90 Days on a 90s Diet: Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions

Vanessa Bland takes us through her experiment of living like it was in the 90’s: no social media, no contemporary film and tv – just cutting down on the unhealthy stress of today’s culture.

Over the past three months, I’ve been experimenting with a new kind of diet. It’s not about food though—it’s about cutting down on a different sort of unhealthy consumption. I hadn’t realized just how much the 21st century had been affecting my mind and body. Anxiety, depression, and that strange combination of feeling both exhausted and overstimulated had crept in quietly, but steadily. Like many people, my nervous system was overwhelmed by the fast-paced world we live in.

I’m old enough to remember the "before times" (perhaps older than the average Grapeshot reader?) — before social media, the 24-hour news cycle, streaming, mobile phones, and reality TV. But before I lose you (since modern attention spans are measured in nanoseconds), I’ll get to the point. I decided to embark on an experiment: a brave return to a 90s lifestyle. I made up the rules as I went along, and to my surprise, I started to feel less stressed, more energetic, and overall happier. Here’s how it went:

TV and Movies

First, I tackled TV and movies. After watching a particularly disturbing episode of Baby Reindeer (you might know the one I mean) and feeling a bit queasy afterward, this was the catalyst for my whole “diet”. My rule was simple: I’ll watch nothing made after 2005. I could’ve drawn the line at 2000, but I think the early 2000s still carried some of that 90s lag. I stuck with streaming services (RIP video rental stores), but I watched shows and movies from the 90s and earlier. To my surprise, I developed a newfound appreciation for 1950s horror films (especially the ones with Vincent Price!) and rekindled my love for 80s comedies.

You might be wondering, what’s wrong with modern shows? For me, it’s hard to pin down exactly. Where today’s shows often strive to be cutting-edge or make sharp social commentary, older shows were simpler and more peaceful. They weren’t trying to push boundaries—they were just entertaining. Of course, some things feel dated, but many hold up remarkably well. Some of my favorite rewatches included Daria, To the Manor Born, When Harry Met Sally, Winnie the Pooh, The House on Haunted Hill, DuckTales, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

And no, TV shows set in the past but filmed today don’t count— for example Derry Girls, while hilarious and set in the 90s, is still firmly a product of our modern era. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy plenty of modern TV and movies. But this was about resetting my nervous system, and modern shows often leave me feeling more wired than relaxed. They stimulate us with special effects, high drama, and thought provoking messages. I just want to relax while watching TV though. I don’t plan to stick to this 90s-only rule forever, but I’ve found that taking a break from modern content has been like cutting back on junk food. It’s fine in small doses, but I don’t want to consume too much of it!

Mobile Phones

Next, I addressed my phone. In the 90s, mobile phones existed (duh), but smartphones didn’t. While I considered switching to a dumb phone (and still might), for now, I simply deleted all my social media apps and restricted my phone use to calls and texts. At first, I caught myself instinctively reaching for my phone, only to remember the apps were gone. Over time, I broke the habit, and now I don’t even miss them.

The one exception I made was for podcasts and audiobooks. I was selective, sticking to very chill podcasts, and I only listened to audiobooks published before 2000. I’ll probably return to modern audiobooks eventually, but for now, I’m enjoying the classics. My recommendations are Anne of Green Gables and The Wind in the Willows.

The Internet

The internet was around in the late 90s, but it was a far cry from what it is today. I decided that I had to be selective with my internet usage. No social media, no Wikipedia. I allowed myself email and internet banking since those existed back then. I bent the rules for my studies, as I need to access iLearn and the library for my coursework. I also permitted myself to read online magazines and journals, but I limited how much time I spent on them—just an article or two a day, preferably on less stressful topics.

Music

While I initially focused on music from the 90s and earlier, I soon found myself obsessed with ABC Classical radio. Their playlist isn’t exclusively old, but classical music—whether new or old—lacks the lyrical weight of modern songs. I think the key difference is that streaming services let you skip tracks too easily. In the 90s, you had to listen to whatever was playing on the radio or your CD, which cultivated patience. If I were going to listen to modern music during this experiment, I’d stick to the radio.

News

For me, the news is the most stressful part of modern life. Yes, news has always been doom and gloom, but now it’s 24/7. We’re bombarded with tragic events on our news feeds, and studies have shown that watching traumatic events on TV can sometimes even cause more stress than being there in person [1]. Watching wars unfold, hearing about murders and disasters—it’s constant. I decided to go cold turkey: seeking no news at all. I occasionally catch updates on the radio, and that’s enough. If I were more of a news junkie, I’d subscribe to a daily newspaper or limit myself to one 30-minute news program a day—just like in the 90s.

The Results

It might sound like I’ve put myself in a bubble, but I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. Over the past three months, my anxiety has dropped, and my happiness has risen. This experiment may not work for everyone, but for me, the 90s felt like the right decade. For others, it might be the 2000s or even the 2010s. My advice? Make your own rules and give it at least a month. Good luck :)

SOURCES

Holman, E. A., et al. “Media’s Role in Broadcasting Acute Stress Following the Boston Marathon Bombings.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 111, no. 1, 9 Dec. 2013, pg. 93–98, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1316265110.