When many people think of a typical European lifestyle, they often think of something similar to a utopian society. European citizens have a balanced work-life, cultural values, a clean diet, and often a strong sense of community. On the other hand, American citizens live a fast-paced, unbalanced lifestyle, whether it is regarding their diet, finances, or work.
In European countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Ukraine, people carry past cultural and religious traditions to present generations, which allows them to live a balanced and healthy life. Many Europeans place value on their eating habits, by eating whole foods such as fish, wheat/pasta, fruits and vegetables and occasionally meat. These meals are all eaten in small portions without being gluttonous and most foods in European countries are also just generally categorized as healthier and do not contain extra unnecessary chemicals.
In addition to this, in various European countries, the government must mandate five or more weeks of paid vacation. The average employed citizen receives around 10-15 days of paid vacation per year, according to Justworks. This supports the idea that Europeans ‘work to lie to work.’ Even though Europeans prioritize their work-life balance, they are also granted shorter work weeks and there is emphasis placed on the need to spend time with family and friends. This results in many people having decreased stress levels and a better quality of life, as they are able to have more free time to explore their interests and have quality time with those important to them.
Due to the recent assassination of the United Healthcare CEO, many Americans have begun to question the equality of the healthcare system. Europe is positively recognized for its comprehensive healthcare system, which is accessible to more people and allows universal coverage for all residents, according to the Commonwealth Fund. In addition to this, in European countries, it is highly normalized and recommended to be active, which can be as simple as bicycling or even walking to your next destination or after you eat, known as a “passegiatta” in Italy. Many European cities are designed for pedestrians to easily travel places by foot. This has many benefits, such as promoting physical activity and contributing to lowering air pollution. In countries like America, very few places are pedestrian-friendly so the majority of people use cars or commercial vehicles.
Cultural heritage is also held highly in European societies due to their strong religious and traditional values. Europeans emphasize the importance of their generational history, cultural festivities,festivals, art,architecture and public events.
In the spring of 2024, West Essex Italian classes took a field trip during Spring Break to many regions and towns in Italy, such as the Positano Coast, Rome, Napoli, Pompeii and Sorrento. West Essex students were given the opportunity to celebrate Italian culture and engage in the Italian heritage and traditions, such as the Easter celebration. Many students found that by being a part of this lifestyle for a week, America and many other countries should consider adopting some of these new lifestyle choices, to establish a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Photo credit: “Spain” by Umar Nasir is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
