A Day in the Life of an American in France

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for any purchases made through these links. Click here for the disclosure statement.

This summer I’m completing an internship in France, and my daily routine has changed a lot since being a student in Germany. Maybe it’s the summer season or the French joie de vivre , but I’ve been prioritizing hobbies, soirées with friends and some petits plaisirs. If you have read my blog post I Tried Living Like a Stereotypical French Girl, then you’ll know that I spent ten months in France working as an English language assistant. It dramatically changed my lifestyle at the time, but with the global pandemic and my move to Germany, I gradually lost many of the habits that I gained in France. Now that I am back in l'Hexagone, I am beginning to enjoy my favorite rituals again and finding a better work-life balance.

Although it’s easy to romanticize life in France or another foreign country, there are many downsides to living abroad. Adapting to the culture, language, and way of living can be challenging at times, and I often feel homesick. This post is not intended to glorify everything about being an expat in France. I just hope that you can take inspiration from this routine and discover some of the positive aspects of life as an American in France.

7:00 P.M. La routine du matin

I start off each day with 45 minutes of exercise and stretching. I prefer to workout in the morning when I’m feeling the most motivated. After exercising, I meditate and manifest for 15 minutes. It’s my time to prepare mentally for the day and fuel my mind with positive thoughts. Check out more about my manifestation routine in this post.

Next I take a short shower, then pamper my skin. I’ve been rediscovering some of my favorite French pharmacy products that I used religiously last summer like Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré and La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water. I also make sure to apply a thick layer of sunscreen and reapply throughout the day. After my skincare routine, I apply some light makeup: a tinted moisturizer with SPF, bronzer, mascara, brow gel and lip balm. It’s super easy and effortless plus it makes reapplying my sunscreen a breeze.

After applying my makeup I quickly style my hair (usually adding some spray or doing a low bun). Then I get dressed for the day. Since I’m working from home, I usually sport some comfortable pants and a nice blouse.

9:00 A.M. Le travail

After I spend a few hours preparing for the day, I start work. One of my favorite strategies for a great workday is to « eat the frog » or complete the hardest/most stressful task first. This is usually checking my inbox and responding to emails. Once the task is complete, I continue with my other projects and meetings.

Around 1:00 p.m. I take a one-hour break to enjoy lunch with my roommates. It’s always tempting to eat lunch at my desk while I work, but I try to put my phone and computer away and focus on my meal. Lately I’ve been preparing zucchini noodles with different homemade sauces and salads with summer vegetables.

5:00 P.M. Le happy hour

After completing my work for the day, I enjoy a drink on the balcony. Sometimes it’s a glass of rosé, but most days it’s an iced matcha or a sparkling water. I usually talk with my roommates, but sometimes I’ll listen to audiobook or call a friend. It’s my time to recharge from the work day. 

I used to finish my work for the day, then start finding other tasks to complete instead of taking some time to relax. Now that I live with French roommates, le happy hour has become a daily habit.

6:00 P.M. Les loisirs

I try to make a lot of time in the evening for hobbies. I can easily end up on Netflix for hours, so I’ve made it part of my routine to solely enjoy my hobbies during this time. I’ve made a lot of progress on my personal goals by forming this habit. I usually spend 30 minutes on my blog — writing new posts, pinning, etc. Then I write, play my oboe, and/or study French and German.

7:00 P.M. La promenade

After almost a year of confinement, I’m always excited to spend time outdoors, especially now that the curfew is later and more places are open. When the weather is nice I take stroll through my city. It’s been a great way to find new restaurants and attractions in my area, and it gets me active after a long day of sitting. I’m truly convinced that it is one of the secrets to why the French maintain their shape while eating so much bread, wine and cheese.

Sometimes I’ll spend this time running errands if needed or just enjoy the time outdoors. Recently, I’ve been skipping the walk and opting to bike around my city. Growing up in the suburbs, I never biked on the streets or even imagined using a bike lane. Now I’m much more used to city riding, and it’s another way to get in some exercise while discovering new places.

8:00 P.M. Le dîner

After my evening walk (or bike ride) I prepare dinner. I used to eat dinner around 5:00 p.m. when I lived in the U.S., but after my first year in France, I started to eat later in the evening. Although I’m no longer eating coursed meals like I used to, I still have the habit of enjoying the occasional glass of wine and a dessert from a local pâtisserie.

Similar to my lunch, I try to avoid looking at my phone. However, during the evenings I like to watch a Netflix show with my roommates while we share a meal. It’s a great way to unwind from the day and spend time together. Lately, we’ve been watching the second season of Lupin (I would highly recommend!).

9:00 P.M. Le temps libre

Following dinner, I have one hour of free time when I don’t plan anything. I never fill my schedule so that I don’t feel overwhelmed in the evening. Sometimes there are tasks that come up during the day that I need to take care of during this time. Other times I use this hour to clean, watch a movie, enjoy my hobbies more, etc. It’s also the ideal time to enjoy some self-care before I begin my nighttime routine. My guilty pleasure is taking a relaxing bath with any soap from Le Petit Marseillais or the lavender bubble bath from Deep Steep.

10:00 P.M. La routine de nuit

I begin my night routine with 15 minutes of journaling. This is my favorite way to reflect on my day and get rid of any negative thoughts. Sometimes I use The Five Minute Journal or just freely write in a plain notebook. I also prepare a calming bedtime tea (or tisane) to enjoy while I journal.

Next I treat my skin. Lately I’ve been following a simple skincare routine, starting with the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. It’s ultra hydrating and works nicely with my acne meditation. After my skincare routine, I brush my teeth and slip into a comfortable pair of pajamas before getting into bed.

I end my day by reading a book. It’s the best way I’ve found to fall asleep and avoid using technology in the evening. This week I’ve been reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s also an insightful book if you’re looking to revamp your routine and establish better habits. After about 30 minutes of reading, I put on my sleep mask and go to sleep. Bonne nuit!