I Became a 1990s Man Again. And it Made Me Happier and Richer.

More than a love letter to a forgotten era

Photo courtesy of author

This story isn’t about nostalgia.

It isn’t even about retro technology or grunge.

It is about taking back control. Of work. Of life. Of time.

And, strangely enough, I have done that by becoming a “90s man” in 2026.

I began my professional journey in the 1990s. Reflecting on it, I consider the 1980s the most thrilling era of my life, mainly because I was a kid then.

Those years were filled with dreams, long afternoons, music, friends, and a vague sense that my future would turn out fine.

I was one of those kids who had no idea what to do with their life.

Then the 1990s arrived.

And suddenly I had to become more serious about everything.

Rethinking Technology

Recently, more than thirty years later, I have that same feeling again.

In hindsight, the decision to become a 90s man had been hanging in the air for a while now. Maybe it was unavoidable.

My life had become dominated by digital tools. I would start answering an email, and before I had finished the…