15 Great Old-Fashioned Things To Do
Why not choose a few to try this month?
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “Wow, I haven’t done this in years!” It’s the sort of remark we make with smiles on our faces.
I suspect readers do more of the “old-fashioned” things I’ve listed below than most. Still, time passes, and we all develop new routines while other things fall by the wayside.
Please don’t get me wrong. I love technology and other new things! I don’t want to live in the past. I have zero interest in washing our clothes on a rock by the river. I’m grateful for modern transportation, communication, and a host of other technological advances that I take advantage of every single day.
These conveniences come at a cost, however. Being more sedentary and using our minds less actively can contribute to declining health and cause us to miss out on some of life’s simple joys. As artist, Sue Clancy (see #10), highlighted in a Substack Note this morning, these are the kinds of activities that help us maintain our creativity.
Here are 15 things you might want to do occasionally if you aren’t already:
Grow something you can eat.
It doesn’t have to be an elaborate vegetable garden. My personal favorite is to grow sprouts or microgreens, which can easily be done indoors, year-round. It doesn’t require a lot of time, effort, or expense.Hand copy a few passages written by a writer you love, using pen and paper.
’s slow read of War & Peace this month and was reminded in Chapter 11 that young sweethearts once did things like copy verses of poetry for one another.
I startedToday, this practice is more often used as a writer’s exercise to get a feel for what it’s like to write beautiful polished lines of prose or poetry. It can also serve as an aid to memorization.
Sit on a porch and read an actual newspaper.
You could, of course, do one or the other, but they work nicely together.
Take a walk without the aid of electronics.
I’m not suggesting that anyone ignore traffic lights, but I do think it’s a good idea to explore your surroundings occasionally with no phone calls or earbuds to distract you. I say this as someone who loves music and thoroughly enjoys podcasts and audiobooks, but it’s worth hearing birds sing and focusing on the scenery now and then as you give your brain a bit of room to do its thing.
Watch a sunrise or sunset. (no explanation required)
Sing! (alone or with others)
I’m a long-time voice teacher and choral conductor, so this one is near and dear to my heart. There is something uniquely special about making music together, and using our voices is surely the most organic way to do that. Learning to sing—even casually—necessarily also involves learning to listen, another invaluable skill.
It pains me that the average waitstaff in a family restaurant cannot successfully make it through the Happy Birthday song because most people have so little practice at singing anymore. I fondly remember singing silly songs on the bus during elementary school field trips. Today, we get so little singing experience that many of us are embarrassed to sing under any circumstances. You can reverse that: sing in the shower… sing in the car… sing while you cook… sing along with the radio… sing with your children… maybe even sing in a choir!
Mend or otherwise repair something.
You may already fix things regularly. I confess that I do not. You may even be the one your friends call to ask what to do when something breaks, but some of us are not so handy.
As my grandparents often remarked, “They just don’t make things like they used to!” Craftsmanship is rarely a priority when it comes to modern consumer goods. Things are built to wear out quickly, not only because it’s cheaper, but so we’ll spend more money to replace them. Recycling and repurposing are worth the effort.
Send a handwritten thank-you note.
I know someone who starts each day this way, and I think it’s amazing. Consider all those stories you read about people overcoming adversity or doing important work in the world—the kind of things you want to encourage and see more of. Imagine what it would mean to be one of those hard-working individuals and receive a random heartfelt thank you from someone who actually noticed and appreciates your efforts.
Read a poem aloud. Extra Credit: Learn and recite a poem by heart.
Unless you are an actor or singer, you probably don’t do much memorization. Do that part of your brain a favor and give it a chance to practice, using words that are deeply meaningful to you. Not sure where to start? You can’t go wrong with Mary Oliver or Billy Collins. But if you want to make it easier on yourself, start with song lyrics.
Draw or paint on paper for at least 10 minutes.
I realize there are apps for drawing, but save those for another time and stick with old-school materials for this experience. If you enjoy drawing, there are Substacks to support you in establishing a regular drawing practice. Check out
, , , , and .Make something instead of buying it.
This could be almost anything: a bookshelf, a knit scarf, a pie, a centerpiece, a doorstop, a painting for your wall, or a flower arrangement.Write a love letter to yourself or someone else—living or not.
Or, if the idea of a love letter feels a little too personal, make it a letter of appreciation, perhaps to a teacher, mentor, or family member who made a difference in your life. You could write to a historical figure you admire. Maybe there are things you wish you had told your mother or sister before her passing or that you want to say to the child you never had. Are there things you, yourself, have longed to hear but never did? Take out your pen.
Enjoy a quiet candlelight dinner.
Again, no TV or cell phones. You can be your own date or invite someone to join you. It doesn’t have to be fancy, by the way. You can eat a bowl of soup by candlelight.
Add some numbers on paper (or in your head) without the aid of technology.
Okay, all you literalists, I realize that technically even a ball-point pen is a form of technology, but you know what I mean: no calculator apps, don’t ask Alexa, etc. Exercise your brain in a way that many of us don’t very often anymore.
Have an old-fashioned face-to-face extended conversation with friends and no phones. Extra Credit: also no alcohol
This conversation could take place in a home or a park or a garden or a boat or on a beach or elsewhere. Use your imagination.
How many of these things have you done in the past month? How about the past six months?
Consider activities that you, your parents, or grandparents once enjoyed. What would you add to the list? board games, roasting marshmallows, coloring, a game of charades, crossword puzzles, playing catch, walking the curb (how’s your balance these days?), gathering wildflowers, hand-churning ice cream, watching a favorite TV show from your childhood, browsing the bookshelves inside your library. (You do have a library card, don’t you?) When was the last time you went to a museum or had a picnic? Are there things you’ve become overly dependent on that you’d like to balance with some different choices?
These don’t have to be big things. Some can even be combined. Just pick a few that appeal to you, and sprinkle them generously into your life.
I’d love it if you would then come back and share your experience here.
Happy to say, I practice 5 or 6 of what’s on this list every week. Love this!
Excellent list