Maybe you regularly travel back to the past in your mind to relive some of your favorite memories, which is normal and totally healthy, but sometimes it can also make you feel depressed and suck the joy from your present and future, especially if you do it a little too much. Here are 15 signs you’re a nostalgia junkie and how to start living in the present.
1. You love going through old photos.
You’ve held onto thick photo albums of pictures from your past and you love to set them out and go through them. While it can totally be fun to be reminded of old memories, it can sometimes cause you to start looking at the past with rose-tinted glasses. Everyone looks so happy! Why aren’t you now?
2. You have old friends with whom you only share memories.
You’ve got people in your life who you’ve been friends with since you were both kids. You love walking down memory lane together, and that’s pretty much all you do whenever you talk. It’s fun, but don’t let focusing on the past get in the way of keeping up-to-date with each other’s lives right now.
3. You wish you were younger.
Sometimes nostalgia makes you wish you were younger because you tell yourself that life was carefree and fun. But wait — those weren’t the “good ol’ days.” There were stressful things to deal with back then, too. It’s good to remember this sometimes so you appreciate where you are now.
4. You’re always watching old movies.
When you have some time to rest and relax, you always want to watch movies from when you were younger. They make you feel comforted or like you can travel back in time, but they might also make you sad or fill you with a sense of longing. Art didn’t suddenly stop being good as you got older!
5. You talk about your childhood… a lot.
You regularly talk to your partner or new friends about your childhood. It seems like no matter what topic you’re talking about, old memories come up for you. According to Psych Central, if you’re focusing on the past so much, you could be missing out on making new memories to focus on.
6. You cry about your family pet that died decades ago.
You sometimes miss loved ones from your past, like your family dog who passed away when you were 10. That’s normal, but if sad memories from the past are still making you bawl your eyes out as if they’ve just happened, that’s a red flag you could be living in the past too much.
7. You go back to your childhood home or favorite coffee shop.
Sometimes you enjoy heading back to your childhood town, home, or coffee shop. This can be fun, but check that you’re not trying to recreate your past. It will disappoint you because you’re not that person anymore. Instead of trying to recreate memories, start making new ones with the people in your life.
8. You forget about all the negative stuff from your past.
If you love being nostalgic, it can make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, but if you only remember positive things, then you’re viewing the past with rose-tinted glasses. You might even think your life’s not as happy, but that’s not necessarily true. Think about ways in which your life is better now to give yourself a more realistic view.
9. You miss who you used to be.
Maybe you’ve changed a lot since you were a kid or teenager, which is good! But instead of missing who you were or what you were doing in your life back then, remember that you’re a different person and see how you’ve grown. Who you were then would be stoked about who you’ve become.
10. You obsess about your first romance.
Sometimes you remember your first love, which can be funny and sweet. But if you’re always thinking of your first romance to the point of wishing things had been different or you could send them a message on social media to reconnect, you could be romanticizing the past too much. You’re trying to find a place that doesn’t exist anymore.
11. You worry things won’t be as good as they used to be.
Do you sometimes feel like you’ll never be as happy or life won’t be as fun as when you were younger? You’re totally ignoring all the cool things that could be ahead of you in the future. Don’t block it off. Your life’s not over and you’ve still got a lot of living to do.
12. You only listen to music from the past.
Maybe you’re not into music that’s popular today, but you fill your Apple Music playlists with music from your past. Nothing wrong with that, but don’t let an obsession with the past keep you from fully experiencing the music, movies, and fashion of today. One day, you’ll look back on these days, so make them rich with experiences!
13. You feel down when thinking about the past.
If you’re exposing yourself to the past every day, it’s not going to feel so good. It might make you feel down and depressed (according to Healthline, this is called nostalgic depression) because you’re living in memories and it’s a lonely place to be. Try to focus on the present and what you love about your life, friends, and work. This will ground you back into the moment.
14. You’re holding onto nostalgic clutter.
Do you have tons of clutter? Maybe your walls are littered with old photos or you’ve got tons of childhood clothing items in your wardrobe that are taking up space. While it’s good to keep some special pieces from the past, it’s not cool if they’re taking over your living space. It’s time to clear the clutter so you can free up some space in your home and mind for your future.
15. You feel panicked about never being able to go back to the past.
When you think about the past, you might feel panicky that you’ll never be able to go back to it. This can be unsettling. It’s a sign that you’re feeling trapped or unhappy, but instead of trying to go back to the past, think about how you can improve your life, right now in the present. That’s all you have, so might as well make the most of it, right?
