The Baby Boomer Generation Demographic Influences on Organized Living
The baby boomer generation are the children of the silent generation and the parents of
Generation X. Organized living challenges include not only their own stuff but also
people's stuff.
Baby boomers are literally sandwiched between the clutter of their parents and their offspring.
The baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. The term "boom" was used to describe the
massive increase in population after the second world war.
This large population cohort was raised by the members of the
silent generation (born prior to 1945) and
were significantly affected by their parent's pattern of thinking to keep material goods for future purposes.
The baby boomers were probably the first generation with a realistic expectation to "do better" than their
parents! Unfortunately they never learned from their parents how to purge their possessions,
after all the silent generation would never think of throwing anything away!
At the same time that their parents were telling them to "wear it out or use it up" the media was conducting a
massive marketing campaign telling boomers that their lives
would be improved if they only had more of everything!
Accumulating more and more without giving up
anything is the recipe for clutter!
Boomers are also the parents of
Generation X (born 1965-1981).
The term sandwich generation is sometimes used to referred to the boomers because they are sandwiched in between
the older silent generation and younger generation X. We see this influence in their clutter profile.
Two significant clutter challenges are:
Aging parents - as life expectancy increases the silent generation is living longer than even they expected too.
Boomers are now faced with not only looking after their parents but all their stuff as well.
Boomerang children - Generation X is not giving their parents a break as quickly as was anticipated.
Instead of growing up and moving out of the house the gen X children are staying in the family home much longer than previous
generations and once they do leave they come back several times before finally parting for good!
The baby boomer generation is literally surrounded by stuff!
Such are the demographic influences on the baby boomers when it comes to organized living.
Every body deserves a good laugh! At least the boomers can laugh at themselves!
Stumble It!
