French Women Lifestyle Tips from Abroad! Live a Happier Life

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The French lifestyle is enviable. It seems all the French women have it together! Fresh faces, stylish outfits, French bread, and croissants. Paired with daily strolls through their busy cities and peaceful parks, it’s a lifestyle we all dream of. How is it possible and how can you live the French Lifestyle every day? 

There are some key elements that French women live by that most modern Americans may have forgotten. 

These French Lifestyle tips are breaking free from the boudoir right here and now! 

1. French Lifestyle Means Minimalism

With soaring housing prices, real estate being picked up by rich foreigners, availability is slim and space is at a premium! You wouldn’t believe the typical size of the apartments in Paris. My research shows studio-size condos range from 150-300 sq ft. With such small living spaces, French people have to be very selective about what they bring into their pied a terre. Living a French lifestyle necessitates lots of thought about what you need and what you can do without.

Over time, you will naturally gain a mental shift and a more discerning eye. All the money you will save will create a sense of security and accomplishment. Your monetary burdens will melt away. 

2. To French Women, Fashion is a Lifestyle

The height of fashion in the loveliest city in the world… My Paris apartment didn’t have a closet. There were a few drawers and a railing was cut into the wall. French apartments aren’t even built with closets. People must buy themselves an armoire. Not much will fit into a 2-foot-wide armoire.

Think about your lifestyle and challenge yourself to buy practical, versatile, high-quality items that will last a lifetime and not just a single season.

Put it in perspective: 5 winter coats that cost $200 each? Wouldn’t you rather invest in a single, classy Burberry wool trench? You will wear it proudly for a decade. When you’re out and about, don’t spontaneously pick up items that you have not planned into your wardrobe.

Check out these comfortable shoes! You’ll love how perfectly stylish they are.

Think… Are you happy and proud of your daily outfits? The value of feeling put together to make you feel good all day long. I now have a classic wardrobe full of awesome staples, and I splurge on a designer handbag every couple of years. Inspired by French women and French fashion. A nice coat, bag, and shoes will make you feel and look like a million bucks.

3. French Women Appreciate Cleanliness

Keep your house and your workspace tidy. You will feel like you have more space when everything has its place. 

French women and French families deal with smaller spaces, making cleanliness even more important. 

A clean home enables a peaceful mind. Clutter and a dirty house are mentally taxing. Clean your space, sit back and admire all the shiny, beautiful surfaces.

4. French Lifestyle Beauty

Au naturel finds its origin in France for a reason. French women wear a minimal amount of facial beauty products.

Sunscreen and bronzer are basic staples. A little bit of mascara and lipstick give that extra pop. They take pride in their skincare.

They do not wash their hair every day and they do not strip their hair of its natural oils. Apple cider vinegar is used in place of conditioner and it gives their hair a spectacular shine. The less you wash your hair, the healthier it will be, is their motto. Avoid using chemicals like hairspray, as they dry out your hair and also attract dirt.

Health is important to the French lifestyle and they avoid chemicals, even if it’s in the name of beauty.

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5. French Lifestyle Exercise

My nearest grocery store in Paris was 2 miles away from my apartment. I loved my shopping experience, but after 2 months, I figured out just how much I could cram into my sack. I averaged 12–14 miles a day, according to my pedometer.

A Parisian lifestyle is more involved than you might think. It’s tougher, but it’s rewarding. Most people living in the heart of Paris don’t have a car. There are no Metro stops on every corner either. Metro stations can be sporadic in some areas, and the lines do not all connect. Exercise is naturally built into the French lifestyle.

We take natural movement for granted here in the US.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to dinner instead of driving, and challenge yourself to achieve a certain level of exercise without hitting the gym. You can start small. A leisurely walk to get a coffee doesn’t seem too bad, does it?

Cut out the gym and enjoy a nice walking chat with a loved one. It will bring you closer to each other, as we have way too many distractions in our lives. Walk around your city and take in all of the wonderful, unique experiences it has to offer. Appreciate the sights and smells and soak up the vitamin D. Look forward to your walk and be rewarded with endorphins.

6. French Women Indulge in Their Culture

Art, wine, architecture, and fashion there’s something special for everyone. When you take pride in something, you value it so much more.

‘Stop and smell the roses’ is alive everywhere in Paris. Enjoy your wine in France. Can you believe that, in restaurants, a glass of wine is cheaper than bottled water? Vive la France!

You will notice that the sidewalks are lined with small bar tables in Paris. People appreciate being outside and being part of the moving scene. This is not surprising considering the size of their apartments.

In Starbucks, you will be handed a real ceramic mug because you are expected to sit and enjoy your coffee experience. All around Paris, you will see young and old people chatting over flowers, perusing the markets, or playing a game of bocce ball. Taking the time to enjoy life.

So many of us cram our days with to-do lists. Which do you value more? Sitting alone with your computer or chatting with a friend at a local coffee shop? Appreciate the changing world around you instead of staring at your bedroom wall. Create a community of support for yourself, and you will learn more about yourself.

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7. French Women Appreciate Food

French eat the freshest possible. Most meals are bought the same day they will be consumed. Local merchants and markets are visited daily. You get to know these merchants by name and are greeted like a cherished friend.

In France, you are expected to bag your groceries with sacks you bring from home. Rarely do you see people in grocery stores with shopping carts, as they will most likely have to carry it all by hand? This automatically limits your purchases. Fridge and freezer space are hot commodities in homes. You will never see a bag of frozen chicken tenders because that bag would fill your freezer. Strange concept, right? It seems a lot healthier to skip the chicken nuggets.

Try shopping daily instead of loading up the freezer with processed foods. A delicious roasted chicken would be so much tastier and healthier.

Lunch or a ‘Linner’ is the biggest meal of the day. You will find that most stores close for 2 hours during lunchtime. Mealtime is for relaxation and proper digestion, not for shopping. In the evening, leftovers, cheese, fruit, and soups are often consumed instead of a big meal.

Here in the States, we can’t take a longer lunch break than work allows, but eating your main meal at noon is still a good option! You will have all day to digest and process all the calories, and you will sleep better at night with less food in your intestines.

8. French Love to Indulge!

There is less temptation and less consumption of empty calories as most French people’s pantries are void of snacks. For that reason, French people truly indulge in restaurants.

Paris is the holy land of cuisine. If you are consuming less daily, you have way more wiggle room when it comes to splurging. A pre-fixed menu usually includes wine and a dessert, the French never skip either, especially when crème brûlée is on the menu.

Skip the box of tasteless cookies and look forward to some chocolate mousse instead.

Pastries, croissants, and baguettes. Bakeries are on every street corner and are thriving businesses in France. The French people still depend on the bakery for their daily bread. When you add more movement, you can eat more.

9. French Women Make Time to Travel

The French have it a bit easier with a mandatory month vacation every year. We might not have that luxury, but we can all dream. The Eurorail system makes it a lot easier to get around to neighboring countries. We can’t mimic their travel, but, there is an important lesson to be had; take time to explore.

Every one of us Americans lives in a beautiful state with untold wonder. Take the chance to see something new. Google search ’strange hotels’ in your state to see if anything creepy or even elegant shows up. In Colorado, we have the infamous Stanley Hotel. It was featured in the movie ‘The Shining’. Craft shows, festivals, and fairs are also a great way to get out of your element.

I like to think of the French as collectors of experiences.

I was slightly jaded in a smoky café, sipping a café au lait. That’s my 5-year plan. There’s a lot to learn from people that are thriving in a culture that’s slightly more difficult in comparison to an American lifestyle. I have seen endless amounts of women carrying bags of groceries and a stroller and then 10 flights of stairs to conquer. They have to go through that routine every time they go out, but somehow they make it work.

Breathe the fresh air, taste your food, enjoy your friends, and make time for actual living instead of simply completing motions.

Live it By Breathing It!

If you’re ready to completely indoctrinate with yourself with all things French, start by watching the movie ‘Amelie’. It’s a lovely comedy about a woman who tries to manipulate people’s lives around her for a better existence. The cinematography naturally lends itself to how the French view the world around them, and it’s captivating and unique.

Next, take the ‘reading’ step. Pick up ‘Stuff Parisians Like’ by Olivier Magny. It’s a hilarious take on the way Parisians see the world around them. With this book, you are walked through every aspect of being a Parisian. Written by a native Parisian, it quickly became a bestseller. Helpful ways to not ‘stick out’ while vacationing in Paris are also addressed. Who knew that ordering café au lait at night was rude? This book had me laughing the whole way through. Read it before your next vacation!

Ernest Hemingways’s A Moveable Feast. My Aunt had my cousin and I read it prior to our stay in Paris’ Mouffetard. This is where Mr. Hemingway spent all of his time in Paris and wrote A Moveable Feast in homage to the culture. He describes flavors, smells, and the environment in such an incredibly dreamy way that you feel transported to Paris.

Hemingway’s descriptions of the cities and famous encounters with the likes of Ezra Pound will keep you dazzled. Passion surrounds him through his struggles, and Paris guides him to the light, once you’ve seen Paris, you hold it with you always.

Penguin French Phrase Book Grab this book to learn everyday French. It’s a great gift or an easy way to brush up before you go abroad. Available in various other languages.

For the Kids:

If you’re looking for a fun French classic to enjoy as a quick read or to read to your kids at night, pick up ‘The Little Prince’. The ‘Author’ in this book crashes into the desert and is greeted by a little boy. This little boy has been on many adventures to other planets, meeting various flawed characters. Ultimately, the boy is looking to return home to his beloved rose, which is the source of his happiness. This book has been popular for decades, and because of that, Netflix recently released the story as a movie. It’s a gorgeous tale of love, friendship, dedication, and determination.

I hope that you take these tips to heart! Opening your eyes and experiencing the world around you will always lead to creativity and innovation.

What have you learned from experiencing a different culture? Did those experiences stick with you? How do you reinvigorate your creativity? I would love to know! Have these French Lifestyle tips inspired you?

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Questions and comments are always welcome. I hope this post inspired you.