People who grew up without smartphones might just hold the key to habits we didn’t know we were missing.

We’ve all heard the jokes: “Back in my day, we had to call someone’s house and hope they picked up.” Or, “We memorized phone numbers… like actual numbers!”

But behind the analog nostalgia is something more valuable than we might realize—people who came of age before smartphones developed habits that are surprisingly useful in today’s hyper-digital world.

These aren’t just “old-school” quirks—they’re practical life skills, some of which many of us could really use a refresher on.

Here are nine that stand out.

1. They remember things

Before smartphones, if you forgot your grocery list or someone’s phone number, that was on you.

People who grew up in that world learned how to remember details, sometimes in impressive amounts. Birthdays, appointments, directions—it was all stored upstairs.

The brain was the original Notes app.

And there’s real science behind this. Neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer has said, “When we outsource memory to a device, we stop using it ourselves.” This is known as the “digital dementia”—we’re less likely to remember something if we know we can just search for it later.

People raised pre-smartphone didn’t have that luxury. So their memory muscle? It’s stronger.

2. They know how to be bored

If you’ve ever sat at a bus stop in the ‘90s, you know what I mean.

No podcasts, no TikTok, no scrolling through 37 apps in two minutes. Just… sitting.

And as boring as that sounds, it turns out boredom is incredibly good for you.

It forces your brain to wander. It gives your subconscious space to make creative connections. As noted by psychologist Dr. Sandi Mann, “Boredom can lead to brilliance.” It’s a trigger for imagination.

I’ve found some of my best ideas hit me when I’m doing absolutely nothing. (Walking, showering, waiting in line at the DMV.)

The pre-smartphone generation didn’t avoid boredom—they sat with it. And sometimes, they turned it into magic.

3. They’re better at face-to-face conversation

I once had dinner with a couple in their fifties who didn’t take out their phones once.

No quick scroll under the table. No mid-convo “Let me just check that real quick.” Just eye contact, real laughs, and pauses that didn’t feel awkward.

That’s not just charming—it’s a skill.

When you grow up having to make plans in person, call landlines, or knock on someone’s door, you develop a knack for reading people. You learn the rhythm of conversation—timing, tone, body language.

Pre-smartphone folks didn’t have emoji to soften a comment or a text delay to craft a witty comeback. They had to be present. And it shows.

4. They don’t panic when they’re off the grid

Ever had a friend totally lose it when their phone died for an hour? You’d think they were stranded on the moon.

Now compare that to someone who came up without 24/7 connection.

These people can go hours—days even—without checking in. They know how to navigate a day without Wi-Fi. If needed, they’ll ask for directions, use a paper map, or just… be okay with not knowing something right this second.

There’s a groundedness to that. A calm.

It reminds me of a trip I took to Morocco where I didn’t have signal for five days. At first, it felt like losing a limb. By day three, it felt like gaining back part of my brain.

5. They have better focus

Multitasking is a myth.

As noted by productivity expert Cal Newport, “If you treat your attention with respect, it will return the favor.” People who grew up pre-smartphone didn’t have constant push notifications fighting for their eyeballs.

If they were reading a book, they were reading a book.

If they were working, they weren’t pausing every two minutes to check if someone liked their latest photo.

This single-task focus is increasingly rare—but incredibly powerful. It’s not that these folks are immune to distraction, but they never learned to expect it constantly.

Their minds aren’t trained to jump. They’re trained to sink in.

6. They’re more resourceful

When you didn’t have Google in your pocket, you had to figure things out in other ways.

Ask a neighbor. Visit the library. Reverse-engineer a recipe. Fix your stereo with a paperclip and blind hope.

That trial-and-error mindset builds resilience. It makes you less likely to freeze when something goes wrong and more likely to get creative with what you’ve got.

I’ve mentioned this before, but in college, I once fixed my broken headphones with duct tape, an old shoelace, and a prayer. It wasn’t elegant—but it worked. That kind of make-it-work energy is baked into people who didn’t grow up with how-to videos on demand.

7. They know when to disconnect

People who didn’t grow up with a phone glued to their hand know what it’s like to go home and not be reachable.

There was no guilt in not answering right away. No 11 p.m. Slack pings. No group chat pressure.

And even now, many of them maintain those boundaries. When they’re off, they’re off.

This isn’t just healthy—it’s essential. Constant connectivity leads to burnout. But those raised without the expectation of immediate response? They’re more likely to set—and enforce—digital limits.

They unplug without a second thought. And we could all use a bit more of that.

8. They write things down

Yes, like with an actual pen. On actual paper.

People who came of age before smartphones often still carry notebooks, use planners, or scribble down to-dos on Post-its.

And they’re onto something.

Studies show that writing by hand improves memory and helps you process information more deeply. A 2021 study from the University of Tokyo found that handwritten notes create more activity in parts of the brain related to memory and language.

It’s not just nostalgic—it’s effective.

There’s a reason I still keep a small notebook in my backpack. When things live in your head and on paper, they tend to get done.

9. They appreciate simplicity

Let’s be real—life before smartphones was… simpler.

Not necessarily easier. But quieter. Slower. Less filtered.

People who grew up in that world tend to value that simplicity, even now. They’re not chasing the next update, the next viral video, the next dopamine hit. They’re okay with a good book, a quiet walk, or a meal that doesn’t get photographed.

That doesn’t mean they reject tech. Many use it just as much as anyone else. But they don’t need it to feel engaged.

Their version of “content” often looks like real life. And in a world saturated with noise, that’s something to admire.

The bottom line

The world has changed fast.

But not all change is progress—and not all old habits are outdated.

In fact, many of the daily behaviors people learned pre-smartphone are still incredibly valuable today. They keep us grounded, present, creative, and human.

So if you didn’t grow up in the analog era, maybe borrow a few of these habits from someone who did.

And if you did, maybe it’s time to dust them off and bring them back.

They might just be the superpowers we need.