One of my favorite movies is Miracle. If you haven’t seen it, go do yourself a favor and watch it. It tells the story of the U.S. men’s hockey team competing in the 1980s winter Olympics, but a big part of what makes the movie so good is the way it addresses the tension of that time, from the Cold War to the Iran Hostage Crisis to the pressures and stresses of one of the worst economic recessions since the Great Depression. Some great acting and great hockey playing keep the movie feeling enjoyable while telling the story of high stakes and high pressure around not just this historic team but also this intense time.
The 1980s certainly weren’t all bad. MTV brought music a whole new level of visibility, which is lucky for us since so much of the music from the 80s is, might I say, quite good. Community focus brought together neighbors, children enjoyed a slower pace, and spending hours in front of a screen was not the norm. The looks were anything but bland.
So while the 1980s may not have had it all pulled together, there are plenty of traditions and fads we’d love to bring back. Some of those things haven’t ever completely faded out of style, but we hope this blog helps you revamp 80s gems a bit more.
Family Dinners
Family dinners are one of those things that have, luckily, not faded into total obscurity. Some families may still even make family dinner a requirement before members dash off to sports practices, homework, work dinners, or social outings. But they were much more common in the 80s than they are today.
Lest you think family dinners are just a formality that we could happily let stay in the past, let me tell you about the benefits of gathering together with your loved ones for a meal.
According to the American College of Pediatrics, eating together leads to better nutrition, including eating more fruits and vegetables and less fast food, and lowering the risks of obesity in both children and adults. Family dinners also help children learn to cope with stress, improve their vocabulary and literacy, prevent eating disorders, and avoid drug and alcohol use.
So whether you, your mom or dad, or your grandparents was setting the table for family dinners in the 80s, think of who you can bring together to the table this week. Out-of-this-world delicious food or an impeccably set table are optional, but the time talking with your family and loved ones brings the value.
Making Mixtapes
When I was in high school, one of the best gifts to give a friend was a personalized curation of songs. In my era that was on a burned CD, but we owe it all to its predecessor, the mixtape.
Making or receiving those playlists was wildly personal, sometimes even vulnerable, in a way that very few gifts can replicate. I remember sitting at the computer for hours, handpicking songs, listening carefully to the transition between each track to make sure the overall narrative felt just right. Making a mixtape required balancing the energy and feeling of each song and the playlist as a whole.
After making the mixtape, writing out the track list on the J-card was just as fun because you could keep the customization going. Sometimes you’d even add notes or draw designs. These were the perfect final touches to the ultimate gift. So even if a mixtape isn’t available, give this tradition a go with a CD!
Boomboxes
You can’t tell me that the iconic Say Anything scene would be the same if Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) were holding a little speaker over his head blasting “In Your Eyes.” Sorry, but the aura just isn’t the same.
Window Serenades
And on that note, bring back the yearning and grand gestures of the 80s, including the dramatic window serenades. If you need the work up your courage, just look the 80s movies. Hint, you’ve got more to draw from than just Say Anything.
Wearing and Using Color
I’m biased on this one, but BRING BACK THE COLOR. I think maybe we’re moving past the “sad beige” era, and while I don’t dislike neutrals, I love the vibrancy, life, and emotion that comes with using color in our homes and our wardrobes.
Some people really do need the neutrals to keep their nervous systems in check, and that’s, of course, totally fine. But for many others, the use of color is such a great way to make your mark.
If I see another gray linoleum floor that’s supposed to look like wood, I am going to lose it. Maximalism became popular in the 80s, and I sure hope I’m not in an echo chamber of thinking it’s back. Homes are meant to be lived in and should reflect ourselves, our personalities, and our day-to-day activities. They are not meant to be soul-less shells where we sleep and keep things as neutral as possible to prepare for “resell value.” Besides, being allowed to curate your home over time rather than relying on full sets of matching furniture for each room is much more affordable.
Let’s allow the same for our clothing. Again, there’s nothing wrong with a neutral outfit. There is a time and place for it! But let’s not use neutrals out of fear.
Arcade Culture
I’m not much of a gamer, but I know enough to recognize that Pac-Man is top-tier fun. And I’m all for safe spaces for teens to gather and socialize.
Landlines
We can’t beat the convenience of cell phones, and many of us stay glued to our phones enough that we can be reached no matter where we are. But I often miss when landlines were the standard. There’s something nice about the idea of not being available to everyone at all moments. You could go out and enjoy your evening then come back and check the voicemail. You were still reachable, just with a little more of a boundary.
Plus, landlines taught us some great social skills. When was the last time you used the phrase, “This is she?” If we wanted to talk to our friends, we had to be comfortable chatting with their parents or siblings. No texts here!
Interacting With Neighbors
Because so much of our lives now are digitally centered, we don’t enjoy the same level of casual, natural person-to-person contact, including in our own neighborhoods. But back in the 80s, that day-to-day presence was a constant.
Did you recently move into a new home? Welcome committees might bring over a plate of cookies. The woman across the road was leaving town? She’d probably ask you to keep an eye on the house. You accidentally dropped that egg you needed for a recipe? Knock on the next door neighbor’s door and ask to borrow one. These were all social norms that would benefit us if we brought them back.
Big Hair
Everyone’s hair is different, and maybe perms and teasing hair into oblivion weren’t the most fabulous of all the hair decisions. Still. Have you seen anyone who actually looks better with really flat hair? I’d trade the slicked-back ponytail for a fluffier one any day. As a general rule, hair with a little volume looks more flattering than hair that’s fallen flat. Plus, it gives the illusion of thicker hair, which is universally seen as enviable.
Block Parties
In the mid-1970s, block parties were not just fun gatherings; they played a central role in the rise of hip-hop culture, which then continued into and gained traction in the 80s. 1980s block parties allowed you and your neighbors to get together for delicious backyard cookouts, spontaneous street games, and a good dose of music.
Imagine this: a closed residential street, with kids running across yards, adults lounging in lawn chairs, catching up on news and eating something delicious straight from the grill while a long table holds the other potluck items cooked by you and your neighbors. Funk or R&B plays in the background, and coolers are stocked with drinks. It sounds pretty great, right?
This was the reality of many block parties in the 80s. City block parties were even bigger, since they were so foundational to the hip-hop craze. These urban gatherings often came with massive sound systems blasting artists like Michael Jackson or Madonna, while DJs mastered their scratching and attendees watched (or participated in!) breakdancing.
If that doesn’t sound like a high-quality community gathering, I don’t know what does.
Endless Outside Play
Safety first, but we could definitely benefit from allowing kids more outside play. In the 80s, kids could be outside all day and parents might not even know where they were. So long as they were home for dinner, all was well. I’m not saying we need to go that far, but let’s leave the TV behind and play outside for a few hours!
Family Bike Rides
I was on the slow side of learning to ride my bike without training wheels. When I was five, I finally got up the courage. To this day, I still remember whispering to myself under my breath, “The faster you go, the more you won’t fall off.” Not a perfect truth, by any means, but for a child trying to get up the courage to get going, it sure helped me.
One of the big motivators for me to improve my bike riding was that my family often went on long bike rides together, something I owe to my parents loving their family rides in the 80s. It felt like we would ride for hours, going around the city, near houses, and past fields. I think we all enjoyed it as an easy means of exercise, a dedicated time to chat, and a way to get out and explore where we lived.
Letter Writing
Letter writing seems to have fallen completely by the wayside, and of all the things on this list, this is one of my top choices to make a comeback. In the 80s, long-distance phone calls were billed by the minute, making them very expensive, and personal computers, texting, and social media were not available yet. These things made letter writing one of the best ways to stay in touch with family and friends who lived far away.
Writing is one of the best ways to help your mind and body process raw, big emotions and convert them into something structured and more understandable. So writing letters not only gets you the benefits of building your relationships but also of personal mindfulness.
And who doesn’t want some fun mail to balance out the ads or bills?
Alarm Clocks, Not Your Phone
This may seem like a little one, but it comes with big impact. How many of us have wasted our nights doomscrolling before bed, even though we all know it is not the best way to get good sleep (thank you, blue light)? On the flip side, waking up to a phone that immediately shows you your texts, emails, and other notifications can start your day spiked with stress.
Dressing Up for Important Events
Social media seems to have made a lot of aspects of life much less casual, from birthday parties to even the way we take pictures. In other ways, though, we’ve become much more casual.
Now, I’m all for feeling comfortable and not being unreasonable about our clothing. But I do think the 80s had it right in the standards for going out. If you were headed to a concert or a funeral, you were dressed up. Nice things were treated as such, not to be stuffy and pretentious but to show respect for the event and for yourself.
…Not Wearing Pajamas in Public
In the same way, you would never have been caught dead wearing pajamas out in public in the 1980s. Emergencies happen, but I think pajama days are for one day of spirit week at elementary school.
Political Expectations
Ronald Reagan’s presidency added expectations for the image around elected officials, especially presidents, regardless of where that politician fell on the left or the right of the political spectrum. Television training and public image became part of a president’s duty, as they spoke directly to the public more and more about policy and legislation.
The president was supposed to be trustworthy, well-spoken, and, well, presidential. I think most people would love to see a return to a political era of careful articulateness from all their politicians. After so many years of using divisive rhetoric and speaking without clarity or honesty, our elected officials could “review the film,” so to speak, from the 80s to help improve their professional communication.
Moves With Good Stories, Not Just Action
The 80s blessed us with some masterful movies, from cult classics like Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Ladyhawke and Silverado. These movies were all action-packed, like we see viewers craving today, but they had a huge edge over many of today’s similar-genre films. The movies of the 80s were story-driven with emotive adventures and characters. The action was necessary to the plot, but it was not THE plot.
So many of the comparable movies today (sorry, Marvel!) feel like one big fight scene after the other. It almost feels like violence for violence’s sake. The 80s knew how to balance intensity and give reason to the fight.
The Music
Eric Clapton, Prince, Eddie Van Halen, Pavarotti, Bruce Springsteen. There were so many incredible musical artists from the 80s, and we’re lucky to have many artists today imitating those sounds today, from John Mayer to Dua Lipa. The synths really are alive and well.
But you know what was the best part of it all? These artists were incredibly talented at making their own music. They could really play the guitar. They could really sing. This was the age before autotune had even come out, and music software was not the entire background. Call me a snob, but I think it makes a difference.
The 80s Were All Out
If anything, this reflection on what we can bring back from the 80s showcases the way people in the 80s balanced turmoil with joy. Things weren’t perfect, but they found happiness in music. They chose to balance life’s heaviness with lightness in color. They weren’t afraid to take up space, and that may be the best 80s tradition.