If you’ve ever felt like you just survived a busy day (or week, or month) and are already dreading the thought of Monday, maybe you’ve found yourself wondering how you can actually sit back and enjoy life. In that respect, there are many lessons to be learned from the French and their unique lifestyle.
Here are some ways you can begin to apply those principles immediately to your daily life.
Art appreciation
Few have mastered the appreciation of art like the French people. Developing a passion for art allows you to broaden your perspective and experience different cultures and methods of storytelling. It also enhances your confidence in self-expression.
Many proponents of the French lifestyle take matters a step further and bring art into their homes. With a mix of vintage and new, you can combine antique or vintage fireplace mantels with contemporary paintings and infuse your home with the eclectic French aesthetic.
Curate your wardrobe
Many of us are faced with an increasing cost of living which limits housing, among other things. The French have dealt with space constraints for a long time and developed the practice of curating their clothing to come up with a capsule wardrobe.
This is by staying fashionable with a few quality pieces instead of filling out entire closets. In general, this principle of quality over quantity, ‘less is more’ and making the most of what you have can be extended to various aspects of daily living.
It eliminates many of our small everyday worries and frees up your willpower and other resources to really enjoy life.
Deliberate meals
With our busy lives, it’s all too common for meals to be treated as an afterthought – a basic necessity to be filled with the convenience of takeout or delivery, eaten while we watch TV or catch up on social media.
Not only does this contribute to an unhealthy diet, but it also deprives you of the joy of true socializing and ritual preparation. You may not be ready to plan a multiple-course French dinner every day, but you can start taking small steps towards healthy practices.
Cook more of your own food, and devote the time to planning healthy meals with fresh ingredients you find at a farmer’s market. Share your meals with good friends and family, and keep away all electronic devices to appreciate the food and company.
Reading and conversation
Among the people you know, how many still devote their time and effort to the forgotten skills of reading and conversation? While e-readers and audiobooks certainly offer ways to be productive while on the move, taking the time to read a physical book focuses your concentration and improves comprehension.
Reading, in turn, stimulates your intellectual curiosity and elevates your conversation beyond the realm of casual small talk. Both of these skills are an essential part of what makes the French so mindful and meaningful.
Move at your own pace
Underlying all these principles – finding the time to appreciate food and art, improving your appearance and conversation in small ways – is the slow-and-steady approach of the French towards life. Remove the focus from productivity and multitasking.
Find time to take walks around the neighborhood, for example. Work on your relationships and learn how to build trust back in a relationship. You can only begin to find joie de vivre when you can enjoy the simple and still things in life.
There are many other tips to make the French lifestyle work for you. Keep on implementing small improvements and better practices every day to maximize your enjoyment of life.