Here's why they say, "Live like the French."
- Shivangi Angra
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 6
From Quiet Luxuries to Delectable Croissants: How to Live Like the French!
When people dream of the perfect getaway, it’s usually somewhere in France. The euphoric atmosphere, picturesque scenic spots, and a glimpse of European lifestyle attract tourists to France from all over the world. The French have a way of leaning into the moment. They eat slowly, walk places, and enjoy the silence. They’ve mastered the idea that joy doesn’t have to be loud to be real—it just has to be felt!
They practice the art of romanticizing everyday life—freshly baked baguettes, leisurely lunches, and sips of rich espresso. The French know how to prioritize quality over quantity in all aspects: meals, friendships, and clothing. There’s no pressure to rush, and certainly no guilt in taking your time.
The Fine Art of Finding Balance
From a young age, the French are taught something many of us had to Google in our 20s: balance. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s their baseline. Work-life balance is real—where even lunch breaks are protected by the law. Employers respect personal time. You can’t just fire someone on a whim. This creates a conducive work culture where organizations plan better, innovate smarter, and employees aren’t mentally and physically drained by the age of 35.
They’re not repulsed by ambition, and their finish line is not burnout. Maybe we’ve forgotten how to do that amid our hustle.
Fresh Ingredients, Refreshed Soul
Look around in a French supermarket and see what’s missing: bright and artificial colors in food, long ingredient lists in processed items, and the use of neon. Additives like synthetic citric acid or artificial hues like Red 40 are scarcely used. Snacks are meant to be savored; they aren’t engineered to be addictive. Most of their everyday meals are made from freshly picked raw ingredients from the farmer's market and seldom from their kitchen gardens.
Breads are baked daily. Cheese comes from a region, not a lab. It’s not a health trend but a standard. Junk food is not considered a cool trend.
Perseverance, Not Perfection
So what’s the plot twist? Well, they smoke. They have wine at lunch. But the good news is that it doesn’t derail their lifestyle. These things aren’t considered rebellion or vice but a part of everyday life. Wine is not for drama; it is for unwinding at lunch or dinner. Flaws are allowed. Everything in moderation—even indulgence.
Pleasure isn’t treated as a one-way ticket to a guilt trip; it is tastefully enjoyed with the aid of moderation. They don’t cater to black-and-white choices; the French have made their peace with the greys.
Bringing French-Style Living Home
Cultures across the world—whether in South Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America—already carry traces of these habits. Growing up in households where chai breaks are sacred, where neighbors dropped by without a calendar invite, and where family meals lingered long after the last bite was taken. But somewhere in modern minimalism, we traded slow afternoons for round-the-clock hustle.
The French haven’t abandoned their pauses; they’ve redesigned them. They’ve turned what many of us now call “self-care” into an inexcusable daily habit. Maybe we don’t need to import the French lifestyle entirely—we just need to reclaim the parts of our own cultures that already valued presence over performance.
Small Shifts for a Big Change
Start with smaller shifts. Let your mornings stretch beyond a hectic “to-do list.” Take out five extra minutes for yourself. Cook something simple and relish it—without the background noise of a screen. Avoid rushing, find small joys in walking, and pause when life feels too fast.
This lifestyle isn’t perfect. It’s just more present. There’s less pressure to perform and more room to just live. Prioritize deep thinking and craft—not endless productivity. Success is built on refinement, not volume. Light a candle even if you’re eating alone. Eat dinner at the table. Romanticize your routine. Protect your joy. And lastly, have loads of fun!
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