What Would Grandpa Do? 10 Ways Past Generations Lived More Consciously

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to run around all day without properly thinking about what we are doing. While packaged foods, smartphones, and e-alerts have made our lives a lot easier, this also means we are less frequently obliged to think about the consequences of our actions or think in the long term. Previous generations might have had less choice in the matter, but there are things to be learned from the “good old days” when it comes to being more conscious about the way we live our lives. And in that spirit, here are ten things that our grandparents might have done more than us that we can all do now to live a little more consciously.

1. Take a day off

While North Americans are becoming increasingly secular, some values and habits might be worth retaining from more religious lifestyles. Community is the obvious one, but taking a day to slow down, a common practice for many religious communities could be a good idea for everyone. Days for family time and being in nature are not only humane but have lots of benefits. Especially if time off means heading into parks or other green spaces, taking time to slow down has added mental health benefits. This goes both ways in terms of benefitting the Earth; people are more likely to take care of things they appreciate.

2. Garden and shop local

Previous generations might have kept things local more out of necessity than by choice, but continuing with it yourself within a community can today be an ethical, political decision, and a way of living more consciously within our global food system. Not only is eating locally super important for the Earth, but it can also benefit your health.

3. Preserve foods

In the same vein as number two, canning and jarring your foods, whether from your garden or a market, is a skill that allows you to be in control of your food sources and also keeps money in your kitchen rather than in the pockets of corporate America. Preserving your food cuts down on waste, and ensures that garden-grown foods may still be enjoyed out of season. Traditional food preservation techniques have been explained numerous times on the Internet, so there are plenty of resources, such as the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and others for both canning and glass jar recycling.

4. Mend things (instead of buying new things)

Whether it’s mending ripped Jeans, sewing Halloween costumes, fixing the bedside clock, or making Christmas gifts, not throwing away slightly damaged goods is a way to reconnect with nature and time. Modern society pushes us to consume all of the time, but slowing down and living more consciously is something to be learned from the good old days. If you commit to buying things you will use in the long run and repair, chances are you will pick your purchases with more care, save money, and save on waste and production emissions. The web has tons of tips in terms of sewing and home repairs, among other ideas to give life to old objects. Recently, a “repair café” movement has been started, basically events where people can pool knowledge and help each other fix broken objects. Check to see if such events happen near you!

5. Bookkeep

Consciously keeping track of your income and expenses is a good way to monitor where your money is being spent. It can help you be more conscious and in control of your finances.  Having a written visual to plan out finances permits budgeting for the things that can easily be left out: organic food; quality, long-lasting clothing; and other things that are worth making room for in your life. Specifically, cruelty-free cosmetics can be pricey, but with a bit of prioritizing, where we spend our money can help the Earth and animals as well as our bodies. Check out PETA’s database of companies that provide animal-testing-free cosmetics. And remember to write down those purchases as our grandparents did!

6. Avoid microwaves and packaged foods

Or, in other words, cook your food slowly and properly. Modern food culture bombards us with quick meals, packaged foods, pre-made meals, and snacks. Indulging occasionally is not the end of the world, but your health and the planet will thank you for cooking good, wholesome, old-fashioned food. Cooking at home cuts down on waste and packaging, and permits us to know exactly where our food is from, and what we’re putting in it. Specifically avoiding microwaves lets people slow down, and think about food; popcorn popped on the stove tastes much better than the microwave stuff! To read more on why you might want to ditch your microwave, go here; for what you can use to replace your microwave, click here.

7. Don’t be afraid of a little dirt

Antibiotics, hand sanitizer, chemical detergents, air purifiers…the list of sanitizing and cleaning products that society has become obsessed with lately is long. While these things arguably have their place, an overly clean lifestyle is not healthy for us, nor for the environment. Exposing children to dirt, specifically, is important, as explained in this New York Times piece. Of course, keeping clean is important, so check out the importance of using natural soap, and consider maybe making your own detergent, or reading up on green alternatives.

8. Hang dry your clothing

Even though dryers are not good for our clothing, we use them anyway, out of convenience. However, they are not good for the environment either; they represent an unnecessary use of energy. So, permit yourselves to go back to the days when hanging clothing out to dry was the only way to dry your clothing, and notice how consciously a load of laundry must be planned when it won’t be ready to wear within a few hours.

9. Read and write

Our society is rapidly increasing its screen time and we always have entertainment at the tip of our fingers. More traditional ways of relaxing, getting informed, and keeping track of things are still out there, though, and can be highly beneficial. Some of the reasons to read, according to the Huffington Post, are its anti-stressing abilities, its ability to fight Alzheimer’s disease, and how it can keep the brain sharp. Of course, keeping up this traditional habit has other benefits as well, so don’t wait to get started on that book sitting on the coffee table.

10. Disconnect

Connected to many of the points above, the last tip that older generations come by easily is disconnecting. Forget all that technology for a bit and let yourself be bored for a moment. Take time to appreciate what is around you and who is in your life.

There’s a lot we can learn from previous generations about living a more conscious life! Employ some of these tips to impact your own life in big ways.