It’s funny how the world changes — not all at once, but little by little, so subtly you barely notice until one day, you look around and realize something’s missing.

I’ve been around long enough to remember a time before smartphones, before GPS, before the internet was in our pockets.  

Back then, we relied a lot more on ourselves — our memory, our instincts, our hands. These weren’t remarkable skills, just part of daily life. 

Somewhere along the way, many of them quietly faded into the background. 

It wasn’t intentional. Technology came along and made things easier, faster, and more convenient — and in doing so, it slowly took over certain tasks we used to do without thinking. Now, those little habits, once second nature, are starting to feel almost… foreign.

Today, we’re taking a moment to reflect. To look at a few of those simple, everyday skills that have quietly slipped away as technology stepped in.

Let’s get into ‘em. 

1. Remembering phone numbers

When I was a teenager, I had at least a dozen phone numbers rattling around in my head. Maybe you did, too?

From my best friend’s home line to the video store, all it took was a little repetition, and you’d have that sequence locked in. 

These days, I barely recall my own daughter’s number, simply because it’s all tucked away in my phone’s contact list. One tap, and voilà.

It might not seem like a big loss, but remembering details—like phone numbers—exercises a part of our brain responsible for memory retention and focus. 

A study by Kaspersky Lab even found that many people now rely on digital devices so heavily that they experience what researchers termed “digital amnesia.” Essentially, it means we’re outsourcing one of our core cognitive functions to our smartphones.

I’m not saying we should toss out our phones and go back to pencil-and-paper address books. But I do think it’s worth occasionally testing our recall—maybe try to commit a few key numbers to memory again. 

2. Reading maps by hand

I still remember the thrill of planning a road trip in my younger days. I’d sit down at the dining room table, unfold a big, colorful map, and trace my finger along highways and back roads. 

Then off I went. If I got lost, I’d pause at a gas station, ask for directions, and maybe even chat with a friendly local. That was part of the adventure!

Today, I just punch an address into a navigation app, follow the voice directions, and hope the satellite signal doesn’t cut out. 

While I certainly appreciate not having to wrestle with a massive map that refuses to fold back neatly, I can’t help but feel we’ve lost a bit of our spatial awareness and problem-solving by handing over navigation duties to technology.

If you ever want a fun challenge, take a drive with the GPS off (at least for a short distance) and see if you can make your way around based on memory or a paper map. Who knows, you might even discover a hidden gem of a café or a scenic overlook you’d otherwise have bypassed.

3. Doing quick mental math

There was a time when figuring out the tip at a restaurant, calculating change at the store, or doing quick back-of-the-envelope math was just part of everyday life. 

In fact, I still remember balancing a checkbook at the kitchen table, calculator-free — just a pen, paper, and a bit of focus.

Now? Most of us instinctively reach for our phones. 

I’ve seen folks pull out a calculator app just to add two numbers together. It’s not laziness — it’s just how we’ve adapted. With technology always within reach, we don’t have to flex that mental math muscle anymore.

But here’s the thing: doing simple math in your head doesn’t just help with numbers — it sharpens attention, builds confidence, and even keeps the brain young. In fact, some experts believe that crunching numbers can delay age-related cognitive decline.

I’m not suggesting we all ditch calculators cold turkey, but maybe next time you’re figuring out a discount or checking a bill, give it a shot the old-fashioned way. You might be surprised at how quickly it comes back.

4. Writing letters and thank-you notes by hand

When was the last time you sent—or received—a handwritten letter? 

For me, it’s now mostly holiday cards or the occasional note to an old pal who isn’t quite so active on email. But there used to be a certain joy in opening the mailbox and seeing an envelope with your name scrawled in a familiar handwriting. You could almost hear the writer’s voice as you read their words.

Today, instant messaging, social media, and email have replaced much of that personal touch. 

I’ll confess: my typing speed is infinitely faster than my cursive writing these days, but every now and then, I realize how special a handwritten note can be. There’s something about physically forming each letter that makes you slow down and truly think about what you’re saying. It’s a tangible expression of care—time and effort captured on paper.

5. Engaging in face-to-face conversations without distractions

Let’s finish on perhaps the most important one on this list. 

Picture this: you go out to dinner with a friend, and halfway through the meal, you glance around the restaurant. Almost everyone is on their phone—texting, scrolling, taking photos of their food. Sound familiar?

Not so long ago, if you were bored or had a lull in conversation, you simply dealt with it. Maybe you asked your friend a random question or mused about the dessert menu. These small gaps in dialogue were opportunities to connect or reflect. Now, we fill them instantly with digital stimulation.

Of all the skills being lost, I think genuine, undivided attention is the one I miss the most. 

I’m not saying we should toss our smartphones into the nearest lake, but we could all stand to be a bit more mindful. Maybe put the device on silent for half an hour while catching up with an old friend, or resist the urge to scroll through social media when there’s someone right in front of you. 

The slow, open-ended conversations we used to have aren’t just nice memories; they’re critical for building empathy, deepening relationships, and honing the art of listening.

Parting thoughts 

Let’s face it: technology isn’t going away, and I’m grateful for it in more ways than I can count. It connects me with family far away, lets me share photos with friends, and even helps me share my thoughts like this!

But in the process, we’ve let certain simple abilities slip through the cracks—skills that, in their own quiet way, enriched our daily lives.

The good news? Most of them aren’t truly lost. 

We can still remember phone numbers if we try, we can dust off an old atlas for a mini road trip, and we can certainly write a thank-you note by hand the next time we feel particularly appreciative. These little gestures may seem old-fashioned, but they inject a level of human touch into our hurried, tech-saturated world.

And maybe that’s the real point—not to turn back the clock, but to remember that we have the option to slow it down now and then. To choose intention over convenience once in a while.

Because in those small, deliberate moments—when we rely on our memory, our sense of direction, or just take the time to do something with our own two hands—we reconnect with a part of ourselves that technology can’t quite replicate.

So here’s to keeping a few old skills alive. Not out of necessity, but because they still have something valuable to offer.

Thanks for reading.