Welcome to “From my journal to yours,” the column where I’ll share ideas designed to spark reflection, inspire creativity and encourage you to dive into your thoughts. Each entry is an invitation to pause and reflect. Let’s explore together, one question at a time.
Why does nostalgia make us feel better?
Our obsession with the past says a lot about how we’re coping with the chaos of the present and feeling grounded in a world that’s always online.
Nostalgia for the past isn’t just something we’re all yearning for. Research states that it’s also beneficial. The University of Florida says that nostalgizing has positive impacts on one’s self-esteem, happiness, deep understanding of one’s personal journeys and encouraging authenticity.
Whether you’re yearning for the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s or even the 2010s, nostalgia is something we can all relate to. So why do we nostalgize?
People often get nostalgic when they’re stressed about life or dealing with depression. During the pandemic, a series of studies found that isolation made people extra nostalgic. In a time when simple connections like going to the grocery store, school and work were disrupted, many longed for better times and easier days.
I know I was nostalgic for 2016 during the pandemic — the good old days of listening to Lil Uzi Vert’s album Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World with friends and watching mannequin challenge videos on social media.
Lately, I’ve found myself feeling nostalgic for 2000s-2010s fashion. I was nine in 2010, and I still remember how much I adored the outfits my mom wore to the office back then. Over the summer, I worked as a service receptionist at a local dealership and finally got to live out my own “business casual” moment. My mom and I spent weekends thrifting, and I ended up finding a few totally 2000s pieces that feel like full-circle moments every time I wear them.
It’s funny how fashion always loops back around. What used to feel dated or “cringe” is suddenly cool again, and I’m always here for it. The black & white flower skirts, the chunky jewelry, flowy dresses with whimsical designs — it all feels nostalgic in the best way!
I still have my iPod Touch — it’s defunct now — but that tiny screen felt like a portal to the whole world. Now, I have Spotify and 68 playlists to match every mood, but there was something magical about having just a handful of songs you played over and over, like “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry. I miss the rhythm of those simpler days — trading Sillybandz with friends, weaving rainbow loom bracelets, flipping through “Seventeen,” “Tiger Beat” and “J-14” like they held the secrets to growing up. Everything felt smaller then but somehow more special.
Maybe that’s why I keep reaching back to the 2010s — not just for fashion or music, but for the feeling that life used to move more slowly. Part of me misses the patience of that time; in today’s digital age, everything feels instantaneous — and we’ve all become less patient because of it. I miss having a version of myself that didn’t need to be constantly connected. Maybe that’s what nostalgia is really about — not longing for trends but remembering the peace we once felt.
What’s your current nostalgic vibe? Your thoughts are my favorite read. Email me at [email protected]!
Marissa Hunt is a junior at UT this year studying journalism. She can be reached at [email protected].
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
