These 5 major habits clearly define Boomers but Gen Z doesn’t want any part of them

“Boomers think it’s a bitchin’ way of life, but Gen Z find it all cringe.”

By

Mark Wales

Jul 18, 2025

By Mark Wales

July 18, 2025

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Photo credit: Image via Canva – Photos by theboone and dodotone – Boomers on the front lawn and Gen Z with a coffee

Every generation has some habits and behaviors that give identity to it. What we eat, use for entertainment, our careers, and what subjects are taboo all tightly connect us to where and when we were born. The Boomer generation has some very strong opinions and values that characterize it. Gen Z doesn’t much care to follow in those foot steps.

Boomers were born into the late 40’s early 50’s. It was a time of national pride and optimism. The United States exited World War 2 with unprecedented economic growth. Americans were focused on raising a family, carving out careers, building a home, and laying down the framework to have a comfortable future.

Boomers look to the future. Image via Canva – Photo by joaopaulo_live2

Under this umbrella of good fortune, Boomers found strong communal bonds and shared goals. They also collectively picked up some habits that matched well with the philosophies of the time. Boomers approach breakfast, visual entertainment, music, careers, and taboo topics very differently than Gen Z:

Breakfast

Boomer with cereal and Gen Z with protein shake. Image via Canva – Photos by Stocklite and Peter Berglund

It’s important to start the day off with fuel to get the body in motion. A solid breakfast is the staple start of the day for any Boomer. In 1952, Kellogg’s introduced Sugar Frosted Flakes and the cereal boom was on. The Guardian writes that a convenient and easy to prepare breakfast with delicious sugariness was hard to resist. Marketed through the power of brand advertising, commercials made sure cereal was in every Boomer’s home.

Gen Z put the cereal down. While often even skipping breakfast entirely, YouGov reports this younger generation prefers lighter and quicker options for breakfast. They love milk and coffee to get the day off right, but it’s the influence of plant-based specialty beverages that are gaining in popularity. With morning shakes of almond milk and plant based proteins, ready-to-drink shaker bottles have Gen Z and their breakfast on the go.

Visual Entertainment

Boomers at the movies and Gen Z creating social media. Image via Canva -u00a0 Photos by RgStudio and Blue Bird

Black and white television, comic books, and most importantly, movie theaters. Boomers love the movies and there’s a reason, they can be great. OKA breaks down the films boomers grew up with like Exorcist, Young Frankenstein, Chinatown, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Jaws, and so many more. With grit and confrontational realism, Boomers are ready to sit down and invest hours to witness an incredible story unfold.

Not Gen Z. Short form content is here to stay. With platforms like YouTube and TikTok, quick bite-sized videos are the preferred normal. Wired described a trend toward more authentic experiences. With photo-sharing apps and live share sites such as Twitch and Discord, Gen Z want immediate, live entertainment that’s easily accessed.

Music

Jukebox and DJ at electronic show. Image via Canva – Photos by Giorez and Leif Bergerson

Boomers grew up through the birth of rock-n-roll and the psychedelic era. Their music tastes are rooted in the 60’s and 70’s with record players spinning their favorite vinyl. Growing up through brilliant bands such as The Beatles, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Rush, and so many more. (There’s some country greats in there too. Please take no offense from this writer.) Audio Ink Radio said Pink Floyd, “… became one of the most influential psychedelic rock bands of all time. Their albums are really a trip, and every one of them is legendary and takes the listener on a journey.” Boomers love music and aren’t afraid to pay for their favorite album.

Gen Z welcomes the digital age. Having access to so many versions of music at the click of a button, their tastes are not linked to any single genre. Woke Waves reports that streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music claim rap and hip-hop as the most popular tunes for the generation. Looking for relatable artists who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable in their music like Billie Eilish, Gen Z shares their favorites through social media. In fact, many choices are heavily influenced by trends and sound grabs from sources like TikTok. Why buy the album when you have access to a whole library of music for free on sites like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Pandora.

Career Goals

Boomer at the office and Gen Z at the office. Image via Canva – Photo by cyano66 andu00a0charliepix

Corporate world, here we come. Baby Boomers took jobs with complex hierarchies looking to work their way to the top. They were willing to work long hours motivated by the perks and prestige of their professions according to Relocate Magazine. Having strong work ethic meant loyalty and job dedication to the Boomer.

Gen Z isn’t having any part of that. This generation is seeking meaningful work, and they aren’t afraid to jump around to find it. Working long hours and driving ourselves into the ground isn’t dedication, it’s working for burnout. Forbes writes that Gen Z is changing the rules of the work place. They’ve incorporated work-life balance and flexibility. Waiting for retirement to travel? Nope, Gen Z is earning to travel in the now calling it, micro-retirements.

Taboo Topics

Mental health, anxiety. media4.giphy.com

Boomers have a hard time talking about mental health and sex. Medium wrote the generation grew up in an era that defined mental health as taboo. This generation took everything that was happening, regardless of where they stood on it, the emotional experience was bottled up and pushed way deep down inside. Talking about feelings and the pressures of life, no thank you.

Vitalize Psych finds Gen Z isn’t afraid to put a taboo topic like mental health out on the table. They’ve grown up talking about their mental health and other difficulties literally online. With less stigma about mental health issues and an awareness to seek professional help, self care and emotional resilience are priorities.

Things like gender and sexual orientation are discussed openly and inclusively. Psychiatrist.com reports a study showed Gen Z embraced fluid identities and the exploration of both traditional and non-traditional relationships. Sex identity isn’t something to be kept private for fear of communal judgement. Thoughts and behaviors can be discussed and expressed openly with friends.

The Wrap Up

I feel it’s important to note that no generation is necessarily doing better than another. We all have different experiences and perspectives. It’s a powerful tool for building community and fostering understanding that we get to know where each person is coming from. Some habits may be more productive than others. Learning what works and what doesn’t so we can pass it on to the next generation with hope. Hope that it will be a little better.

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Photo credit: Sistine Chapel collection via Wikimedia Commons – Michelangelo’s 16th-century fresco ‘The Last Judgment.’

Art, Culture

Why Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ endures

A restored masterpiece still provokes awe and debate.

Good Partner

4/16/2026

Virginia Raguin

Michelangelo’s fresco of “The Last Judgment,” covering the wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, is being restored. The work, which started on Feb. 1, 2026, is expected to continue for three months.

The Sistine Chapel is one of the great masterpieces of Renaissance art. As the setting where the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church meets to elect a new pope, it was decorated by the most prestigious painters of the day. In 1480, Pope Sixtus IV commissioned Domenico Ghirlandaio, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino and Cosimo Rosselli to paint the walls. On the south are six scenes of the “Life of Moses,” and across on the north are six scenes of the “Life of Christ.”

In 1508, Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling. The theme is the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. The images show God creating the world through the story of Noah, who was directed by God to shelter humans and animals on an ark during the great flood. The ceiling’s most famous scene may be “God Creating Adam,” where Adam reaches out his arm to the outstretched arm of God the Father, but their fingers fail to meet.

At the sides, the artist juxtaposed the male Hebrew prophets and the female Greek and Roman sybils who were inspired by the gods to foretell the future. It was completed in 1512; then in 1536, Michelangelo was asked to create a painting for the wall behind the altar. For this immense work of 590 square feet (about square meters), filled with 391 figures, he labored until 1541. He was then nearly 67 years old.

As an art historian, I have been aware how, from the beginning, Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment” sparked controversy for its bold and heroic portrayal of the male nude.

Many layers of meaning

Michelangelo liked to consider himself primarily a sculptor, expressing himself in variations of the nude male body. Most famous may be the Old Testament figure of David about to slay Goliath, originally made for the Cathedral of Florence.

The artist’s ceiling for the Sistine Chapel had included 20 nude males as supporting figures above the prophets and sibyls. Originally, Michelangelo’s Christ of “The Last Judgment” was entirely nude. A later painter was hired to provide drapery over the loins of Christ and other figures.

“The Last Judgment” scene also contains multiple references to pagan gods and mythology. The image of Christ is inspired by early Christian images showing Christ beardless and youthful, similar to the pagan god of light, Apollo.

Group of the damned with Minos, judge of the underworld. Sistine Chapel Collection, Michelangelo via Wikimedia Commons

At the bottom of the composition is the figure of Charon, a personage from Greek mythology who rowed souls over the river Styx to enter the pagan underworld. Minos, the judge of the underworld, is on the extreme right.

Giorgio Vasari, a fellow artist and historian who knew Michelangelo personally, later recounted the criticism by a senior Vatican official, Biagio da Cesena. The official stated that it was disgraceful that nude figures were exposed so shamefully and that the painting seemed more fit for public baths and taverns.

Michelangelo’s response was to place the face of Biagio on Minos, the judge of the underworld, and give him donkey’s ears, symbolizing stupidity.

A detail of a scene connected to the Apostle Bartholomew in ‘The Last Judgment.’ Sistine Chapel Collection via Wikimedia

Michelangelo included a reference to his own life in a detail connected to the Apostle Bartholomew, who is located to the lower right of Christ. The apostle was believed to have met his martyrdom by being flayed alive. In his right hand, he holds a knife and, in his left, his flayed skin whose face is a distorted portrait of the artist.

Michelangelo thus placed himself among the blessed in heaven, but also made it into a joke.

Thought-provoking imagery

The Last Judgment is a common theme in Christian art. Michelangelo, however, pushes beyond simple illustration to include pagan myths as well as to challenge traditional depiction of a calm, bearded judge. He uses dramatic imagery to provoke deeper thought: After all, how does anyone on Earth know what the saints do in heaven?

In these decisions, Michelangelo displayed his sense of self-confidence to introduce new ideas and his goal to engage the viewer in new ways.

A digital reproduction of the painting will be displayed on a screen for visitors to the Sistine Chapel during this period of restoration. Behind the screen, technicians from the Vatican Museums’ Restoration Laboratory will work to restore the masterpiece.

This article originally appeared on The Conversation. You can read it here.

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Photo credit: Canva – A music teacher plays drums with a student.

Culture, Music

Students go for a world record with group drumming rendition of “Beggin”

“This is called perfection.”

Mark Wales

4/15/2026

Drum instructor Patrick Abdo doesn’t simply direct a children’s recital—he launches into a full-body celebration of music. In an Instagram post gaining widespread attention, he leads 10 children, ages 5 to 10, in a drumming rendition of the Måneskin song “Beggin’.”

As the kids bang the drums in rhythmic unison and parents watch, beaming with pride, the room pulses with energy. But what makes the performance all the more magnetic isn’t simply the precision of the young drummers—it’s Abdo’s infectious excitement.

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Abdo guides kids to an impressive musical moment

In the video, captioned “A record like no other!,” the 10 kids each have their own drum kit arranged in a circle around a large room. As the music starts, Abdo takes the lead, instructing the young musicians and wildly raising his arms to the rhythm. He keeps perfect time with his air drumming, and the kids follow.

These young drummers do a fantastic job, fully committed and bringing the focus and skill needed to pull off such a high-octane song. Yet it’s nearly impossible not to have your attention drawn to the teacher. Abdo radiates an infectious belief in every child in the room.

This type of wholehearted encouragement feels increasingly rare, and it’s wonderful to watch. As proud parents smile from the sidelines, he moves through the room, connecting with each student. With each burst of encouragement, the recital transforms into something special.

There is little publicly available information about Abdo’s background. His breakout visibility appears tied to short-form drum lesson videos posted on his Instagram page. His profile lists Dubai as his location, and his bio reads, “My dream is to recreate School Of Rock MENA [Middle East North Africa] version.”

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The good-vibes energy inspires people

The video quickly became impossible to scroll past. Views steadily increased, and so did the comments. The appreciation for both the synchronized performance and Abdo’s teaching style offers a moving example of mentoring at its best. As much as viewers loved the kids’ musical showcase, many seemed even more inspired by Abdo’s uplifting and engaging style:

“They shut it down for real !!!The instructor deserves an applause”

“I love the teacher !! So enthusiastic, motivating and you can tell he loves these kids!!!”

“well done to that teacher and all the children — luv this”

“This teacher has incredible enthusiasm which inspires all the kids to work so hard to get it!”

“Wow, the instructor’s patience and passion for his work are truly admirable!”

“This is called perfection.”

“The teacher’s passion! The talented, focused kids!”

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Great teachers and mentorship matter

There is simply no denying the value of great teachers and mentors. Everyone benefits from guidance and encouragement, especially young people. Research in 2025 found that mentored youth were 20% more likely to attend college, earn higher incomes, and exhibit better behavior. A 2023 trial conducted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America found measurable improvements in social and emotional well-being.

A 2022 study found that mentorship increased retention and promoted success. The benefits extend to mentors as well, offering opportunities to build enduring relationships that evolve and provide value over time.

The music recital had the Internet buzzing over its great energy and the joy of watching kids go for it. Inspiring mentorship may be the real power behind Abdo’s musical instruction. Whether viewers remember a beloved teacher or recognize the one they wish they’d had, the right mentor can stay with a child long after the music stops.

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Photo credit: Canva – Penguins jumping off a glacier into the water.

Culture, Media

A BBC crew broke ‘cardinal rule’ of nature documentaries to save trapped penguins

Even the show’s narrator, David Attenborough, supported the controversial decision to step in.

Adam Albright Hanna

GOOD Staff

4/15/2026

Nature documentaries operate on a single, golden rule: observe, record, but never interfere. The goal is to capture the raw, unscripted reality of the natural world, even when that reality is brutal. But during the filming of the BBC Earth series Dynasties, a situation arose that was so dire, the crew felt compelled to break that cardinal rule.

The incident, which took place in November 2018, involved a colony of Emperor penguins in Antarctica. A massive storm had hit, dropping temperatures to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit) and trapping a large group of mothers and chicks in a steep, icy ravine.

Separated from the safety of their rookery, the birds were helpless. The mothers, cradling their chicks, were unable to climb the slick, vertical slopes.

Penguins march across the ice. Photo credit: Canva

The situation was desperate. Some chicks had already been abandoned and frozen to death in the gully, while predators circled the survivors. The emotional toll on the crew was immense. As one cameraman told Country Living, “I know it’s natural, but it’s bloody hard to watch.”

Faced with the potential extinction of the entire group, the team made a controversial choice.

“It was not a straightforward decision by any stretch of the imagination,” director Will Lawson explained in an interview with Lorraine. “You just have to look at the facts that are in front of you before you make a decision like that.”

In an unprecedented move, the crew decided to act. They dug a shallow ramp in the hope that at least some of the penguins would use it to save themselves ?#Dynasties pic.twitter.com/yRuoEGPDCk
— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 18, 2018

Once the storm broke, the crew decided to intervene, but they did so “passively.” They didn’t lift the birds; instead, they used their tools to dig a shallow ramp into the ice, creating a path the penguins could potentially use to escape on their own.

Three cheers to the @BBCEarth camera crew for digging a little ramp to save those penguins and their babies…! Remarkable work all round, but extra thanks for giving nature a tiny helping hand. We need to give nature all the helping hands we can. #Dynasties #BBC
— Dominic Jermey (@DomJermey) November 18, 2018

“Once we’d dug that little ramp, which took very little time, we left it to the birds. We were elated when they decided to use it,” Lawson told Country Living, noting that there is simply no “rule book” for such extreme scenarios.

The footage of the penguins waddling up the man-made ramp to safety became a defining moment for the series. Even Sir David Attenborough, a staunch defender of non-intervention, backed the move.

“It’s very rare for the film crew to intervene. But they realize that they might be able to save at least some of these birds, simply by digging a few steps in the ice,” Attenborough said.

Producer Mike Gunton agreed, framing it as a moral imperative rather than a documentary breach. “We have a rule that interfering is a very dangerous thing to do. But these penguins were going to die through a freak act of nature if nothing happened,” he said. “How would this conversation be going if you said you saw them there and did nothing? I think you have to do it.”

The intervention was passive, but the result was profound. The colony survived, and the crew walked away with clear consciences. As Attenborough concluded, “To have done anything else would only make matters worse and distort the truth.”

This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.

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