In a world that’s moving faster with each passing day, those skills we used to think were important just aren’t relevant anymore. Remember when knowing how to read a map was a necessity, not a cool trick? Yeah, so do we. Times have changed, and although it might feel bittersweet, here are 25 skills only people 50+ will remember and aren’t getting much use these days.
Reading a Paper Map
Gone are the days when unfolding a giant paper map was the first step of any road trip, as we’ve all got GPS and digital maps in our pockets. Sure, there’s a charm to tracing routes with your finger. But it’s hard to beat the convenience of voice telling you exactly where to turn next on the road.
Writing Checks
It used to be the norm to write checks for groceries or at the gas station. After all, how else were you going to pay for stuff? Today, digital payments and credit cards have taken over to make things way more secure. Honestly, this is a change we can get behind because it makes things much simpler, and you don’t have to carry around a checkbook anymore.
Balancing Checks
Speaking of checkbooks, remember the days when you had to actually balance one? Yes, it was frustrating, but it also taught you to be careful with your money. In today’s world of swiping and tapping away, it’s way too easy to overspend as your finances get updated in the blink of an eye.
Dialing a Rotary Phone
The whirl of a rotary phone dial is a sound a lot of us remember, but barely anyone hears anymore. With touch screens and voice commands, calling someone is just a touch, or a word, away. Even dialing numbers on a landline is a thing of the past, as research shows that 2% of Americans only use landlines.
Memorizing Phone Numbers
Similarly, once upon a time, memorizing phone numbers was a necessity, not just handy. You’d dial your friend’s home on a landline, hoping they’d pick up, which is a million miles away from our phones today. Losing your phone feels like losing part of your body, and we’re completely dependent on them for keeping track of tiny details.
Using a Typewriter
In the past, if you ever went to an office, all you’d hear was the clack-clack-clack of typewriter keys. Now, some younger people don’t even know what a typewriter is because they’re used to the silent taps of laptop keyboards. Sure, there’s a certain romantic charm to using a typewriter, but it’s a skill that’s fallen by the wayside.
Researching With Encyclopedias
Back in the day, having a full set of encyclopedias at home meant you had access to the world’s knowledge. But now, with every factor or figure just a quick search away, those bookshelves are more decorative than functional. Online research is way faster, and it can give you up-to-the-minute information that no printed volume can match.
Developing Film in a Darkroom
There used to be something kinda magical about developing film in a dark room, with the red lights and the smell of the chemicals. And waiting to see your photos come to life on paper? Pure thrill. In today’s world of digital cameras and smartphones, we can take photos by the hundreds and view them almost instantly.
Reading the Newspaper
Waking up to grab the morning paper and read it over breakfast used to be our daily ritual. It was the only way you found out what was happening in the world or even in your local area. Sure, people still know how to read newspapers today, but they’re not exactly popular. You can get the news 24/7 on almost every platform, so why stick to ink?
Using a Manual Can Opener
Remember when using a manual can opener was a basic kitchen skill? Yeah, you’d clamp it on the can, turn the handle, and work your way around the edge until the lid popped free. But these days, electric can openers or cans with pull tabs have made things a breeze, although you’ll probably stick to manual ones when the batteries die.
Handwashing Dishes
Of course, people still wash dishes today, but electric dishwashers have become the standard in almost every home. Some people find a kind of joy in handwashing dishes because it’s a break from the digital world. But honestly, why wash dishes by hand when you’ve got a machine to do it for you?
Proper Grammar Skills
Grammar used to be where you’d put your commas and not end your sentences with a preposition. Sadly, it’s pretty much taken a backseat now, thanks to text and tweeting, and people care more about getting their points across in as few characters as possible. And don’t get us started on emojis.
Sewing
In the past, if you couldn’t sew a button back on, good luck surviving adulthood because you had absolutely no chance. But now, if something rips, most people either toss it or drop it off for someone else to fix. Why bother when you can get a new one with a click? Even so, there’s definitely a charm in being able to repair your own stuff.
Ironing
Between “non-iron” shirts and casual work dress code, who’s got the time for ironing? Of course, it’s not totally dead, but you’re more likely to see younger people watching a TikTok on how to iron instead of doing it themselves. But even if they can’t do it themselves, showing up with a crease-free outfit can still turn heads.
Resume Writing
Writing a killer resume was your ticket to a job interview, as only you and only you could create one. But today, creating an online portfolio or sharing a LinkedIn profile is your ticket to a job interview. A good resume still helps, but it’s your online presence that really sells you today, especially since most people use AI to write their resumes now anyway.
Driving a Manual
There’s something so cool about cruising in a manual car as you feel every shift, and you’re in total control. But let’s be honest, when you’re stuck in traffic, an automatic is a godsend. And with so many types of electric cars, those stick shifts are on the endangered list as they only make up 1% of new cars sold in America.
Dating IRL
The idea of having a cute and spontaneous encounter with someone in your favorite cafe sounds like something from a rom-com, but it didn’t use to be. Nowadays, finding a date or even love is just a few swipes away. It might be efficient, but stumbling upon love while you’re living your life has a charm that no app can copy.
Writing Cursive
If you used cursive in your school work, it used to be a sign of being sophisticated, but not today. Writing in cursive used to be like creating a piece of art because you’d make every letter a stroke of elegance. Sadly, it’s gone the way of typewriters and rotary phones, although we still think that being able to write cursive is a true talent.
Changing Your Oil
In the golden days of having a car, rolling up your sleeves to change your car’s oil was almost a weekend tradition. Fast-forward to now, and people would rather squeeze in another episode of that Netflix show, but dropping your car off at the shop seems like a no-brainer. If you’re able to go under the hood to do it today, you should be proud of it.
Changing Your Tire
Speaking about cars, swapping out a flat tire used to be part of your driver’s ed curriculum, and it was a must-know for any motorist. These days, people are more likely to hit the speed dial for roadside assistance than to break out the jack yourself. And according to one survey, 60% of Americans can’t even change one.
Card Catalogs
Yes, we admit that the digital age has made it a lot easier to find the library books you’re looking for, but there was definitely a little magic to using a card catalog. Having to hunt them down and feel the cardstock are things no clicks or queries can replace. After all, you’ll never find the dusty smell of pages waiting to be turned online.
Basic Math Without Calculators
Long ago, you had to work through math problems with nothing but a pencil and your brainpower. But with calculators on practically every device, we’re getting pretty rusty with our mental math. Doing mental math can help keep your brain sharp and ready to face anything, so perhaps we should get back into it.
Social Skills
It’s kinda crazy, but social skills have practically become a thing of the past. Since we’re all so glued to our screens, making eye contact or small talk has become a lost art. We’re losing our ability to connect with people on human love because we’ve become more used to our digital world than our real one.
Critical Thinking, Imagination, and Reflection
In a world where all the answers are just a click away, we’re at a huge risk of forgetting how to think about a problem and turn it over in our minds. Most people won’t even bother to think of a creative solution because they can just google it. Sure, that’s quicker, but we should learn to enjoy the process of letting our imaginations run wild to find an answer.
Long-Form Reading
There’s so much bite-sized content out there on platforms like TikTok that our attention spans have been even shorter. Instead of reading a thick book or a long article, many people would rather just read a few paragraphs or, for the extra lazy, listen to a summary. Maybe even reading a short book will be outdated one day.
