Feel good, French style

Freshly back from Paris, my spirit is full with the images and impressions of the City of Light. Winter casts a soft glow on the banks of the Seine, the sunlight bringing a luminescent hue to palaces and buildings. Steam fogs café windows as urbanites and tourists cozy up to hot chocolate and chestnut cream pastries. Parisiennes hustle and bustle in the cold, darting into new “fast-food” eateries for a soupe bio (organic soup) or into their favorite boutique to take advantage of the early January soldes (the bi-annual time of year when stores go on sale).

I have always been fascinated by the richness of my two cultures, French and American, comparing the lives and philosophies of my French and American friends. Each culture remains distinct; but increasingly, modern life and technologies mean a certain homogenization.

My French girlfriends share many of the same stresses as their American counterparts: juggling between roles as professionals, mothers, wives, friends and caretakers to aging parents; getting to the market and yoga class despite a looming work deadline; creating the life that truly suits them, in harmony with one’s constraints and responsibilities.

What are some of the ways the Parisienne solves these pressures? Here are the tips inspired by my observations:

1. Alternate pockets of work with pockets of rest.

My French friends work hard, putting in days as similarly intense as my American friends. Yet, they seem less harried and more focused. I attribute this state to regularly scheduled breaks. Be it the morning coffee, lunch in the cafeteria, Sunday family lunches or a ski trip each February, the French way of life values rest and relaxation as the natural counterpoint to work and productivity.

Americans may not get 5 weeks of vacation, but we can schedule a break or two into our day or our month, leaving Blackberries and guilt behind. Worktime will be more efficient as you create the balance you crave, moment by moment.

2. Cultivate daily interaction.

There are dozens of opportunities a day to interact with those around us. A natural tendency when we get stressed is to ignore everyone. We go about our business plugged into our ipod or barely mumble a word to the barista each morning. This creates a strange feeling of disconnect, no matter how many e-mails we’ve sent that day.

The French, on the other hand, congregate at cafés or the office coffee machine, exchanging and sharing de vive voix (in person), and less by instant messenger or e-mail.

Back in Manhattan, I try to create these moments of connection by consciously greeting and engaging those I interact with, from cashiers to security guards to colleagues. This anchors me in the moment and grounds me in my daily life, instead of being lost in my thoughts and to-do lists.

3. If you don’t feel gorgeous, fake it.

La Parisienne is known around the world for her seemingly effortless sense of style. Yet my French girlfriends also have days where their pants feel tight and their hair won’t stay in place. I admire them for fighting back.

Instead of reaching for stretchy pants and sneakers, la Parisienne ups the ante, reaching for the special dress, killer pair of heels or of-the-moment jeweled headband which will make her feel pretty and confident even if all she wants is to crawl back into bed.

The next time you’re feeling lackluster, grab your favorite heels or new red lipstick. Igniting your inner sense of gorgeous helps you fake it until you’re back in the saddle.

Stay tuned next week to discover why French women are wowed by their American counterparts.

Live épanoui*!

Elisa

* in full bloom