If you’re a boomer who still does these 8 things, you’re cooler than 90% of your generation

by Lachlan Brown | May 4, 2026, 5:20 pm

The baby boomer generation was born into a world of rotary phones, rock ‘n’ roll, and handwritten letters. They’ve lived through more cultural change than any generation in history. And yet, some boomers manage to stay effortlessly cool—not by pretending to be young, but by staying open-minded, self-aware, and real.

Let’s be honest: many people slow down with age—not just physically, but mentally. They stop learning, stop experimenting, and start clinging to the familiar. But a rare group of boomers refuses to do that. They’ve evolved.

These are the ones who text with their grandkids, listen to new music without complaining it’s “noise,” and keep a quiet sense of humor about how fast the world changes.

If the habits below sound familiar, it’s a sign of something worth celebrating—not just aging well, but being cooler than 90% of a generation.

1. Staying genuinely curious about the world

The coolest boomers never stop asking questions. They want to understand TikTok, AI, and why people meditate instead of going to church.

They don’t mock what they don’t get—they explore it.

Curiosity is the ultimate fountain of youth. It keeps the brain flexible and the heart open. And while some boomers roll their eyes at “kids these days,” the cool ones lean in and ask, “Tell me more.”

Research in psychology consistently shows that intellectual curiosity is one of the strongest predictors of cognitive health in later life. It’s not just a personality trait—it’s a form of resilience. The boomers who spend an afternoon trying to understand cryptocurrency, not because they want to invest but because they find it fascinating, are exercising exactly the kind of open curiosity that keeps people sharp and engaged.

2. Embracing technology instead of resisting it

Nobody has to be coding apps or editing videos to impress people—but boomers who can navigate their smartphone with confidence, use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends, and maybe even shop online without panic are doing better than most.

Technology is how the world communicates now. When boomers learn it—not reluctantly, but willingly—it sends a powerful message: I’m still in the game.

It’s not about mastering every gadget. Just staying connected and adaptable shows everyone—from kids to grandkids—that age is not a limitation.

3. Not living in the past

Everyone loves nostalgia. But cool boomers know that being “stuck” in the past is the fastest way to become irrelevant.

Yes, the 70s had great music. Yes, people were tougher before smartphones. But if every sentence starts with “Back in my day…,” it’s a sign someone has stopped engaging with the present.

The coolest boomers appreciate their memories without comparing them to everything now. They celebrate how far the world has come instead of complaining about how much it’s changed.

You can honor your past without living there—and that balance is what makes someone timeless.

4. Taking care of health—without obsessing over it

The “cool” boomers aren’t the ones who brag about their cholesterol or complain about their knees. They’re the ones who still walk, stretch, swim, and move like life’s meant to be lived—not managed.

They don’t treat aging as something to “fight.” They treat it as something to do well.

Psychology research supports this approach. Studies on successful aging suggest that people who maintain consistent physical activity without becoming fixated on decline tend to report higher well-being and greater life satisfaction. It’s not about perfection—it’s about energy. That quiet vitality is magnetic.

5. Laughing at yourself

This might be the rarest—and coolest—trait of all.

Boomers who can laugh about forgetting passwords, mispronouncing a meme, or accidentally calling it “Facepage” instead of Facebook show a level of humility that’s both endearing and refreshing.

Humor keeps people human. When someone can laugh at their own generation’s quirks instead of taking themselves too seriously, younger people don’t see them as “old”—they see them as authentic.

If someone can crack a self-deprecating joke and still have everyone laughing with them, not at them—they’re doing something right.

6. Staying open-minded about people and ideas

One of the biggest signs of emotional intelligence is being able to adapt beliefs as the world evolves.

Cool boomers listen before judging. They don’t get defensive when younger people talk about gender, race, or mental health—they try to understand. They recognize that their experience is valuable, but not universal.

That kind of emotional flexibility is rare—and powerful. It shows real maturity, not stubbornness.

Holding strong values while allowing space for other people’s truths is something most people never master—and it’s one of the hallmarks of genuine psychological growth.

7. Still having style (without trying too hard)

Cool boomers dress like themselves, not like teenagers.

They’ve found that sweet spot between comfort and confidence—maybe a well-fitted linen shirt, good jeans, or a leather jacket that’s aged as well as they have. They understand that style is self-respect.

They don’t cling to old trends (“cargo shorts forever!”), nor do they desperately chase new ones. They evolve, refine, and simplify.

When you see someone over 60 walk into a room with quiet confidence and good posture, you notice. That’s presence—and it never goes out of style.

8. Still dreaming about what’s next

Most people slow down mentally long before their bodies do. But not the coolest boomers.

They’re still planning trips, starting side projects, learning new skills, or even launching small businesses. They might be semi-retired, but they’re not done.

That spark—the refusal to coast through life—is what makes them magnetic.

Research on purpose in later life consistently shows that people who maintain a sense of forward momentum—working for joy rather than just stability—report higher levels of happiness and meaning. That’s the kind of wisdom that comes from experience and curiosity.

Cool boomers know that staying alive isn’t the same as feeling alive.

The quiet confidence of aging well

Being a “cool boomer” isn’t about keeping up with trends or pretending to be younger than you are. It’s about a mindset—one rooted in curiosity, humility, adaptability, and a genuine enthusiasm for life.

The boomers who embody these qualities aren’t trying to impress anyone. They’ve simply refused to let age define them. They keep learning, keep laughing, and keep showing up with energy and grace.

And that, more than anything, is what makes them cooler than 90% of their generation.

Lachlan Brown

Lachlan Brown is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Brown Brothers Media, a digital publishing network reaching tens of millions of readers monthly. He holds a Graduate Diploma of Psychological Studies from Deakin University, though his real education came afterward: a warehouse job shifting TVs, a stretch of anxiety in his mid-twenties, and the slow discovery that studying the mind is not the same as learning how to live well. He started experimenting with Buddhist principles during breaks at the warehouse and eventually began writing about what he was learning. That writing became Hack Spirit, a widely read personal development site, and his book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism became a bestseller. His work breaks down complex ideas into frameworks people can apply immediately, whether they are navigating a career change, a difficult relationship, or the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Lachlan splits his time between Singapore and Saigon. He writes about high-performance routines, decision-making under pressure, digital innovation, and the intersection of Eastern philosophy with modern life. His perspective comes from having built things from scratch, failed at some of them, and learned that clarity comes from practice, not theory.