Gen X grew up during a strange transition between analog and digital life, leaving them with a collection of practical skills that technology has made less necessary.
1. Find a Place Without GPS
Paper maps and written directions were standard before smartphones. Today, more than 8 in 10 smartphone users use their phones for navigation or directions, making route memory far less necessary than it once was.
2. Make a Phone Call Without Texting First
For Gen X, calling someone was often the default. Pew found that 97% of U.S. adults own a cellphone, but texting and messaging have increasingly replaced traditional voice calls for everyday communication.
3. Record Something From the Radio
Before streaming, recording music meant timing a cassette recorder with the radio. Physical music is now making an unexpected comeback, though: RIAA reported U.S. CD sales jumped 45.7% in the first half of 2026, while vinyl sales also increased.
4. Remember Directions Using Landmarks
“Turn after the gas station” was once perfectly normal. Now turn-by-turn navigation handles the memory work, with Pew reporting that roughly three-quarters of smartphone owners use their phones for navigation.
5. Wait for Something Without Checking a Screen
Gen X experienced entertainment that had built-in waiting periods: television schedules, film processing and dial-up internet. A 2026 Pew survey found just over half of U.S. adults say they spend too much time on their smartphones, suggesting that constant digital access has created a new kind of frustration.
6. Fix Small Things Instead of Replacing Them
Sewing a button, repairing a loose cabinet hinge or troubleshooting electronics were ordinary household skills. Michaels reported analog-hobby searches rose 136% in six months in 2026, showing renewed interest in hands-on activities among younger generations.
7. Use Technology Without Needing It for Everything
This may be the biggest difference. Gen X experienced computers, phones and the internet arriving one technology at a time. Younger adults have grown up with smartphones as an always-present tool, making some older offline skills less necessary—but also making their recent revival surprisingly popular.
Sources:
- Pew Research Center, 2026 smartphone-use research
- Pew Research Center, cellphone ownership and technology research
- RIAA, 2026 mid-year music industry report
- Michaels, 2026 Trends Report