5 outdated boomer behaviors that might be making you a difficult person to deal with

Every generation has its quirks, right?

Millennials get accused of being “too sensitive,” Gen Z of being “too online,” and boomers… well, let’s just say they’ve got their own set of habits that don’t always translate well into today’s world.

Now, before you clutch your pearls—this isn’t about bashing boomers. Many of them are wise, kind, and full of life lessons worth learning.

But let’s be honest: some outdated behaviors can make them (or anyone who still practices them) a little tough to deal with.

And if you recognize a few of these in yourself, don’t panic. Awareness is the first step to changing.

Let’s dive in.

1. Thinking work is the only measure of worth

I think it’s fair to say that boomers grew up in a time when “hard work” was the ultimate badge of honor. If you weren’t working long hours, grinding it out, or sacrificing personal life for your job, you were seen as lazy.

But here’s the thing: that mindset doesn’t hold up anymore.

Today, people care about balance, mental health, and flexibility. It’s not about being glued to a desk for 12 hours—it’s about what you actually get done and the life you build around it.

I once had a boss who prided himself on never taking vacation. He thought it made him look dedicated, but honestly, it just made him stressed, tired, and difficult to be around. That constant “work is everything” vibe doesn’t inspire—it drains people.

Work matters, sure. But so does having dinner with your family, taking a walk, or simply resting.

2. Believing respect only flows one way

This one always hits a nerve. Some boomers were raised on the idea that respect comes with age.

You’re older? Automatically, you deserve deference.

But the world doesn’t work like that anymore. Respect isn’t just given—it’s earned.

You can’t bark orders, dismiss younger perspectives, or insist on being “the authority” just because you’ve been around longer. That’s not leadership; it’s entitlement.

I’ve talked about this before, but real respect is reciprocal. If you show empathy, openness, and a willingness to listen, you’ll get it back tenfold—no matter your age.

It’s not complicated. It’s just human.

3. Dismissing new technology

We’ve all seen it—the dramatic sighs about smartphones, social media, or “kids these days always glued to their screens.”

Here’s the irony: the same people who complain about tech often rely on it daily—texting, FaceTiming grandkids, scrolling Facebook for hours.

Technology isn’t going away. Rolling your eyes at it doesn’t make you wise; it makes you difficult to collaborate with.

You don’t need to be a TikTok star, but being open to learning new tools (even slowly) makes life easier—for you and everyone else.

4. Oversharing opinions without reading the room

We all know that one person who says, “I just tell it like it is,” right before dropping a comment that makes everyone uncomfortable.

A lot of boomers were raised with the idea that blunt honesty is a virtue. And yes, there’s value in being direct. But sometimes “brutal honesty” is just… brutal.

There’s a fine line between being authentic and being insensitive.

At a family dinner once, an older relative casually told a younger cousin that their career choice was “a waste of time.” You could see the hurt on their face.

Was it necessary? Not really. Was it helpful? Definitely not.

These days, emotional intelligence matters as much as IQ. Thinking before speaking isn’t being “soft”—it’s being respectful.

5. Equating change with decline

This one shows up in phrases like:

• “Back in my day, things were better.”

• “People don’t have real conversations anymore.”

• “The world is going downhill.”

That nostalgia bias can make every new shift sound like the end of civilization. But change isn’t automatically bad—it’s just unfamiliar.

Take remote work. A lot of older folks dismissed it as lazy at first. But now? Many companies have found employees are more productive and happier with flexible schedules.

The world evolves. Hanging onto the past like it’s the only “right way” not only makes you hard to deal with—it also makes you miss out on what’s good about the present.

As the Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh once wrote: “Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible.”

Change isn’t the enemy. Resistance to it is.

Final words

If you’ve spotted yourself in one (or more) of these points, don’t sweat it. Outdated habits aren’t a life sentence. They’re just behaviors—and behaviors can be unlearned.

The key is to stay open. Listen more, judge less, and remember that the world doesn’t stand still for anyone.

At the end of the day, being easy to deal with isn’t about your generation—it’s about your willingness to adapt, grow, and connect with people where they are now.

Because the truth is, nobody wants to be “that person.” And the good news? You don’t have to be.