Chasing 90s Summers: Why Nostalgia Is Calling Us Outdoors

It seems like everyone is seeking nostalgia right now. All over the internet, I'm seeing people trying to replicate the 90s experience. Gen Z is buying old digital cameras to replace their smartphones, and parents are swapping Netflix for PBS and even VHS movies. We're yearning for a time that felt simpler and less technological, despite the constant innovations and advancements we're seeing in technology.

Perhaps the most nostalgic thing we can do is go outside. Simple, I know — but I think that's the point. Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, I distinctly remember coming home from school, setting down my backpack, and heading straight back out the door to play with my friends until it was time for dinner. We played in the woods behind my childhood neighborhood and created imaginary play spaces between the trees and vegetation. We didn't need a screen, a toy, or an agenda — we just needed the opportunity to be kids, be outside, and use our imagination.

As I get older, I'm drawn to doing things that make me feel like a kid again.

I've started participating in sports I played in my youth, I bought a home phone for my house, and I try to de-schedule my life as often as I can. Most importantly, I want to spend more time playing outside.

Here at Nature and Human Health Utah, we know not everyone plays outside in the same way. Some people traverse mountains, while others play with the garden hose. Some throw on their skis, while others make snowballs in the front yard or local park. Some train for races, while others slow down and enjoy their only moment of peace sitting in a patch of grass. The fact is, it doesn't matter what you do, so long as it brings you joy. In a 2024 article, Joanna Bettmann Schaefer, co-leader of NHH-UT, reported that a meta-analysis found just 10 minutes outside can reduce depressive symptoms in adults — regardless of activity or setting. That means training for a mountain bike race or simply playing with your kids in a grassy area can offer the same mental health benefits.

So take this as your permission slip to keep things simple. Be nostalgic. Play tag with your kids or your adult friends. Grab a jump rope and get some exercise while soaking in the fresh air. Grab a set of chalk and lose yourself in art while listening to the birds chirp. Often, simplicity is what makes being outside accessible — you don't need a car full of gear or a full day off work, and you don't need years of experience or training. Sometimes all you need is some childlike curiosity, imagination, and a yearning to step away from the screens and into the fresh air.

Summertime is the best time to be nostalgic. There's nothing better than cooling off in the sprinkler, watching the sky turn cotton candy pink as the sun sets, and spending as much time outside as possible (when it's not 105 degrees and smoky out — but that's a topic for a different blog).

Get outside. Do what brought you joy as a kid. See what changes in your life.