The meme of “old man yells at cloud” is pervasive among younger generations. But what if the cloud listened? What if boomers had some sage knowledge that today’s youth could actually benefit from? Here are five examples of what boomers focus on that younger people could probably use a bit more of in their lives.
Focusing on In-Person Communication
There’s no stopping the world from careening toward a screen-focused existence. But it’s not exactly healthy, and boomers have been sounding the alarm on it for decades. Everything from dating to grocery shopping has transformed into something we can do with a few swipes on our phones.
It’s not like boomers aren’t participating in these — far from it: boomers are active on various social media platforms. The difference is that it isn’t stopping them from knowing how important it is to spend time with people face-to-face. Younger generations should realize the value of “touching grass” and realize there’s a whole world out there that goes beyond their iPhone.
An Emphasis on Work Ethic and Loyalty
Boomers are known for their strong work ethic. Younger generations aren’t necessarily not hard workers or capable of working hard — they just often don’t, even when it’s worth it. Loyalty is also a hotly contested virtue, especially in the work environment. Yet even though many businesses don’t always deserve complete fealty, younger generations are burning bridges with reckless abandon — and they’d do well to remember that their actions (or lack thereof) have consequences.
Appreciating Working Hard for Something Rather Than Instant Gratification
This is a time in history where you can want something and have it on your doorstep in literal minutes. There’s a lot of benefit to that; it’s giving people their lives back and making things like prescription medications more accessible or healthy food easier to get for people living in food deserts. This principle doesn’t apply to those who want everything handed to them.
The idea of the long-term achievement or “grind” is glorified by younger generations, but they rarely show up with follow-through. Boomers know that if you really want something, be it a promotion or a big life change, it doesn’t happen overnight, and you have to work for it.
Being Disciplined With Finances
In defense of younger generations, the financial industry has never been dangling more carrots on sticks; from designer cryptocurrency targeted at younger people to making installment payments on larger purchases easier than ever, it’s a veritable minefield of money mistakes out there. And that’s exactly why they should take a page out of a boomer’s book by building more financial discipline. Yes, it’s hard work, but that’s what makes it worth it.
Holding Strong to Tradition
Younger generations aren’t always big fans of tradition. And it’s not like everything needs to stick around forever. But toxic individualism and an obsession with personal pursuits over community isn’t really the answer, either. Realizing that there’s a time and place for values, be they traditional or not, is something younger generations should consider. Sometimes, tradition creates a sense of connectedness or grounding, and we can all agree that we need a little more of that in the world.
Read More:
- 30 Ways To Get Free Stuff (That Aren’t Scams)
- 12 Best Coupon Apps To Help You Save Money
- 13 Ways To Earn Money From Paid Surveys [At Home, Online & More]
