Ten French Habits You Should Practice in Your Daily Life
From their fashion, to their skincare, to their cuisine, people from all over the world strive to emulate the French – but what can we actually learn from the French lifestyle? After living in France for a few years ourselves, we’ve compiled a list of French habits that we think everyone should incorporate into their daily routine. Whether you live in France or elsewhere in the world, here are ten things you should be doing the French way.
1. Enjoying fresh bread
Making regular trips to the local boulangerie for bread is a quintessential part of French life. There’s really no better way to upgrade a meal than to serve warm, freshly-baked bread on the side. Head to your local bakery, or even try your hand at bread making, to bring this delicious French habit to your table. It’s a scrumptious way to skip consuming preservatives meant to extend the shelf life of breads on grocery store shelves!
2. Airing out your home
The next time you’re thinking about turning on the air conditioner at home, try opening up a window instead. Aérer, or ventilating, your space will lower humidity, get rid of stale smells, and evacuate allergens all while regulating the temperature and letting in a pleasant breeze. The French appreciate the benefits of bringing fresh air inside all year long.
3. Saying yes to dessert
How many times have you refused when the server asks if you want to see the dessert menu? Until we moved to France, we generally only ate dessert in restaurants on special occasions. However, the French love ending their meals with a sweet treat! Whether you’re craving ice cream, cake, or even a strong coffee, having dessert is the French thing to do.
4. Getting close to your friends
French people aren’t afraid to show affection to their friends, and la bise is a great example. Greeting people with light kisses on the cheek is a custom that foreigners don’t always understand, but there’s something to be said about the platonic intimacy that the French build into their friendships. By physically connecting with consenting friends, even through acts like handshakes and hugs, you can strengthen your relationships à la française.
5. Starting with hello
In France, starting a conversation without a polite bonjour is a serious no-no. Now that we’re accustomed to saying hello before launching into an exchange, we know the value of starting off a chat on the right foot. To prioritize respect and consideration like the French, try kindly greeting your interlocutor before asking them anything else.
6. Advancing your intellect
Checking out the museums that abound in French cities is one way that French people enjoy cultivating their minds. After all, improving your culture générale, or general knowledge, is a distinctly French way to spend your time! Head to a museum near you or take a virtual tour of a museum in France to get cultured and Frenchify your day.
7. Overcoming everyday frustrations
The French deal with daily annoyances, like transportation strikes, unannounced store closures, and endless bureaucracy, with grace. Those of us with a tendency to be uptight and stressed can learn a lot from the French inclination to be relaxed and let inconveniences roll off their backs. When you feel irritated, try taking a page from the French’s book by telling yourself, “It’s not that serious!”
8. Shopping locally
Shopping at marchés and supporting local businesses are non-negotiable for many French people. Making the effort to buy produce from a local farmer, meat from a local butcher, and cheese from a local cheesemonger for a single meal is not at all uncommon. The next time you’re shopping for your household’s needs, lean into investing in your local community like the French.
9. Eating in season
C’est la saison ! In shops and on menus all over France, you’ll see seasonal foods highlighted with this phrase throughout the year. Finding figs in February or mandarine oranges in June is a rarity, meaning the French tend to plan their meals around eating food that’s in season. Not only does in-season food taste better, but it’s more nutritious, and better for the environment, so you should definitely give it a try.
10. Walking when you can
The French proclivity for traveling on foot has many benefits for the body and mind. Walking improves your mood, lowers stress levels, and can even help you sleep better! If you don’t live in a city that allows you to walk to accomplish your daily errands, taking a stroll around your neighborhood works just as well. Skip the car and use your own two feet to add some Frenchness into your day.
What are your favorite facets of the French lifestyle? Which French habits will you incorporate into your daily routine? Let us know in a comment!
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