After living in Germany for four years, Indian expat Himani Sharma says a European habit left a lasting impression on her, the ability to step away from work and focus on life.In a video widely shared on Instagram, Himani reflected on the cultural differences she noticed after moving to Germany. She said the one thing she would miss most if she returned to India was how life slows down in Europe once the workday ends.“One thing I will really miss if I go back to India is how life slows down in Europe after 6 p.m. Like the shops are closed, work is over, and people really go back to living their lives,” he said.Himani admitted that adapting to this lifestyle was not easy at first. Coming from India, where work often continues mentally even during personal time, he found the change surprising.“And honestly, this was such a culture shock for me in the beginning because back in India, even when we meet friends, we are still mentally at work, checking phones, answering messages, eating quickly, talking a little, and then leaving,” he explained.ID@undefined Caption is not available.ID@undefined Caption is not available.ID@undefined Caption is not available.Over time, however, he began to appreciate the slower pace of evenings in Europe. Instead of rushing through social interactions, he noticed that people take the time to enjoy conversations and simply be present with each other.“But in Europe, people sit in cafes for hours, sipping a drink slowly, deep conversation, enjoying the weather, ordering some food, and simply spending time with each other. No one is still 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 how to be fully present in the moment. And honestly, I really wish we had more of this culture in my home country too,” he said.Reflecting on the lesson in the caption of her post, Himani wrote that one of the biggest changes she’s experienced is seeing how people “really disconnect from work and reconnect with life.”As he prepares to move to Dubai, he said this is a lesson he plans to carry forward. For her, the takeaway is not to work less, but to live more intentionally and make time for people outside of work.
