Self-Care Routines for the Francophile

One of the things I love coaching women on are self-care routines they can adopt from the French. French women know a thing or two when it comes to taking good care of themselves, and their routines are definitely worth giving a try if you’re seeking to pamper yourself and improve your sense of well-being.

French Girl’s Self-Care Routine

French women have long displayed what seems to be an effortless approach to looking and feeling beautiful.

Their “je ne sais quoi” has become famous around the world and revered in beauty magazine after beauty magazine. Whether it’s their coveted skincare products or their stylish wardrobes, French women seem to know and have it all.

The reality is that, like most modern women, French women lead busy lives as mothers, wives, daughters, career woman, etc. They have many of the same obligations that women elsewhere around the world do.

So how do they seem to maintain such a relaxed attitude and look so fresh-faced despite modern day responsibilities?

Well, it’s all about having a great self-care routine!

Self-Care in the U.S. vs. France

One thing that I really noticed when I lived in France is that French women always make time for themselves. Take something as life-impacting as having a baby.

In the U.S., most parents prep for the arrival of their baby by rearranging their homes, routines, and lifestyle to accommodate the baby. Once the baby comes, there’s even more sacrifice and often neglect of themselves in favor of the baby and meeting his or her needs.

In France, French women make an intentional point of incorporating the baby into their life rather than the other way around.

Sure, their lifestyle may not be exactly the same as it was, but for the most part, they ensure that they uphold many of their previous daily routines, hobbies, and interests just as they were.

Self-Care Daily Routine

Having a cup of water first thing in the morning or getting 8 hours of sleep are all helpful, and in the case of the latter, often very necessary to your overall well-being. That said, having a self-care daily routine like a French woman is more about having the right attitude and mindset.

For instance, taking a bubble bath in the evening is one of many self-care routine examples that is beneficial and great to have. That doesn’t mean, however, that it has to be a bubble bath for it have the same effect.

You could choose to curl up with a book, sit down with a glass of wine by the fire, go for a walk, put on a facial mask, or cook a nice meal for yourself.

It’s more important that you find the the activity relaxing and enjoyable. More importantly, you should be carving out the time each day to do something that is purely for you and meeting your needs.

You deserve to feel fulfilled, satisfied, comfortable, joyful, and pampered. When you feel that way, you naturally exude a more calm and attractive demeanor, and this my friends, is the real secret to that French woman “je ne sais quoi!”

Best Self-Care Routines

Like many of my clients, when it comes to starting a self-care routine, you may feel a little bit lost.

As women, we have become so accustomed to nurturing others and putting ourselves on the back burner, that when it comes time to doing something for ourself, we’re at a loss of what to do.

To get the ball rolling and get you into a routine of incorporating self-care routines into your life, try out some of these favorite French girl activities:

• Make a cup of hot tea or coffee and sit down to enjoy it for 10 minutes
• Take a hot shower or bath
• Dance to your favorite playlist for 10 to 15 minutes
• Do 15 to 20 minutes of yoga or gentle stretches
• Light a candle and do a beauty routine you enjoy (a mask or home manicure)
• Get into your softest, comfiest pajamas
• Spray your pillow with some lavender
• Paint or sketch something
• Try out a simple DIY or craft project, or knit
• Journal in a notebook, beginning with a daily gratitude list
• Meditate for 10 minutes
• Go for a 20 minute run
• Take your dog out for a walk or take yourself out for a walk
• Take yourself out for a nice meal
• Buy something that is purely for your joy and personal satisfaction (rather than practical or necessary)

How to Incorporate Self-Care Routines on a Consistent Basis

Perhaps the most important part of having any kind of self-care routine is actually being consistent with it.

Similar to the way French women often hold onto habits that they grew up learning, or using products their mothers and grandmothers have also used for years, they are very good at maintaining consistency with their self-care practices.

If you lead a busy life, or you’re just not very good about staying organized with your routines and being intentional with them, then a self-care routine checklist may help you.

I give many of my clients a self-care checklist that I crafted to help them stay on top of their self-care routines.

I instruct them to print out the checklist once a month and pin it up somewhere they frequently regard. It could be their office desk, their bathroom, their kitchen fridge…it doesn’t really matter where as long as it’s somewhere they see on a daily basis.

This way, they can keep track of how much self-care they’ve been practicing each week. If they see it’s nearing the end of the week and they haven’t done any self-care activities, its a reminder to pick an activity and incorporate it into their schedule.

If you decide to give any of these routines a try, let me know how it goes for you.

And if you struggle with implementing self-care practices in your own life and want the one-on-one assistance to come up with a personal game plan, feel free to apply for a complimentary consultation with me.