I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much life has changed compared to my grandmother’s generation. Sure, some things are timeless – family, love, the pursuit of happiness. But in so many ways, the way we live today would be almost unrecognizable to grandma. From the technology we use to the food we eat to the way we work and play, there have been some major shifts. I wanted to share some of the key ways that lifestyle has evolved and how we’re putting modern twists on classic living.
Home Sweet (Smart) Home
My grandma lived in the same modest house for over 50 years – no smart thermostats, voice-activated speakers, or robot vacuums for her! Her “smart home” technology consisted of an answering machine and maybe an automatic coffee maker.
These days, our homes are tricked out with all sorts of high-tech bells and whistles. I can control my lights, locks, and appliances from an app on my phone. My fridge tells me when I’m low on milk. Alexa and Siri are like live-in assistants, ready to help with everything from playing music to ordering takeout. Grandma would be blown away, though maybe a bit skeptical about inviting all these robots and AIs into the house!
Workin’ 9 to… 3?
The standard 9-5 workday was the norm for grandma’s generation. You went into an office, worked your 40 hours, then clocked out and came home, maybe to catch the evening news and have some dinner in front of the TV (three channels only, folks).
For a lot of us, work looks pretty different now. With laptops, smartphones and ubiquitous internet, many knowledge workers have the flexibility to work remotely at least some of the time. Personally, I love being able to take an afternoon break to hit the gym or pick up my kids from school. And don’t get me started on how many Zoom meetings I sit through in sweatpants!
Of course, not everyone has this freedom and there are tradeoffs to being “always on”, but there’s no question that technology has given us more options in where, when and how we work. Grandma put in her time at the office; we’re mixing things up.
Food, Glorious Food
My grandma was an old-school cook – meat and potatoes, canned veggies, Jell-O salads, the works. And while I have fond memories of her home cooking, the culinary world has expanded dramatically since then.
Today, we have access to ingredients and flavors from all around the globe. Sushi, Thai curries, Lebanese mezze – foods that were exotic for grandma’s generation are now takeout staples for many of us. We’re also much more conscious about health and sustainability, with plant-based diets and locally-sourced foods becoming increasingly mainstream.
At the same time, cooking is more optional than ever, with meal kits, Uber Eats, groceries delivered right to your door. Grandma spent hours in the kitchen every day; we have the world’s cuisines at our fingertips. A major shift in how we nourish ourselves.
Play All Day
When it came to leisure time, my grandparents had pretty simple tastes – a game of cards, a variety show on TV, maybe a trip to the local park on a special occasion. Low-key, low-tech pastimes.
Meanwhile, we’re in a golden age of entertainment. With streaming services, we have infinite movies and shows to choose from anytime. Video games are cinematic works of art. VR allows us to explore new worlds. The options are endless.
And it’s not just the technology – attitudes towards leisure have changed too. Hustle culture and the gig economy mean some of us feel pressure to monetize our hobbies and make productive use of every waking hour (something I’m trying to unlearn). But there’s also a greater recognition of the value of play and leisure, with self-care as a major buzzword. We’re realizing that rest isn’t lazy; it’s essential.
The More Things Change
So, there you have it – just a few of the ways our lifestyles have evolved since grandma’s day. Technology, globalization, and changing values have all left their mark on the way we live, work and play.
At the same time, I think grandma would recognize the human threads that tie our generations together. We still crave connection, purpose, and a cozy place to call home; we just go about it in some different ways. Maybe that’s the real trick – taking the best of the past and combining it with the new possibilities of the present.
