I Tried to Live Like a 90s Teen for a Week and Here's What Happened 🎉

Ever wondered what life was like before smartphones, social media, and streaming services? Well, I decided to find out by living like a 90s teen for a week. Spoiler alert: it was a rollercoaster of emotions, from nostalgia to sheer confusion.

So, grab your scrunchies, put on your flannel shirt, and join me on this journey back to the 90s! 🕺

Day 1: The Tech Detox 📵

First things first, I had to ditch my smartphone, tablet, and laptop. Say hello to the landline and the brick-like Nokia phone! 📞 My first challenge was remembering phone numbers and using a physical address book. I spent the evening figuring out how to rewind a cassette tape with a pencil. Spoiler: it’s harder than it looks!

Day 2: Fashion Flashback 👖

I raided my local thrift store for the ultimate 90s wardrobe: baggy jeans, crop tops, flannel shirts, and platform sneakers. My inner Cher Horowitz was thrilled. Walking around, I felt like I had stepped straight out of a Clueless scene. The downside? Finding the balance between fashionably retro and just plain outdated was tricky.

Day 3: Music and Entertainment 🎧

Goodbye Spotify, hello mixtapes and CDs! I dusted off an old boombox and jammed to the Spice Girls, Nirvana, and Backstreet Boys. 🎶 I even caught myself saying, "This is my jam!" unironically. For entertainment, I turned to my VHS collection and watched Friends and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Rewinding tapes manually was oddly satisfying.

Day 4: Social Life Without Social Media 📺

Remember when you had to actually call someone to make plans? I spent the day calling friends on the landline and leaving messages on their answering machines. Meeting up involved a lot of "I'll see you at 3 pm sharp, don’t be late!" notes. Surprisingly, face-to-face interactions were refreshing and more engaging without the constant phone distractions.

Day 5: School the 90s Way 📚

As a part-time student, I tried studying like it was 1995. No online resources, just good old textbooks and the library. Using encyclopedias and handwritten notes brought back memories of simpler, albeit more challenging, academic times. Group projects meant actually meeting in person, which, let’s be honest, was a bit of a hassle but also more collaborative.

Day 6: Gaming and Hobbies 🕹️

No Xbox or PlayStation 5 here—just a Nintendo 64 and a Tamagotchi. I got seriously hooked on Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda. 🗡️ For hobbies, I made friendship bracelets and even tried my hand at some classic 90s DIY projects. My evenings were filled with reading Goosebumps books and sketching in my Lisa Frank notebook.

Day 7: Wrapping It Up 🎀

By the end of the week, I was a mix of relief and nostalgia. Living like a 90s teen was both fun and challenging. It made me appreciate modern technology while also cherishing the simplicity and directness of the 90s. Would I do it again? Maybe for a day, but I’m definitely keeping my smartphone!

Practical Tips:

• Stay Organized: Keep a physical planner for your schedule.
• Embrace Simplicity: Enjoy face-to-face interactions without the digital noise.
• Get Creative: Try DIY projects and physical hobbies to disconnect and unwind.