This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn money or products from the links in this post at no additional cost to you. Please check out my full disclosure policy
If you have ever visited France then you know their daily life and the heart of French culture is much different than life here in America. There are many cultural differences between the two countries.
In the United States, we live very fast-paced lifestyles. Our daily routines are very career-centered and focused more on achievements. In France, they live more slowly and focus on enjoying being around their friends and families.
There are other, more noticeable differences like the official language spoken, cultural events, and the cuisine. If one were a Francophile or simply loved the French way of living, how could they embrace this lifestyle?
Learning how to incorporate French culture into your everyday life will lead to a slower way of living.
Your daily routine will be less about your career, marking things off your to-do list, and rushing through life and more about taking your time at lunch, meeting up with friends and family, and enjoying the simple things around you.
12 Ways to Incorporate French Culture into Your Everyday Life
If you are daydreaming of a more French lifestyle, incorporate some of these ideas into your everyday life and routine.
1. Stop Eating Lunch at Your Desk or in Your Office
French people wouldn’t dare stay at work and eat lunch while continuing to work. Absurd!
The French love to take a long lunch with good food and wine and enjoy the company of friends or co-workers. It’s important to get out of the office during your lunchtime. Take a long lunch from time to time if you can!
2. Learn to Cook French Cuisine
If there is something the French pride themselves on it is cooking. When it comes to meal time, they love a good cooked meal. Many French people also enjoy cooking at home
One of my favorite things I have ever cooked was homemade French onion soup. My husband was a huge fan as well!
Learning how to cook some of your favorite French cuisines is a great way to incorporate French culture into your life. You will have fun and may also learn to cook some of your favorite meals!
Related Post: What Inspired Me to Fall in Love With France + The Culture
3. Take a Vacation
One of the best ways to de-stress is to take a vacation! The French holiday (June, July, August) lasts about a month. We can’t imagine having a vacation for that long! Take as long of a vacation as possible- 2 weeks to a month if possible! Save your time throughout the year so you can take a longer vacation.
Be sure to completely forget about work, unplug while you’re on vacation, and enjoy your time doing absolutely nothing.
Soak up the sun, have some fun, and spend time with your friends and family (and maybe make some new friends). You will come back to work refreshed and ready to work hard.
4. Have a Glass of Wine… Or 3
Drinking wine is a social activity in France. The important part of drinking wine is how, with whom, and when.
Drinking wine with lunch or dinner is typical. The French love to have a good glass of wine to eat with their meal, This is different from the before-dinner drink (aperitif) and after-dinner drink. Wine is usually reserved for drinking with dinner.
Wine is best enjoyed by sipping it slowly and chatting with good friends during a meal.
5. Don’t Be in Such a Hurry
The French way of life is a slow one. They understand how important it is to slow down and enjoy life. They understand the importance of proper work-life balance. Living a beautiful life means that you spend your days off doing things that you love and enjoy.
American cultures are fast-paced with a blurred line between work-life balance. Learn how to live more slowly and enjoy your free time doing things that make you happy, spending time with family, and having a lot of laughs with those you love. Be intentional with how you spend your time.
6. Try to Hang Dry Your Clothes
The French know a thing or two about laundry. Dryers can be very harsh on our clothes and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Line drying (or using a drying rack) will do less damage to your clothes!
On nice days, dry your clothes outside. Otherwise, invest in a drying rack to hang your clothes on in the house to dry them. The French are careful with their delicate clothing. It saves money and makes your clothes last longer!
Related Post: Why the French Love Baskets + What to Use Them For
7. Learn Some French
Learning a foreign language can be so much fun! The language of love is so beautiful, and you will feel more French than ever by incorporating French language skills into your life. Learning some French is perfect for preparing for your next visit to a French-speaking country.
There are many language learning apps, YouTube videos, or even French language courses that can help you with your French language learning.
A fun way that I enjoy learning French is by watching French cinema, reading French literature, and listening to French music. This is easier if you watch, read, or listen to movies, books, or songs that you know in your Native language.
Grab some simple French phrases below to get started!
8. Visit Museums and Learn About Your Country and Culture
With amazing French art (like paintings by Claude Monet), galleries, and museums throughout France, it is normal for French people to visit these places often.
From the French Revolution to World Wars and more, France has had a long history. Their rich history has a story to tell and is taught in many different ways throughout the country.
Learn more about where you are from, your own culture, and the history around you. Visit some art galleries and museums where you live.
Learn about past and current affairs in your country. Engage in cultural activities! Participate in some interesting traditions within your culture. You will learn so much.
9. Learn to Stroll
Learning how to stroll is the perfect way to incorporate a little bit of French culture into your life. Take a stroll downtown with nowhere in particular as the destination.
Window shop, grab an ice cream or other type of treat, find somewhere to eat, or find something special to buy for yourself. We don’t always have to have a destination when we go out places.
Take it slow, stroll through town, be an observer, and let the places around you pull you in. Enjoy your freedom of time without being in a hurry.
10. Learn to Say No
Do you feel like you can’t tell people no? Does saying yes to everything make your life overwhelming and burdened with obligations?
Learning to say no and not trying to please everyone will benefit your mental health. It will lead to fewer obligations which means you will be less stressed and overwhelmed!
The French feel very comfortable telling people no. Whether it’s to start a debate or it’s saying no to something they don’t want to do, they don’t bat an eye.
Adding no to your vocabulary more regularly will make you feel more free! It will also make you feel a little more Frenchy than usual.
Related Post: My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream
11. Enjoy Sundays
Spending Sundays with your family or doing something you enjoy is a fantastic way to spend the day! In most places in France, working on Sunday is forbidden! Most businesses (except in major cities) are closed on Sundays by law.
In French society, spending Sundays visiting family, eating a large meal, taking naps, and enjoying the day is what Sundays are meant for. You won’t catch a Frenchman working on a Sunday unless they live in a larger city like Paris (or other tourist cities).
Visit some family (or those who are like family) on Sundays. Have a big lunch together and enjoy each other’s company. You will be glad you did!
12. Practice Self-Care
The French believe it is important to practice acts of self-care. You should strive to make it a daily routine to do something that you enjoy and that makes you happy.
We often spend too much time doing things that do not serve us or make us happy. We need to spend more time being intentional and doing things that we know will bring a smile to our face and joy in our hearts.
Take time to de-stress, spend time with your thoughts, and don’t spend too much time worrying about what others think of you. Spend some time alone, spend time with others, but most importantly, spend time doing something that will make you happy.
13. Baguettes and Desserts
There is something about fresh bread and fresh desserts. There’s something even more amazing about French baguettes and French desserts. You can try making your own bread at home! It is a fun experience and tastes amazing fresh out of the oven.
If you aren’t that adventurous, try to find a local bakery that makes bread and homemade treats! I can usually satisfy a craving for a French dessert at a local bakery that makes amazing eclairs and macarons.
Whenever you are missing France and the wonderful experiences you had there, a delicious dessert can usually fill the hole.
France was a “love at first sight” place for me. I have always loved the culture since I was a little girl, but seeing it in person made me fall in love all over again!
Grab your free-printable below.
Do you have any other ways that you love to incorporate French culture into your life? I would love to hear about them!
I am always looking for ways to make my life feel more French inspired.
Until Next Time,
Catherine
Leave a Reply