Life in the ’80s was a whole different vibe from what you’re used to today. Without smartphones, streaming, or instant access to anything, the way people spent their time and handled everyday tasks was pretty unique.
You might be surprised to learn just how much everyday life in the ’80s involved patience, creativity, and some quirky habits that would seem totally wild to Gen Z. This article takes a look at seven of those things you probably have never experienced firsthand.
Waiting for your favorite song to play on the radio
You didn’t just press play when you wanted to hear a song in the ’80s. Instead, you had to wait and hope the radio DJ would play your favorite track. That meant hours of listening, fingers ready on the record button to catch the perfect moment.
If you missed the start, you couldn’t rewind or replay. You had to wait all over again. It made getting that song feel like a small victory every time. Patience was definitely part of the process.
Recording mixtapes on cassette tapes
You had to be patient when making a mixtape. It meant setting two cassette players or radios side by side to record songs from one tape or the radio onto another.
You couldn’t just press shuffle or drag and drop songs. Timing mattered a lot—you had to hit record and stop at the right moments to get the perfect song flow.
Mixtapes were more than music; they were personal gifts. You put hours into crafting the ideal playlist for friends or someone special, and those tapes were treasures you played over and over until they wore out.
Using rotary phones to make calls
You’d pick up the receiver and hear a dial tone before starting to call. Instead of tapping a screen, you’d place your finger in the hole of the number you wanted and rotate the dial all the way around.
Each number required waiting for the dial to spin back before you could move on. If you made a mistake, you’d have to hang up and start again.
Calls weren’t instant either—busy signals meant waiting or trying again later. It took more patience and skill than today’s quick taps and swipes.
Hanging out at the mall arcade
You spent hours at the mall arcade, surrounded by flashing lights and the constant beep of game machines. It wasn’t just about playing; it was where you met up with friends and competed for high scores.
The arcade was your go-to spot after school or on weekends. Tokens jingled in your pocket as you jumped from games like Mortal Kombat to Galaga. It was noisy, crowded, and somehow felt like your own little world.
Today, gaming has mostly moved online, but back then, the shoulder-to-shoulder rivalry and cheers made the experience unique. You didn’t just play; you hung out and made memories.
Rewinding VHS tapes with a pencil
If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably know the struggle of rewinding a VHS tape. When the tape finished, you couldn’t just hit a button and move on. You had to rewind it fully before returning it or watching again.
Sometimes the VCR wouldn’t rewind properly, so you grabbed a pencil, stuck it in the tape reel, and twisted it to save time and electricity. It was a simple trick that actually worked.
Nowadays, if you handed a VHS tape and a pencil to someone from Gen Z, they’d likely be baffled by the whole process. It’s that kind of hands-on task that seems from a different world.
Carrying a Walkman for music on the go
You couldn’t just pull out your phone and stream music anywhere in the ’80s. Instead, you carried a Walkman—a small, portable cassette player that fit in your bag or clipped to your belt. It let you listen to your favorite tapes while walking, commuting, or just chilling.
The Walkman ran on AA batteries, so you always needed spares. Tangles and rewinding were part of the experience, too. It was cumbersome compared to today’s streaming, but it gave you real freedom to take your music wherever you went.
Using payphones when out and about
You remember the days when being out meant hunting for a payphone to call home. No texting or quick calls from your pocket—you had to find a booth, dig out some coins, and hope the line was clear.
Dropping quarters or dimes in felt like a mini ritual before chatting. The time was limited, so you rushed to say what mattered.
If you ran out of coins mid-call, tough luck. You either wrapped it up or found another payphone. Nowadays, that’s a foreign idea for most people.
