8 Lessons From France In How To Live Well
- Helen
- Oct 10, 2018
- 5 min read
Updated: May 23, 2019
The French seem to have a certain, 'je ne sais quoi' when it comes to living life and living well. I am not talking about stereotypical French passions here but about their appreciation of what matters.
For the past ten days I was undertaking a house-sit in a beautiful part of the South-West of France. The experience was relaxing and the whole area was tranquil, leaving a sense of calm serenity.
I truly felt I had achieved what I had set out to in escaping the usual rat-race of modern day living.
As a result, my remote work productivity in fact increased...
While relaxing into the atmosphere and culture of my surroundings I couldn't help but wonder that perhaps the French really do know how to approach life.
Perhaps we should all be a little more French in how we live....
Now before you start putting on your best French accent and grab your beret and a string of garlic, let me expand...
8 Lessons From France In How To Live Well
1. Quality of Life Surpasses Profits...
The region of France I was visiting was an area popular with tourists. Many of the businesses around the towns and villages rely on the tourist industry as their source of income.
Tourists to the area predominantly visit from countries and cultures in which shops, restaurants and other businesses now adopt a 24 hour opening philosophy.
In France, however, local shops and businesses will close down for two hours in the middle of the day - a time when plenty of potential customers are still milling around keen to spend their Euros.
Time from work-life to rest, eat and enjoy the company of friends and family in the middle of the day is a higher priority to the French people than the opportunity to make another buck.
This attitude I found admirable, refreshing and healthy.
So many today are driven to keep working if there is money to be made and forget to stop and appreciate life around them.
2. Put Away Screens
Notable for it's absence in France was seeing people with mobile phones or other electronic devices at every turn.
Very rarely did I see a person glued to their mobile phone or other small screen.
The French commonly enjoy sitting outside cafes, bars or restaurants in the middle of the day and in the evenings.
Unlike in the UK and other countries today, these communities were chatting to one another or happily people watching. Individuals enjoy their immediate company and the environment, rather than being absorbed in an internet world.
This felt like a welcome step back in time and people seemed calmer and more in tune with their surroundings.
3. Slow Down
Overall the whole pace of life was much slower in this region of France. People were not racing to get from A to B with heads down and shirt tails flying.
There was less of a sense of urgency all about.
In shops, the bakery and post office the locals are very happy to queue and then have a friendly conversation with the assistants.
There is no annoyed tutting, no impression that other people have more important places to be.
Life seemed to be about the here and now... sedate, not rushed and appreciated.
4. Preserve and be Proud of Architecture and Heritage
The villages, towns and cities in France are predominantly made up of older style and traditional buildings that have lasted through the generations.
Unlike some other parts of the world this old style architecture is being preserved.
There are few PVC windows to be seen and no pre-fab housing developments.
The French keep their heritage strong in their buildings and as a result the environment has maintained it's beauty and history.
Imperfections are not to be avoided but celebrated and embraced!
5. A Glass of Wine a Day Keeps the Doctor at Bay!
It is certainly no secret that the French know about wine.
As one of the world's oldest and still largest producers of fine wines it should be no surprise that the French people enjoy sampling their produce.
In our modern society alcohol is commonly seen as the devil, with people warned of the dangers of drinking too much.
However, the French seem to have managed the balance of wine consumption well.
Drinking a glass of wine with a leisurely lunch (during their two hour lunch-break!) is common, perhaps even expected.
Maybe this is why the French way of life is more sedate and relaxed!
6. Good Things Come in Small Doses - The Art of Moderation
Despite enjoying a glass of wine; the French understand the art of moderation.
They commonly sample a glass of wine with lunch and they also enjoy excellent coffee.
In many modern cultures today coffee is commonly served in the soup bowl sized mug and wine in a bottle sized glass!
In France this is not the case.
Wine is served in moderation in small sized wine glasses and even when ordering a cafe creme (cappuccino equivalent in France) the size of your cup might leave you wondering if you falsely ordered an espresso!
The French seem to understand the concept of quality over quantity and that bigger is not always better!
7. Support Local Businesses
Throughout the towns and villages I explored on my recent French trip it was also notable that in France they have managed to stop commercial giants taking over.
Local and independent businesses offering unique and personal services thrive.
You will not find a Starbucks or Costa on every town corner...
Yes, they do have McDonalds but generally these are on the outskirts of main towns, alongside hypermarkets or industrial estates.
This ensures that each town and village is preserving it's unique face and offerings. Local businesses are not being forced out.
8. Communities Can Work Together
The French towns and villages also share a sense of community spirit.
The people of these communities seemingly come together and work as one when it matters.
Bars and restaurants in the same small towns who would otherwise be seen as direct competition to one another, deliberately alternate their days off each week to ensure at least one provides an ongoing service to the community.
I also visited a small town called, St Cyprien, during my visit.
This beautiful village was the host of the Felibree Festival of 2018.
A different village is selected to host the festival each year.
The festival involves decorating the entire village with hand-made flowers which are strung up between the buildings creating an amazing spectacle.
In order to prepare for this event, the people of the village come together to painstakingly make these decorations. This process takes six months.
Working together as a community in this delightful part of France seems, not the exception, but the norm.
Overall, this visit to France caused me to pause and reflect on what is wrong about the rat-race modern society we live in today.
Why did France feel so different to this?
Above are 8 lessons I took from this French trip -
What do you feel could be added?
Are there French customs or ways of living you would like to see more widely adopted?
Why not comment and start a conversation!
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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