If you grew up in the 1980s, you remember a world that felt bigger, slower, and more hands-on. There were no smartphones or GPS. Instead, there were cassette tapes, floppy disks, and handwritten directions. It was an era filled with neon fashion, blockbuster rental nights, and the joy of hearing your favorite song on the radio, right before you scrambled to hit “record.” Kids today wouldn’t believe half the things we used to do just to have fun or get through the day. So let’s take a walk back in time and revisit 20 things only ’80s kids will remember doing.
1. Recording Songs Off the Radio
Back then, there was no Spotify, no YouTube, and no instant access to music. You sat by your stereo for hours, waiting for that one perfect song to come on. When it did, you had to hit “record” on your cassette player fast – and hope the DJ wouldn’t talk over the intro. Creating the ultimate mixtape took real patience and skill.
2. Carrying Physical Maps or Printing Directions
Before GPS became our guide, we had glove compartments stuffed with road atlases and fold-out maps that never folded back properly. If you wanted to go somewhere new, you’d either highlight a route on the map or print directions off your computer. Miss a turn? Good luck getting back on track.
3. Going to the Video Rental Store
Nothing beat the excitement of walking into a video rental store on a Friday night. Rows of VHS tapes lined the shelves, each with bold cover art and dramatic taglines. You’d argue with your siblings about what to pick and pray your movie of choice wasn’t already rented out. It was a weekend tradition that felt like an event.
4. Using a Pager
Before text messaging and smartphones, pagers or “beepers” were the go-to way to stay in touch. If someone needed you, they’d send a numeric code, usually a callback number. Then you’d scramble to find a payphone to return the call. It sounds primitive now, but back then, owning a pager made you feel pretty cool.
5. Listening to Music on a Walkman
The Walkman wasn’t just a gadget – it was a cultural icon. You could pop in a cassette tape, throw on some foam-padded headphones, and zone out to your favorite tunes while skating, walking, or riding the bus. Hearing the tape warp or get eaten mid-song was part of the experience.
6. Watching Drive-In Movies
Drive-ins were more than just movie theaters – they were date nights, family outings, and summer rituals. You’d park your car, hang the speaker on your window (or later, tune in on the radio), and snack on popcorn while the stars twinkled overhead. Most drive-ins are gone now, but those memories are hard to beat.
7. Playing Arcade Games at the Mall
Before home consoles ruled the gaming world, the mall arcade was the place to be. You’d line up quarters on the machines, wait your turn for Street Fighter or Pac-Man, and spend hours surrounded by flashing lights and button-mashing chaos. It wasn’t just gaming – it was a social scene.
8. Using Payphones
Running late? Out of the house? You’d better have a quarter and know where the nearest payphone was. These booths were scattered all over towns, and finding one was crucial if you needed to make a call. Today, they’re almost completely extinct.
9. Reading the Newspaper at Breakfast
The morning paper was a big part of daily life. You’d sit at the table, flip through the sports scores, comics, and local news while sipping coffee or juice. Now, it’s all headlines on a screen. But there was something satisfying about holding the news in your hands and leaving ink smudges on your fingers.
10. Watching TV at a Specific Time
You couldn’t binge-watch your favorite show or hit “play” whenever you felt like it. If your show aired at 8 PM on Thursday, you’d better be on the couch at 7:59. Miss it, and you were out of luck until a rerun weeks later. It made TV watching feel more like an event.
11. Taking Pictures with Film Cameras
Photography wasn’t instant. You had a roll of 24 or 36 exposures, and once it was full, you dropped it off to be developed, sometimes waiting days to see how the pictures turned out. Every shot mattered because there was no delete button. You just hoped no one blinked.
12. Participating in Group Aerobics Classes
In neon leotards and leg warmers, people across the country jumped, stretched, and jazzercised their way to fitness. These high-energy group workouts were a mix of dance and aerobics, set to pulsing pop music. Today’s workouts are more diverse, but few match the flair of a good ‘80s aerobics class.
13. Using Typewriters for School and Work
Before laptops and Google Docs, typing up a paper meant sitting at a clunky typewriter. Every typo was a crisis, and editing required correction tape or White-Out. It wasn’t fast, but it got the job done. There’s something oddly satisfying about the clack-clack of keys on an old manual typewriter.
14. Using Floppy Disks to Store Data
Need to save a file? Better grab a floppy disk. These square, flexible disks were the main way to move files between computers. They didn’t hold much, just a few megabytes, but they were essential for students and professionals alike. Now, they’re mostly found in museum exhibits.
15. Watching Movies on LaserDiscs
LaserDiscs were the bridge between VHS tapes and DVDs. They were giant, shiny discs that looked like records and promised superior picture quality. But they were bulky, expensive, and easily scratched. Still, for a brief moment, they felt like the future of home entertainment.
16. Smoking on Airplanes
It’s hard to imagine now, but in the ’80s, people lit up cigarettes mid-flight. Airplanes had designated smoking sections, and the smell would drift through the whole cabin. Eventually, concerns about secondhand smoke led to bans on smoking during flights, making travel cleaner and easier to breathe.
17. Wearing Neon Spandex in Public
Bold, bright, and stretchy – neon spandex was everywhere in the ’80s. Whether it was workout gear or casual wear, these outfits turned heads and lit up rooms. Today, the look survives mostly in throwback parties or ironic fashion, but back then, it was the peak of trendy.
18. Dial-Up Internet
You’d hear a symphony of screeches and beeps just to get online. Dial-up internet was slow, glitchy, and took over your phone line while it connected. But it opened the door to email, chat rooms, and the early World Wide Web. Waiting five minutes for a page to load felt normal.
19. Using the Library Card Catalog
Before online databases, finding a book at the library meant flipping through index cards in wooden drawers. You’d search by title, author, or subject, then use the code to hunt down the book on the shelves. It wasn’t fast, but it taught patience and research skills.
20. Filling Up with Leaded Gasoline
Cars used to run on leaded gasoline, which helped engines but came with serious health risks. Eventually, governments around the world banned it due to concerns about pollution and brain development issues in children. Now we have cleaner fuel, but it took a major shift to get there.
Why This Stuff Still Matters
It’s wild how much the world has changed in just a few decades. What used to be daily habits are now punchlines, nostalgia triggers, or history lessons. But these old ways of living taught us something – how to be resourceful, how to wait, and how to enjoy the moment without swiping or scrolling.
Sometimes, the effort we had to put in – waiting by the radio, mapping out directions, renting a VHS – made those experiences more rewarding. You didn’t have everything at your fingertips, so when you did get something you wanted, it felt earned.
Even if we never go back to floppy disks or typewriters, there’s value in remembering how far we’ve come. And maybe, just maybe, it’s worth keeping some of that ‘80s spirit alive – one mixtape at a time.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.