It’s completely natural to miss the periods of your life when you felt happy, free, and optimistic about your future and that of the world. So, when things feel exceptionally difficult and pessimistic, it’s a breath of fresh air to temporarily put on your rose-colored glasses and have a good laugh when remembering the past.
The ‘British Nostalgia’ Instagram account helps you do just that. It does exactly what it says on the tin and shares funny, classic, and nostalgic British memes. We’ve collected some of the best pics to share with you, and you’ll probably find them very relatable, whether or not you’ve ever lived in the UK.
#1
Image source: britishnostalgia
#2
Image source: britishnostalgia
#3
Image source: britishnostalgia
One of the most fascinating things about nostalgia is that, in some cases, it doesn’t just focus on your personal recollections. You can actually yearn for a time period in history that you haven’t personally experienced.
In other words, you might have a deep desire to live in a period of time before you were even born.
This phenomenon is known as anemoia.
#4
Image source: britishnostalgia
#5
Image source: britishnostalgia
#6
Image source: britishnostalgia
Based on the findings of philosopher Professor Felipe De Brigard, from Duke University, nostalgia can include your yearnings, not just your recollections. According to him, memory is a creative process, BBC Science Focus reports.
“When you recollect memories, it’s not like you’re looking up a recording of what happened, it’s more like your brain creates a simulation of those past events.”
#7
Image source: britishnostalgia
#8
Image source: britishnostalgia
#9
Image source: britishnostalgia
“In this way, De Brigard argues that nostalgia can be based on memories – simulations of pleasant past experiences – but doesn’t have to be. Given the role of imagination in memory, he says it’s not a huge leap to propose that nostalgia can also be based on imagined positive past experiences,” BBC Science Focus explains.
#10
Image source: britishnostalgia
#11
Image source: britishnostalgia
#12
Image source: britishnostalgia
As per BBC Science Focus, this type of imagination-based nostalgia is likely to be influenced by a variety of sources, such as stories and propaganda about the past.
“So it’s quite likely that you’ve read or heard rose-tinted accounts of historical periods or places. Based on those accounts, your mind creates a simulation of what those places or times would have been like and you then feel a yearning to experience them for yourself.”
#13
Image source: britishnostalgia
#14
Image source: britishnostalgia
#15
Image source: britishnostalgia
You are more likely to yearn for a past that you see through rose-colored glasses if you’re feeling dissatisfied with your present.
The reason why anemoia can, at times, be problematic is that some populist movements might use it to promote their political agendas. In short, they might promise returning to the ‘good old days,’ even if they are merely a figment of their imagination.
#16
Image source: britishnostalgia
#17
Image source: britishnostalgia
#18
Image source: britishnostalgia
“Older populist voters might be inspired by conventional nostalgia, for times they really did experience (that’s not to say their memories are necessarily accurate). But many young voters also seem to be susceptible to nostalgia-based propaganda and anemoia helps to make sense of this,” BBC Science Focus stresses.
#19
Image source: britishnostalgia
#20
Image source: britishnostalgia
#21
Image source: britishnostalgia
Overall, nostalgia can be quite beneficial if you have the discipline to engage with it in moderation. But it has its share of downsides, too.
On the positive end of the scale, nostalgia can help you fight off existential dread, counter-balance feeling lonely, and remind you of your roots. Reminiscing about the past can also fill you with optimism and hope and help you weather your current challenges.
#22
Image source: britishnostalgia
#23
Image source: britishnostalgia
#24
Image source: britishnostalgia
The Guardian writes that nostalgia can be actively therapeutic and affirm your ties with your family, friends, and partners. “People with nostalgic tendencies feel more loved and protected, have reduced anxiety, are more likely to have secure attachments and are even supposed to have better social skills.”
And yet, if you rely on nostalgia too much, you might find that your opportunities in the present slip away and your current relationships suffer. Yearning for the past, the ‘good old days,’ and your personal ‘glory days’ at the cost of your current and future quality of life isn’t the right way to go.
#25
Image source: britishnostalgia
#26
Image source: britishnostalgia
#27
Image source: britishnostalgia
The ‘British Nostalgia’ social media project, a United Kingdom-based account, was first created all the way back in June 2018.
It currently boasts a solid 141k followers on Instagram who love the fact that the curator posts funny memes and pictures full of British nostalgia to their feeds. At the time of writing, the account has shared over 1,400 nostalgic and relatable memes about British life.
#28
Image source: britishnostalgia
#29
Image source: britishnostalgia
#30
Image source: britishnostalgia
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments at the bottom of this post, Pandas! Which of these memes did you like best? What decade do you miss the most? Have you ever lived in the United Kingdom, or do you currently live there?
What do you love the most about your life there? On the flip side, where do you think there’s room for improvement?
#31
Image source: britishnostalgia
#32
Image source: britishnostalgia
#33
Image source: britishnostalgia
#34
Image source: britishnostalgia
#35
Image source: britishnostalgia
#36
Image source: britishnostalgia
#37
Image source: britishnostalgia
#38
Image source: britishnostalgia
#39
Image source: britishnostalgia
#40
Image source: britishnostalgia
#41
Image source: britishnostalgia
#42
Image source: britishnostalgia
#43
Image source: britishnostalgia
#44
Image source: britishnostalgia
#45
Image source: britishnostalgia
#46
Image source: britishnostalgia
#47
Image source: britishnostalgia
#48
Image source: britishnostalgia
#49
Image source: britishnostalgia
#50
Image source: britishnostalgia
#51
Image source: britishnostalgia
#52
Image source: britishnostalgia
#53
Image source: britishnostalgia
#54
Image source: britishnostalgia
#55
Image source: britishnostalgia
#56
Image source: britishnostalgia
#57
Image source: britishnostalgia
#58
Image source: britishnostalgia
#59
Image source: britishnostalgia
#60
Image source: britishnostalgia
#61
Image source: britishnostalgia
#62
Image source: britishnostalgia
#63
Image source: britishnostalgia
#64
Image source: britishnostalgia
#65
Image source: britishnostalgia
#66
Image source: britishnostalgia
#67
Image source: britishnostalgia
#68
Image source: britishnostalgia
#69
Image source: britishnostalgia
#70
Image source: britishnostalgia
#71
Image source: britishnostalgia
#72
Image source: britishnostalgia
#73
Image source: britishnostalgia
#74
Image source: britishnostalgia
#75
Image source: britishnostalgia
#76
Image source: britishnostalgia
#77
Image source: britishnostalgia
#78
Image source: britishnostalgia
#79
Image source: britishnostalgia
#80
Image source: britishnostalgia
#81
Image source: britishnostalgia
#82
Image source: britishnostalgia
#83
Image source: britishnostalgia
#84
Image source: britishnostalgia
#85
Image source: britishnostalgia
#86
Image source: britishnostalgia
#87
Image source: britishnostalgia
#88
Image source: britishnostalgia
#89
Image source: britishnostalgia
#90
Image source: britishnostalgia
#91
Image source: britishnostalgia
#92
Image source: britishnostalgia
#93
Image source: britishnostalgia
