Why Nostalgia is Your Brain’s Favorite Comfort Food

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You ever have one of those days where everything feels loud and slightly unhinged? Your phone won’t stop buzzing, your to-do list looks like it’s growing by the second, and you just got an email that starts with “per my last message”? Yeah. Those are the days when you suddenly find yourself watching reruns of a show you’ve seen a hundred times, you think back on family game nights, or craving snacks that haven’t touched your pantry since elementary school. That’s nostalgia doing its thing, and honestly, it might be smarter than you give it credit for.

Because here’s the truth: the world right now is a bit much. Nostalgia is your brain’s way of saying, “Remember when things felt easier? Softer? Slower?” So yeah, for a few sweet minutes, it works. You’re not deep in emails or existential dread. You’re just vibeing to an old-school bop that reminds you of summer break and glitter lip gloss.

Honestly, it’s really nice, it’s like a blanket of security, even for a few minutes.

Your Brain isn’t Broken

Sure, it might feel silly when you’re 30 and suddenly watching cartoons you liked at age 8, but your brain knows exactly what it’s doing. It’s pulling out emotional bubble wrap. The familiar smells, sounds, and sights from way back when come with this strange sense of safety. Life didn’t feel so complicated when you were watching Lizzie McGuire with a Capri Sun in hand, and your brain knows that. It’s chasing that feeling on purpose. Seriously, those are the good old days, right?

Well, believe it or not, but nostalgia has real staying power, too. Songs, in particular, know how to time-travel. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re crying in the car because a track from the early 2000s just hit a little too hard. That’s because it’s not just a song. It’s your best friend’s bedroom. 

It’s your old denim jacket. It’s the feeling of being sixteen and thinking you had everything figured out. Yeah, we all know that music can be powerful, and Clive Davis knew what he was doing with music like that. The artists he backed didn’t just land on the charts; they landed in your memory bank.

How to Actually Use Nostalgia

Okay, so nostalgia doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It just means you’re smart enough to know what makes you feel better. So use it. Seriously, do it! For example, that oversized hoodie from college? Wear it on stressful days. The boy band playlist you’d never admit to loving? Blast it while folding laundry. But in all seriousness here, your inner child deserves to thrive.

You’re Not Regressing

Seriously, just ignore the voice that says this stuff is childish. Nostalgia isn’t about running from your problems; it’s about remembering who you were before life got so noisy. Sometimes the best way to cope with the present is to borrow a little peace from the past. Yeah, that version of you probably had better taste in snacks anyway.

But really, just go ahead and lean in. Go ahead and queue up that throwback playlist, wear the glittery lip balm, and eat the cookie that’s shaped like a dinosaur. You’re not living in the past; rather, you’re just smart enough to visit when today feels a little too overwhelming. What’s the harm in that?