Was Everywhere

Boomers grew up in a world where people lit cigarettes like they were sipping water.

You walked into restaurants, offices, airplanes, hospitals—yes, hospitals—and everyone smoked. The smell clung to everything. You didn’t even ask whether someone smoked; you just assumed they did.

And honestly, I still can’t believe cigarette ads featured doctors saying things like “This brand soothes your throat.”

Kids today would lose their minds if someone sparked a cigarette on a plane. Imagine trying that now. You’d make national news in minutes.

7) Privacy Was a Given, Not a Luxury

Boomers lived in a world with real privacy.

There were no digital footprints, no data tracking, no targeted ads, and definitely no apps monitoring your sleep, steps, and spending habits. When you closed your front door, nobody knew what you did unless you told them.

Ever wonder what life would feel like if your existence wasn’t logged somewhere? Boomers didn’t “protect their privacy”—they simply had it.

Today, privacy feels like a skill we have to learn or a perk we have to buy. Back then, it was just normal life.

8) Waiting Was Just Part of Life

Boomers waited for everything. And I mean everything.

You waited:

• For the mail
• For photos to get developed
• For your favorite song on the radio
• For stores to open
• For movies to hit theaters months after release

Every part of life moved slower because it had to. Funny enough, that slow pace created its own kind of magic. Anticipation gave things weight.

Ever realize how waiting builds excitement in a way instant gratification never can?

Kids today refresh a page twice and scream “It’s broken.” Boomers waited three weeks for a letter and felt grateful it arrived at all.

9) Playing Outside Until Dark Without Supervision

Boomers grew up in the golden age of outdoor freedom.

You left the house after breakfast and didn’t return until the streetlights flicked on. Parents didn’t track your location—they just trusted you to show up eventually.

Kids today might freak out if they went outside without a phone. But Boomers thrived with:

• Neighborhood hide-and-seek
• Bike adventures
• Pickup games
• Exploring woods, creeks, and fields

That kind of independence shaped entire personalities. Ever notice how exploring without a screen feels different? It hits deeper because you control the experience, not the algorithm.

10) Boredom Was a Regular Occurrence

Boomers knew boredom like a close friend.

You didn’t get constant entertainment. You didn’t scroll through feeds for dopamine hits. You faced boredom head-on—and surprisingly, it sparked incredible creativity.

When boredom struck, you created your own fun:

• Made up games
• Built things
• Read books
• Drew pictures
• Walked around looking for something interesting

Kids today panic at the first sign of downtime. But Boomers knew boredom shaped imagination. Honestly, some of the best childhood memories come from doing absolutely nothing and letting your mind wander.

Ever notice how great ideas show up when you give your brain a little space?

Conclusion

Boomers lived through a version of the world that feels impossible today—slower, simpler, quieter, and way less connected. Some of those experiences sound risky, some sound nostalgic, and some sound downright unbelievable to younger generations.

But that’s exactly what makes them so fascinating.

Life in the 60s and 70s came with:

• More freedom
• More patience
• More face-to-face connection
• More imagination

And IMO, a lot of that gave the era its charm. If anything, these ten experiences remind us how much the world changed—and how valuable some of those old-school habits still feel today.

So next time you scroll through endless apps or reply to ten notifications in a row, maybe take a second and imagine living like a Boomer for a day. Who knows? You might even enjoy the quiet.