Gen X’ers Share The Unglamorous Adult Things They Love To Do, Here Are 30 Of The Most Relatable
A horrible part of growing up that many people never talk about is the fact that you will, inevitably, discover that you actually like something you detested as a child, or even worse, that your parents are ultimately vindicated about some “absurd” opinion they held.
Well, one netizen was curious to hear from Generation X, now that they are all firmly into adulthood, what activities, experiences, and things they discovered that they actually liked. So bookmark this article if you have skeptical children, otherwise, get comfortable as you scroll, be sure to upvote your favorite “things” and comment your thoughts below.
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When you get all your errands/chores done during the week so you can spend the weekend doing jack s**t is what I live for. Great feeling.
The unutterable joy of having all your errands line up to be on the same side of town
I have nothing to do today and this is THRILLING.
even if my mom doesnt have to do anything she always look for something to keep herself busy
In a fun little factoid, sure to delight and amuse any gen-x history buff, the term generation x was actually coined by none other than famed Hungarian photographer Rober Capa, possibly best known for his work documenting the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. His 1950 photo essay about the generation who had grown up during the war was titled “Generation X,” representing their alienation.
While the term didn’t stick to this group in particular, the idea of a generation alienated from everything by the time they could read survived and was applied to the cohort that was born in the late 1970s to early 1980s.
My kids are grown. I'm done adulting. I just smoked some weed and walked to the gym today. I did run the dishwasher though.
Sounds like me. Except for the walking to the gym and running the dishwasher parts.
You people are weird. I need to see what the colony of woodpeckers are up to.
Just wait, you haven't felt the satisfaction or excitement at getting a *good* pair of socks for Christmas or your Birthday, yet. It's on par with a quality pillow or super soft bed sheets.
My mil gave me super soft and comfy home-socks to wear in winter. They are hand knitted with a hyper soft lining sewed inside and they were my favourite gift! But to be honest, I'd loved them just as much as a child. I always have freezing cold feet in winter. It's so bad it's painful. So I always loved warm and comfy socks
The X, incidentally, represented a sort of unknown value, as one would see in a simple math problem. This was an interesting change in pace from the baby boomers and the greatest generation, whose names contained some more useful descriptors, which is potentially why, when it comes to generational discourse, Gen X remains the least talked about, compared to millennials and Gen Z.
The knew I fully settled into my forties when I was so excited about how well my steam mop cleaned my kitchen tile floor.
I knew I was fully into my forties when I opened up the mailbox, found a fairly large bag of prescription meds that had been shipped to me, I audibly said, "YES," and made a fist pump gesture in the air. They weren't even good sleeping pills or pain meds, just cholesterol meds and fish oil. I glanced around and realized I was old AND lame.
I found my favorite garbage bags at the store today. Bought all three packages they had because I’m bitter they were out the last couple times I was there. I had to use a different brand and that’s unacceptable.
Yep. I’ve got an excursion planned with a friend to go scope out a new grocery store that opened in my neighbourhood :-) apparently it’s really awesome! 😉
And then you memorize the layout and BAM, three months later they change it and you're walking around the store wondering why you can't find your favourite cereal. 😂
Studies of Gen X behavior suggest that many of the “simple” pleasures are listed here due to this generation's appreciation for a work-life balance. While chores are obviously not the same as work, doing some daily tasks efficiently is its own reward, while some weekend shopping is a relaxing getaway, the ability to walk around, take one’s time and just enjoy not being on the clock.
When I bought a Dyson vacuum cleaner that picked up pet hair, I was in heaven. I lost it in the divorce, so I’m saving up for a new one. 😆
When I was a teenager, my parents were like “Get in the car. We’re going to Costco today” and I couldn’t think of anything more boring.
These days, I can’t think of a better way to spend Saturday.
We deep cleaned the main floor of the house together yesterday. That was so exciting I went and started cleaning the basement while he did laundry and watched football.
Made spaghetti and went to bed at 8:15.
Day 2 of Wisconsin monsoon season, I’ll be in my sewing room ALL day.
This appreciation for the simple things in life might be the reason Gen X, at least in the US, reports a relatively high level of life satisfaction. They also tend to not care as much about what other people think of them, which probably allows them to openly admit that, for example, a trip to Home Depot is a good weekend activity. Unburdened by Boomer’s old-fashioned perspectives and Millenial’s and Zoomer's constant comparison to people online, Gen X appears content to just relax.
Going to Costco wit the masses on a weekend really is a risky venture. I’m suddenly at the age where I’d rather venture out after work so I don’t have to deal with so many people.
I go grocery shopping when the store opens early in the morning. Pure heaven, nobody is there.
I stayed home last night and did my laundry. If you told me 20 years ago that I would have been happy about staying home and doing laundry on a Saturday night, I would have looked at you like you had two heads.
Agreed. The whole societal pressure to use Saturday night for forced or unforced socialization starts to wear off after a while.
We’ll be picking crabapples soon. We make jelly.
Dang, my mom used to have me pick up the crabapples that had fallen off the tree and throw them away and now you're telling me there could have been jelly?
So hopefully many of the concepts here serve as a reminder to not make far-reaching judgments as a child, who knows when cooking an entire meal with minimal clean-up requirements will spark joy. And on the flip side, it never hurts to remember that it’s possible to find satisfaction in smaller things in life if one is just willing to relax and enjoy.
One of the most exciting things I've experienced in the last year was getting a new shower for my home. It is like showering in a nice hotel now. Lol
Having a good conversation with a stranger at the hardware store over water heaters...
This morning's meeting: Did you do anything exciting this weekend?
Me: We shopped at a different grocery store.
Yeah, there's nothing quite as satisfying as shopping at a new place. Bring your best glasses and a Sherpa to find your way around. 🤓
As I get older, I love to get up and put super early. Less of a crowd. Best pick of everything, and of course, home before 2:00 to relax.
Hey, I celebrated my daughter's hours-long softball practice being canceled by day drinking and food prepping for the week. It doesn’t take much for me to have a good time these days, and I like it.
My bf convinces me to leave the house by promising that I can browse appliances as long as I want. I usually have a 45 minute limit.
ive been to ikea once here, i was having so much fun but i got lost lol 100% would go there again and again and again
My garden is all I did for the last 7 years after my midlife crisis was over and I was healed from my plastic surgery.
On Fridays at the gas station by my work has fresh burritos. They don't have many and it's a personal victory if I get there in time to get one.
Yes! There's a gas station by me where a little old lady makes super delicious breakfast burritos but only from like 5:30 AM to 8 AM. You gotta get there early and quick!
Yesterday I found out there is a discount Stoffers store about an hour away. I am tickled pink to go get discount lasagna next weekend.
I am shopping for a new raincoat to wear. The weather has been rainy this year and I have has the same coat since 2003.
Then I am going to wear it when I drive to a nice beach to meet my special friend, walk on it and then buy a cup of coffee.
Busy weekend plans :-) I also have my book club book as an audio book to listen to. Don't know when I will find the time.
Just picked up a case of Ensure. Gonna party hard, well until 8:30 anyways.
I’m about to head out front and wash my car before the sun goes down. I’m actually kind of excited about that fact TBH.
I look forward to weekend trips to Home Depot.
I think it was Home Depot that used to have commercials that said "It's the weekend. Now the real work begins." Yes, thanks for reminding that my job is mostly b******t that I have to put up with so that I can spend all my money and free time doing the "real work" of homeownership.
Going to Target is a common date night event.
That was the same in high school. All the kids hung out in the parking lot and revved their engines.
I was so excited to see Costco had grapefruit cups again I talked about it the whole way back in the car.
I wish I could celebrate with you! Alas, if I eat grapefruit, it negates a couple of my meds.
Note: this post originally had 36 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Our neighbours have 3 mini-sheep. They have two pastures. One is at the side of their house, where I can't see them, the other is between our houses, a bit higher than my home office window. One of my greatest enjoyments is when they put those cute little sheep on that pasture and I get to watch them all day. It's so enjoyable to see those cuties play all day, stealing leaves and fruit from the cherry tree smack in the middle of the pasture in summer. It's so peaceful.
I live in the country. I love to get he a hot cup of coffee, go outside on the back porch, and just sit and enjoy the show nature puts on at dusk. The sounds are incredible, the smell is wonderful, and the stars are beyond compare.
Our neighbours have 3 mini-sheep. They have two pastures. One is at the side of their house, where I can't see them, the other is between our houses, a bit higher than my home office window. One of my greatest enjoyments is when they put those cute little sheep on that pasture and I get to watch them all day. It's so enjoyable to see those cuties play all day, stealing leaves and fruit from the cherry tree smack in the middle of the pasture in summer. It's so peaceful.
I live in the country. I love to get he a hot cup of coffee, go outside on the back porch, and just sit and enjoy the show nature puts on at dusk. The sounds are incredible, the smell is wonderful, and the stars are beyond compare.
