How to Live Like It’s the 90s in a Modern World

Apr 6

If you go anywhere on the internet (or even shop in real life in stores), it seems like the 90s are back!! And I am not hating it! I have talked with so many people these days who are literally craving the simple times of the 90s.

I think as moms, we want it even more, and it has less to do with all of the nostalgia than we realize.

We are craving less noise, and more R E A L!

We are on a constant overload, from the media we consume to the worry we carry as modern moms, and our nervous systems are asking for a break. That is why when we daydream or get lost scrolling through 90s nostalgia, we feel that pull of “ugh, can we go back?”

And that is what I wanted to write about today. Unfortunately, we can’t go back. Trust me, if we could, I would be on the first time machine, raising my kids in a different time. But we can pull from the good parts and find a better balance with the technology we have now. Not living off the grid or demonizing everything this modern world offers, but actually making it work for our families and our nervous systems.

How to Bring Back a 90s Lifestyle (Without Quitting Modern Life)

Why We’re Craving the 90s (It’s Not Just Nostalgia)

Before we get into the “fun” things, I am going to put on my psychology hat for a moment. I don’t use this degree much these days, but I wanted to come at this from a more holistic lens and explain why our brains are craving that 90s lifestyle.

In the 90s, we weren’t surrounded by constant bright screens, notifications, and that low-level digital noise our brains are always trying to keep up with now. Back then, silence was normal. You weren’t being interrupted every few minutes, and your environment didn’t demand your attention all day long. Without even realizing it, that gave your nervous system space to settle.

Today, we are taking in so much more stimulation. That constant input keeps our bodies in a low-level state of stress without us even noticing. It makes sense that we feel drawn back to a slower, quieter way of living. It is not just nostalgia; it is our body asking for a sense of calm and safety again.

We literally need more real life and less on the screens. Even if our everyday lives demand them for work, there are still ways to cultivate a better balance, one that helps us reconnect with our kids, ourselves, and the physical world around us.

How to Live a 90s Lifestyle in a Modern World

The Core Principles of a ’90s Lifestyle

So here is the question:

How can we live a 90s lifestyle in a modern world, or raise our kids with that same feel in a way that is actually realistic today?

First, let’s approach this practically. I do not believe that living like it’s the 90s means giving up all of the technology around us. If we are functioning in society like normal, working, staying in contact with school, managing everyday life, we do need some of this technology. So I am not going to tell you to throw your smartphone in the ocean, even if most of us have thought about it.

But what we can do is simplify and set boundaries so it is no longer consuming our lives. We make the technology work for us, instead of letting it control us, because if we are honest, a lot of us have felt a little too tied to it.

And that is something we can control and change.

01. Reduce the Overstimulating Tech

Start by figuring out what you actually need on your phone, beyond calls and texting. What apps are truly necessary for your day-to-day life?

For example, I do not use social media on my phone. I got myself out of that loop a while ago, and let me tell you, it was not easy. I think it took like a good four or five times before I officially “quit”. I still have a Facebook, but I do not engage with it. I use it when I need information, like neighborhood or school updates. I sign in (on my computer!), check what I need, and log out. It is simple. I make it work for me, and no longer scroll.

If you are thinking that sounds great but you enjoy zoning out and scrolling, ask yourself how you actually feel after. Do you feel good, or do you feel depleted, overstimulated, or anxious? If it is the latter, that might be your sign to start setting some boundaries. Maybe that looks like limiting time or only using it on your computer instead of your phone.

The goal is to find ways to use technology that creates less stimulation and actually supports your day, not takes over it.

You also do not need notifications for every app and email, unless your work truly requires it. Find your personal limits and be intentional about them. It is not always easy. But I bet you your brain and body will thank you for it!

Takeaways & Actionables

Limit phone usage to what you actually need
Set boundaries around when and how you use it
Delete social media apps if they are pulling you in
If it feels right, use a simple phone for calls and texts, and keep a smartphone just for work or school needs

02. A slower life by default

In the 90s, life wasn’t curated to be slower, it just was. We weren’t as rushed because life was not designed that way. Errands took longer, we got home and checked phone messages, and even music was something you just listened to in the car without a notification popping up every few minutes (can we please at least bring iPods back for that reason alone?)

I think about this a lot, how everyone today feels “more” busy, and I am not sure where that even came from. Is it the constant notifications telling us we need to do more? Seeing everyone in ten different activities and feeling like we need to do that too?

In the 90s, kids had one or two activities. A few times a week, we played outside with our friends, rode bikes, and came in when it was time for dinner. Sundays were for church, family time, seeing grandparents, and sitting down for a big meal together. Things were not scheduled every hour of the day.

It was slower because that is simply how life was.

Now the question is, are you trying to maximize every hour of your day? Or are you leaving space for white space? For your kids to be bored, for you to be bored, or at the very least, for you to move through your day without constant distractions pulling at you?

Because even as moms, when there is always something to do, there is still a difference between doing what needs to get done and doing it while your mind is being pulled in ten different directions.

03. Boredom is Important

We had a lot of imagination back in the day. I see it even now with my own kids, when they are not around technology, they create, draw, and come up with their own games. It happens naturally when they are given the space.

And personally, I do not want my kids tied to phones and tablets.

We have set boundaries around what they can use and when, and overall it has worked well for us. Of course they are getting older, and the conversations about phones are starting to come up, but we have been able to talk through it in a real and intentional way.

And I do think it starts with us. When they don’t see us constantly tied to our devices, it becomes a lot easier to set those boundaries for them.

So the bigger question becomes, how do you want to raise your kids in this modern world?

I have seen the argument both ways. Some say no technology at all, others say if you don’t give it to them, they will fall behind socially or with their peers. But the truth is, we really have no idea what technology will even look like in ten years. Just look at how much has changed in the last ten to fifteen.

What we raise them on now will most likely shift anyway.

So instead of trying to follow what everyone else is doing, we have to decide what works for our own families. Yes, they should understand internet safety, basic etiquette, and how to use certain devices. But what boundaries do they need so they can still be creative, active kids?

In the 90s, we would leave for hours on our bikes, playing with friends until it was time to come home. Now, as a parent, that feels different. The world feels different. And we have to factor that in.

That is where I think modern tools can actually support us. Something like a smartwatch, where they can call or we can see where they are, might feel like a better balance than handing over a full phone right away.

We can use technology for safety and connection, without giving up the goal of raising kids who are imaginative, independent, and not constantly tied to a screen.

Takeaways & actionables

Let kids experience boredom, that is where creativity actually starts
Set clear boundaries on when and how technology is used
Avoid giving unlimited access to scrolling or highly stimulating content
Be mindful of the shows and media they are consuming
Model the behavior you want them to follow with your own device use
Use technology for safety and communication, not constant entertainment
Focus on raising creative, active kids, not just digitally connected ones

04. Quit Over-Optimizing

The 90s were not about becoming our best selves or trying to optimize every area of life. We just lived.

I am not saying we should stop trying to improve things that matter to us, but I am talking about letting some things go.

Somewhere along the way, everything became over the top. Social media has made it so easy to compare how others live, how they celebrate, how they do even the smallest things. Kid’s birthday parties, holidays, even things like Easter, when did it start to feel like a second Christmas?

It is okay to do things simply. It is okay to keep things minimal. Not everything has to be perfected.

And I do think many of us are starting to feel that.

Because the truth is, it is impossible to live in a fully optimized way. From wellness to homemaking to kids’ activities, everything does not need a perfect routine or schedule or to be hyper-optimized. We need space to breathe and just be. On a personal note, I found my wellness improved once I “quit” my health coach mindset of over-optimizing my health, and just went back to simple, balanced living!

What areas of your life have you tried to optimize, only to feel like you fell short or that it actually set you back instead of moving you forward?

There is something reallyfreeing about doing things differently, even if it looks “less than” compared to what you see online. That shift alone can do so much for your mental health.

And really, that is the heart of this 90s lifestyle. It is not about going backward. It is about stepping out of that constant survival mode and into something more intentional, where we are not trying to do everything, but choosing what actually matters.

How to Live Like It’s the 90s Today (Practically)

If all of this resonates, the next question is, what does this actually look like in real life?

Remember, this is not some let’s do this perfectly and all at once sort of list, this is about choosing things little by little to make the changes you want in your family and home.

Create time offline. Put phones in another room during meals. Use a computer over phones for internet and social media. Set boundaries for kids around technology.
Let kids be bored and use their imaginations. Prioritize outside time over over-scheduled activities.
Lower your own pressure at home. Let toys be organized but out. Ditch the aesthetic homemaking and decor for things that feel lived in.
Have fun with retro, low-stimulation family nights. Board games, puzzles, and retro video games like old Mario or Sonic. These are less stimulating for the brain and get parents engaged with things kids might already enjoy because of childhood nostalgia.
Choose fewer media inputs. We have so much available to us now with streaming. Choose things simply that you love. Allow the repeats. Let lower stimulation shows be on for kids. Choose fun, positive, family dynamic shows. We did a Full House rewatch last summer and my kids loved that. Use books over Kindles. Find kids’ magazines instead of internet searches.
Make life tangible again. Everything is digital now. Write notes or cards to loved ones and get kids involved. Use paper calendars that everyone in the family can see. Go back to DVDs instead of streaming. It does not have to be everything, but find more things you can hold in your hands, over looking at a screen!

And if you want more simple, practical ideas you can start using right away, I put together a full list here ↓