‘People really stop working’: Indian woman shares European habit she wishes India had

After living in Germany for four years, Indian expat Himani Sharma says a European habit has left a lasting impression on her, the ability to leave work behind and focus on life.In a widely shared video on Instagram, Himani reflected on the cultural differences she noticed after moving to Germany. He said the one thing he would miss the most if he ever returned to India is how life slows down in Europe once the work day is over.“One thing I will miss if I go back to India is how life slows down in Europe after 6pm. Just like shops are closed, work is over and people go back to living their lives,” he said.Himani admitted that adjusting to this way of life was not easy at first. Coming from India, where work often continues mentally even during personal time, he found the change surprising.“And honestly, it was a culture shock for me at first because in India, even when we meet up with friends, we’re still mentally at work, looking at our phones, answering messages, eating quickly, talking a little and then leaving,” she explained.ID@undefined Subtitle is not available.ID@undefined Subtitle is not available.ID@undefined Subtitle is not available.Over time, however, he began to appreciate the slower pace of evenings in Europe. Instead of rushing through social interactions, he realized that people take time to enjoy conversations and simply be present with each other.“But in Europe, people sit in cafes for hours, slowly sipping a drink, having deep conversations, enjoying the weather, ordering some food and just spending time with each other. No one is constantly on their phone,” Sharma said.He added that the experience taught him the value of living in the moment. “I feel like living in Europe has taught me to be fully present in the moment. And honestly, I wish we had more of that culture in my country as well,” he said.Reflecting on the lesson of her post’s title, Himani wrote that one of the biggest changes she experienced was seeing people “genuinely disconnect from work and reconnect with life.”As she prepares to move to Dubai, she said this is a lesson she plans to take forward. For her, the takeaway is not to work less, but to live more intentionally and make time for people beyond work.