There’s much to be learned from our grandparents’ generation. In many ways, if we’re honest, they had it harder than we do. Out of their struggles, they forged habits and character that served them well and helped them build their families, neighborhoods, and societies into something better than they found them.
It wasn’t just circumstances that forced them to improve themselves. That generation in particular had a mindset that may seem a bit old-fashioned by today’s standards. They believed in doing things the hard way even when an easier way was available. They weren’t anti-progress by any means, but they refused to let progress rob them of skills that gave them autonomy and helped them be better people.
While I think each generation needs to make its own way in the world, I also believe there’s a huge benefit to taking old habits and reapplying them in a modern context. Change is a given. So, increasingly, it’s what we hold on to from the past that will make us distinct.
Time-Tested Tips for Building a Better Self
Here are some old-fashioned tips that still resonate with me in 2026.
1. Always Keep Your Word
Keeping your promises isn’t just the right thing to do—it will positively shape your life. Not only will you learn to trust yourself, which is powerful in its own right, but the best kind of people will want to have you around.
2. Rise Early and Make Your Bed
I don’t wake up early by most people’s standards, but I still value jumping right into my day and getting off to a good start. By making my bed, doing some exercise, and spending a few quiet minutes by myself, I find my mornings productive and meaningful.
3. Write Letters by Hand
In a world of fast communication, one easy way to stand out is to take the time to handwrite a note. Often, what you’re trying to convey with a note is that you care, and the gesture can matter more than the words themselves.
4. Read 1 Good Book at a Time–Slowly
Screens have largely displaced books for most people, and for those who still read, it seems it’s all about how many books you can finish instead of how deeply they affect you. Reading nurtures, educates, and enlivens our minds—a worthwhile pastime to carry on.
5. Save and Give Away Part of Every Dollar You Earn
One act keeps you humble and cares for those truly in need; the other is an investment in your future self. Both are time-tested habits of good financial stewardship.
6. Take a Daily Walk Whatever the Weather
When people exercise today, it’s usually at a gym or with some form of technology. I say whatever gets you moving your body is a great thing, but I also miss the days when going for a walk was the default way to move. For me, there’s nothing that beats the slow, methodical rhythm of walking in nature, no matter what the weather looks like that day.
7. Carve Out a Day of Rest
For thousands of years, those who follow the teachings of the Bible have observed the weekly Sabbath in some form. Even for nonbelievers, this weekly ritual can remind us of the wisdom in slowing down and acknowledging the limits of our minds and bodies.
8. Learn to Fix Rather Than Replace Things
With the arguably higher opportunity cost of our time and the lower cost of replacement, repairing isn’t the obvious economic decision it used to be. However, there are benefits to repairing and tending to what we own that go beyond money. The act of fixing takes us out of the purely consumer mindset and turns us back into creators.
9. Make the Evening Meal Around the Table Nonnegotiable
It’s always been the case that life is busy, but in the past, that was no excuse to skip dinner around the table. Some of the most formative moments of our family life happen when we’re sharing a meal, and it’s hard to replicate that kind of togetherness at other times of the day.
10. Spend Time in Silence Each Day
Compared to the past, we spend very little time in silence. Most of that is self-imposed. We would rather enjoy the stimulation of a song or podcast while we walk, or flip through a few short videos while we wait. I can’t argue that these aren’t sometimes nice, but we must not lose the slower, quieter gifts of silence that can’t occur in a busy mind.
Adopting a few old-fashioned habits doesn’t mean you can’t also be interested in technology and progress. In fact, some of the most interesting and well-rounded people I know are a curious mix of the nostalgic and the futuristic in their everyday lives. They may be building the future at work, but still attend churches with thousand-year-old traditions. They own self-driving cars, but never miss a home-cooked family dinner. The future is what we make of it, and I think there’s wisdom in bringing the best of the past with us.