The I Totally Remember That Instagram account has been around since 2017 and has amassed an impressive 34K followers. It shares plenty of memes, photos of old-school items and videos that might instantly transport you back in time. For example, I completely forgot about those electric pencil sharpeners that we had in school that would turn your pencil into a dangerous weapon in mere seconds.     

Seeing photos of the original Game Boys flooded my mind with so many memories as well. Regardless of what decade you grew up in, we hope that this list will bring back some fond memories for you too, pandas. And let us know which photos you totally remember!  

There’s nothing better than eating a treat that reminds you of childhood or smelling sunscreen that takes you back to beach trips as a kid. I can almost feel the sand between my toes when I get a whiff of that strong SPF! But why exactly do we love feeling nostalgic so much?

According to Valentina Stoycheva, PhD, nostalgia is more than just a yearning for a place we miss, it’s also a yearning for our past selves. “We crave to feel the positive emotions that we felt, to connect to the version of ourselves we were at the time we are reminiscing about,” Dr. Stoycheva writes for Psychology Today. “Perhaps we felt more carefree, perhaps we felt joy or a sense of accomplishment, or perhaps we felt loved and more connected to our loved ones.”

Apparently, items from our past can also serve as “transitional objects,” meaning they can help us feel safe and comfortable. If you have a favorite stuffed animal from childhood or a baby blanket that you still keep safe in your bedroom as an adult, you know just how powerful these nostalgic items can be. They not only remind us of simpler, more peaceful times, but they can actually help us feel more calm today too.

Dr. Stoycheva continues to explain that humans have a tendency to reach for nostalgic items and memories when we’re not feeling particularly well. Especially when we’re feeling lonely, it can help to reminisce about past times. When I move to a new place, I always find myself doing this, especially during the transitional phase when I don’t have many friends in the area yet. I tend to look back on the past and remind myself that I can always get to an equally happy place again, it just might take a bit of time.   

On a similar note, most of us have a habit of romanticizing the past. “If only I was born in the ‘70s, I would have had the BEST style!” Or, “The ‘80s was the best decade for music; it’s just not the same today!” While this is perfectly normal, The New York Times notes that we should remember that “the good old days” weren’t necessarily much better than today.

Felipe de Brigard, a professor of philosophy, psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, told The New York Times that romanticizing the past is actually a coping mechanism. “You have to carry your past with you. If a memory hurt every time that you recalled it as much as when you experienced it, that would be unbearable," he explained. This is also why we often look back on our past relationships only remembering the good parts of our exes, and we might even forget why the breakup happened in the first place. 

But just because your memory isn't always the most reliable source doesn’t mean that your good memories should be dismissed. Being able to enjoy parts of your past is a beautiful thing, and you should hold onto those great memories, especially if they’re serving you. 

“Nostalgia is an important psychological resource,” Anne Wilson, a professor of psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, told The New York Times. “People can dip into the past, especially when the present is not sustaining them.”

We hope you’re having a great time looking back on these reminders of the past, pandas. Keep upvoting the pics that bring back great memories for you, and let us know in the comments below what you miss from those simpler times. Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article featuring photos from way back when, we’ve got the perfect list for you right here!