A routine that seemed completely normal to one group of people left another surprised. An Indian content creator living in the US recently shared an everyday observation that quickly turned into a wider discussion online.Sarika Yadav spoke about a lifestyle change she noticed after moving to America and said it was something she personally wanted to adopt. Her experience began with a conversation among friends, but the comments on her video soon took the discussion in another direction.Some viewers brought up Indian traditions, while others said sleep and meal timings cannot simply be divided between two cultures.
The conversation started with bedtime
Yadav said her American friends once asked when she usually went to sleep.She told them that she normally slept around 10 or 11 pm, and sometimes even at midnight.Their reaction surprised her.“Ek dusre ki taraf aise dekh rahe the bilkul shocked ho ke (they looked at each other completely shocked),” she said.The conversation then moved to food. Yadav said she usually had dinner around 8 or 9 pm, and sometimes at 10 pm.“Phir toh unki aankhein aur badi ho gayi (They looked even more shocked),” she recalled.Her friend responded, “Such a late dinner?”
Her friends start their day much earlier
Yadav then learnt that her friends followed a very different schedule.She said they usually finished dinner by 6 or 6:30 pm and went to bed between 7:30 and 8:30 pm.That made her ask about their morning.“Now it was my turn to be shocked, because then I asked, “What time do you wake up in the morning if you sleep so early?” she said.According to Yadav, they told her they woke up around 4 or 4:30 am, or by 5 am at the latest.“Now it was my turn to be shocked,” Yadav said.
Why Yadav wants to try it
The creator said the early start appealed to her because of how it fits into the rest of the day.She said shops open around 6 or 7 am, while people can work out before heading to the office. She also said work finishes around 4 or 5 pm, giving people time to be with their families.For Yadav, this was the part of the lifestyle she appreciated most.“Mujhe Western culture ki yeh baat bahut acchi lagi, aur main bhi ab koshish kar rahi hoon ki isko follow karoon, halanki bahut mushkil hai (I really liked this aspect of Western culture, and I am also trying to follow it now – though it’s very difficult),” she acknowledged.
Viewers bring up Indian traditions
The comments soon shifted the focus to India.One viewer said similar habits can be found in Indian villages and wrote, “Indian villages have same habits but surprisingly no one acknowledge that, this is Indian culture suryauday se pehle utho,”Another person connected waking up early with Sanatan traditions, writing, “It’s not western culture… it’s purely sanatan culture… wake up in Brahma muhurt .. that is 4-4:30,”
‘It’s about individual lifestyle choices ‘
Not everyone agreed that the routine should be viewed as a cultural difference.One viewer wrote, “I don’t think this is really about Indian vs Western culture. These are more about individual lifestyle choices and routines. There are plenty of people in India who have early dinners, sleep early, wake up early and start their day early…..and plenty in the West who don’t,”The comment continued, “Maybe the cultural environment can influence these habits, but I don’t think the habits themselves are inherently Indian or Western.”Another viewer also questioned the comparison, saying, “It has nothing to do with India or America. People living closer to rural areas sleep early and wake up early. Go to NYC and tell me who there sleeps at 8 pm,”Disclaimer: This article is based on an Instagram post and user comments. The views expressed are their own and have not been independently verified by The Times of IndiaThumb image: Instagram
