Around the world, different cultures have mastered simple, everyday habits that make healthy living seem effortless. The French approach to food is a perfect example—balanced, mindful and nourishing for both the body and mind. Borrowing these habits and mindsets from other cultures and incorporating them into our own lives is one of the best ways to start living a healthier lifestyle.

Here are three wellness tips—and how they benefit you—that are easy for anyone to adapt to their daily life:

1. French Eating Habits: Savor Each Bite

Picture Paris. There’s a reason corner bistros are always filled with people sipping wine or coffee, slowly enjoying a pastry or charcuterie. In France, every meal is viewed as an experience, not a mindless race to fill one’s stomach. Meals are enjoyed slowly, with an emphasis on using quality ingredients and taking time to savor each bite. 

The French frequently eat together and the focus is on the flavors and the conversations, not the clock. Whether or not it’s their goal, this French habit of eating encourages more mindful eating. If you want to adopt French eating habits into your own life, start with one meal per day. Have an intentional “slow dinner” every night where the focus is on connecting with family or friends about their days and truly enjoying the food. (Bonus points for cooking a healthy meal together using fresh, local ingredients.) 

The Benefits

Making mealtimes about the quality of the food and friendships over the “fast food” culture prominent in places like the United States can improve digestion and prevent overeating. It’s a simple way to bring more mindfulness into your day, improve your eating habits and deepen bonds with friends and family

2. Danish Hygge: Embrace the Cozy

Perhaps one of the more popular global wellness crazes to spread beyond its own shores, the Danish concept of hygge has captured the world’s attention for good reason. Hygge is best described as embracing the cozy, warm and small-but-meaningful moments in life. Whether reading a book under a soft blanket, lighting a candle and playing a card game or sitting down with a friend to a hot cup of tea or fresh baked cookies, these simple pleasures are all examples of hygge. Similar to the French eating habits above, hygge is all about living in the present moment and appreciating the little things.

The Benefits

Incorporating hygge into your daily routine promotes well-being by encouraging relaxation and mindfulness. Embracing the simple moments of life helps us to reduce stress, improve mood and foster stronger connections with others. By slowing down and appreciating life’s small pleasures, hygge helps create a peaceful environment, which in turn supports mental clarity and emotional well-being.

3. Finnish Quiet: Silence is Golden 

In a world where it feels like we seldom get a moment of peace and quiet, the Finnish both embrace and seek out silence. This means that quiet moments in conversation are not awkward or uncomfortable; instead, they’re cherished. While the Finns are sometimes seen as being direct by foreigners, Finnish people prefer to only speak when they truly have something important to say. Small talk is not of value here. When we all have a million things going on these days, filling gaps in conversation doesn’t have to be something we worry about. 

The Benefits  

Adopting an acceptance of silence into your own life can give your brain a much-needed rest from constantly being “on” and help you reset mentally. Silence is valued by the Finns as a way to manage emotions. The best way to adapt moments of silence into your own life is by finding a quiet spot in nature and going for a walk or bike ride without headphones. Embrace the quiet in your mind at least once per day to help you regulate your thoughts, feelings and emotions.