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I’VE LIVED IN EUROPE FOR NEARLY SIX YEARS NOW.

Anytime there’s a lot of news coming out of the United States, like the upcoming Presidential election, I get in my feelings about the differences between life in my home country vs. life in the place I currently call home.

People are always asking me if I like Germany “better” than the U.S., and my answer never changes:

Neither the U.S. nor Europe is “better” than the other; they’re both great, just different.

BEYOND THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS, THERE’S NO DENYING THAT THE LIFESTYLE OF EUROPEANS IS ASPIRATIONAL FOR MANY AMERICANS.

Just look at the success of a show like Emily in Paris – the idea of escaping America for a chic life in a European capital is an enduring fantasy that goes all the way back to Benjamin Franklin.

Even Gen-Z is rediscovering the American dream of Europe, opting for gap years or extended stays abroad.

Do you want to embrace a European mentality before embarking on a visit to the continent?

OR MAYBE YOU SIMPLY WANT TO LIVE LIKE A EUROPEAN AT HOME?

Either way, I’ve put together a list of European lifestyle secrets, things that are mostly free and unrestrained by geography.

They’ll help you to better understand European culture, and if you fancy, how to recreate the European lifestyle in America, or wherever you call home.

How to Live a European Lifestyle, when Traveling and at Home

Europeans Lifestyle Secret No. 1 — Lots of Physical Activity

It’s no secret that Europeans embrace a lifestyle full of physical activity.

From highly walkable cities to bike commutes and public transportation, getting from point A to B in Europe is often done without the need for a car.

BEYOND THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF DITCHING THE PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE, THOUGH, EUROPEANS ALSO FIND TIME FOR EXERCISE AND CASUAL FITNESS.

We laugh, because in Germany this often translates to “doing sport.”

But it’s true – “doing sport” is a way of life, whether it’s a casual bike ride on the weekend or an extra long walk through the forest.

And it never really feels like exercise.

In Europe, the goal isn’t extreme fitness or its outcomes, like impressive musculature or thinness.

THE AIM IS STAYING ACTIVE AND ACHIEVING WELLNESS AND BALANCE.

You can embrace this lifestyle secret at home by ditching the car, going on long walks or bike rides, and making an overall commitment to increasing your own physical activity levels.

Europeans Lifestyle Secret No. 2 — Art & Beauty All Around

I’M NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN I SAY THAT ART IS EVERYWHERE IN EUROPE.

Cities are full of historical buildings and manicured green spaces.

Government subsidies ensure a steady stream of performances, museum exhibits, and public installations.

SURE, EUROPE IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT HOW DOES THAT IMPACT ITS RESIDENTS?

Experiencing beauty allows us to feel aesthetic emotions – uplifting, positive feelings – as well as a temporary escape from our everyday experiences.

This appreciation for beauty extends to self-care, too.

Europeans prioritize personal beauty in a way that feels natural and approachable, from wearing lipstick to looking polished for themselves, not for show.

Think about it, how many times have you encountered a story about “French women’s style” in the American press?

We envy Europeans’ proximity to art, beauty, and aesthetics, and their ability to focus on small, meaningful beauty rituals for themselves.

YOU CAN EASILY PUT THIS LIFESTYLE SECRET INTO PRACTICE BY SEEKING OUT ART MUSEUMS OR PERFORMANCES CLOSE TO HOME.

I personally love to take a few minutes for myself before leaving the house to ensure that I’m feeling myself – whether that means adding a swipe of lipstick or a quick dab of concealer.

Europeans Lifestyle Secret No. 3 — Savor Life’s Moments

In the U.S., we’re always rushing from one place to another, to-go coffee in one hand, cell phone in the other.

But in Europe, you’re more likely to see the locals savoring their coffee by taking the time to truly enjoy it.

THEY SAVOR MEALS, TOO.

During my first year in Germany, I tried to schedule a lunch meeting with a colleague.

He scoffed - lunch time was for nourishment, not the time for more work.

IT WAS A LESSON I QUICKLY TOOK TO HEART.

Meals are longer and more languid than the rushed affairs we usually have stateside.

This preference for slowing down and living in the moment also extends to leisure time.

For one, Europeans get a lot of it - usually 4-6 weeks of paid vacation time - which allows them to regularly unwind and focus on their own hobbies and interests.

But more than that, Europeans actually use their vacation time, compared to the 46% of American workers who don’t take all their paid time off.

The internet is already advising people to incorporate this European lifestyle secret into their lives, as posts about how to romanticize your life dominate Tik-Tok.

SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR THE TINIEST INDULGENCES - A COFFEE, A SWEET TREAT, OR EVEN A LEISURELY NETFLIX BINGE.

Europeans Lifestyle Secret No. 4 — Community Over Individualism

FOLKS OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOW LIFE IN EUROPE IS “LESS STRESSFUL.”

If you ask what they really mean by that, they will usually refer to policies like free healthcare and low-cost education that exist across the continent.

European culture often prioritizes the collective over the interests of the individual.

It’s this support for the common good which results in a less stressful day-to-day life compared to the U.S.

Americans are way more individualistic than Europeans, and some will actually look down on the collectivist policies throughout Europe.

ONE OF THE THINGS I MOST APPRECIATE ABOUT LIFE IN EUROPE IS THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN FORMS OF MASS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, LIKE HIGH-SPEED TRAINS.

Though America is (hopefully) beginning to catch-up, most of the twentieth century was focused on investment in highways, the individual’s car-dependent mode of transportation.

This lifestyle secret is tough to recreate for yourself because it really pertains to society-level decisions.

NEVERTHELESS, I’VE LEARNED THAT FINDING AND NURTURING A COMMUNITY IS A CHEAT CODE FOR MORE HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT.

It’s not just about having lots of friends, but bringing them together, sharing ideas and stories across a large group of people and the dynamics that arise out of those connections.

The easiest way to recreate this at home is to have a dinner party, or similar gathering.

Invite friends from different spheres of life, and interesting people you’d like to get to know better.

Europeans Lifestyle Secret No. 5 — Everything in Moderation

One of my favorite quotes is by Oscar Wilde:

“Everything in moderation; including moderation.”

As an American, I often cling to the last two words of that saying, always ready to do things in the extreme.

EUROPEANS ARE THE TOTAL OPPOSITE.

They enjoy wine, food, and shopping but tend to approach these pleasures with moderation.

INSTEAD OF EXCESS, THEY FOCUS ON QUALITY AND SUBTLE ENJOYMENT.

My German friends often point out this difference in the way Americans talk about things we like.

“Why do Americans LOVE everything? Eh? It can’t all be that good.”

It’s a funny observation, but it’s true.

WE AMERICANS LOVE SUPERLATIVES: THE BEST, THE BIGGEST, THE MOST EXCITING.

Europeans are generally more reserved with their emotions.

This moderation even extends to the spending habits of Europeans.

While some may be labeled “cheap,” most are keenly aware of the relationship between price and quality of a potential purpose.

They have no problem buying expensive items, but they do so when the quality warrants the price tag.

AND THEY NEVER FEEL THE NEED TO FLAUNT THEIR PURCHASE.

You can embrace this lifestyle secret but holding off on that second glass of wine or third cup of coffee.

Hold off on the American superlatives and be a bit more demure, and opt for more quiet luxury than flashy opulence.

Europeans Lifestyle Secret No. 6 — Quiet Confidence

IN AMERICA WE CALL IT SWAGGER, IN FRANCE IT’S KNOWN AS SAVOIR FAIRE.

It’s self-confidence, and on the Continent it’s a quiet kind of confidence, self-assured without bragging.

This is deeply ingrained in the culture.

Things like body positivity (built upon the German Freikörperkultur movement), not constantly sharing accomplishments, and embracing one’s own personal style are all common examples of quiet confidence.

EUROPEANS VALUE AUTHENTICITY AND FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN.

This is a hugely liberating mindset to be around, especially as an American who was raised with ideas of keeping up with the Joneses.

I never really feel the need to compare myself with other people, and my friends in Europe don’t either.

You can embrace this lifestyle secret by deciding to be less critical of yourself.

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS, AND REVEL IN THE UNIQUENESS OF WHO YOU ARE, RIGHT NOW.

Conclusion

After almost six years living in Europe, these are the most common lifestyle secrets I’ve encountered time and time again.

If you want to better understand the European mentality before your next trip abroad, or you just want to learn how to act European, this list is the perfect starting point.

THESE EUROPEAN LIFESTYLE SECRETS DON’T COST A PENNY AND CAN BE IMPLEMENTED NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.

It’s no coincidence that so many recent lifestyle trends on TikTok and beyond embrace some version of these lifestyle habits - quiet luxury, demure, romanticizing your life.

Yes, some parts of the European lifestyle have become aspirational, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of reach.

You can absolutely live a European lifestyle in America, or anywhere around the world.

And I hope this list has helped!

Until next time,

xx

Angela

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