Viral video: Couple’s comparison sparks debate on work-life balance in India: ‘Even with late nights, Canada felt easier’

What does a “good life” look like?More money, being close to family, or actually being able to log off and live after work?That’s the debate kicked up by Sneha Khilwani (who goes by @snehafamilytales on Instagram), whose viral post compared her time working in Canada with her recent return to India.

Her honest take has struck a nerve among professionals everywhere, sparking a flood of conversations about what it means to have real work-life balance.What’s even more interesting is how Sneha doesn’t claim Canada was paradise.

She and her husband worked hard — there were plenty of late nights, plenty of responsibility, and they didn’t have much outside help.

But, even on busy days, things felt more orderly, more manageable.According to Sneha, the real difference wasn’t how much they worked, but when.

In Canada, work stayed at work — she felt life in Canada was simply more manageable.

There was structure and, crucially, the sense that when work ended, you were really done for the day.What exactly did Sneha say?Sneha Khilwani’s viral post on work-life balanceIn her Instagram video, featuring herself and her husband, Sneha lays it all out.

The video opens with a text that reads, “Return to India from Canada,” and Sneha reveals that in Canada, both she and her husband worked full-time jobs, managed the house, raised their kids, cooked — all with minimal help.

In her words, “Since the time we have returned back to India from Canada, one question comes up the most is how is work-life balance in India.”She explained, “Let me share a little background of our work-life in Canada.

We were both working full time.

Before Covid it was work from the office and after that work from home, till the time we left Canada.

And, it was the usual 9-5 jobs.

Along with our jobs from home we managed cooking, household chores, kids pick up and drop off, everything.”“Was it easy?” Sneha continued, as her husband responded, “Not at all.”Sneha then added, “We were actually working late nights to finish the pending work but for some reason our work-life and our family time was in our control in Canada and we used to manage to get family time together.”However, after they moved back to India, things changed.Her husband said, “Now tell me how it is different in India,” and Sneha responded, “To be fair I am not working full time yet.

He is doing a regular 9-5 job and work-life balance is much lower than what I expected.”When Sneha asked her husband to describe his usually work day, he shared, “I leave home at 8:15 am and come back around 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm, so nearly 12 hours including commuting.” what’s even more exhausting is how even on the days her husband works from home, Sneha revealed that it is not a relaxed experience.The couple talked about the differences in the work-life balance in both countries, and said, “From what I have seen the work culture is totally different.

You are always expected to be available, responsive, constantly connected.

But this can differ depending upon the industry you are in.

But, this is what I have experienced so far.”However, it’s worth noting that the couple revealed that this work pressure didn’t surprise them — they had expected this change.

Still, they wanted to share their story as a heads-up for anyone moving back to India: if you’re hoping for clear boundaries and calm evenings, be ready for a culture shock.Are Indians really ‘overworked’?Looks like it.Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) confirms India ranks among the most overworked nations globally.

The average Indian works 46.7 hours per week, with over 51% of the workforce logging 49 hours or more, far outpacing average hours in many developed nations.

Even as some business leaders brag about 70- or 80-hour workweeks (remember the Infosys outrage after Narayana Murthy’s remark? ), the downsides aren’t lost on people anymore: long hours feed stress, burnout, and health problems, not endless productivity.In Canada, the entire work culture is different.

Workplaces still have challenges — deadlines, demands, pressure, and that jazz.

But there’s more respect for boundaries.

Most people don’t expect instant replies at all hours, and many companies judge you by what you get done, not how late you stick around.

Work-life balance is not a utopia there, but for a lot of workers, it’s clear: you’re supposed to have a life outside work, and that’s okay.How the internet reactedThe relatability is what made Sneha’s story go viral on the internet.

For a long time in India, staying late and always answering messages was considered dedication.

Now, people are wondering if always being busy means you have a good life, or if you’re just burned out.

Younger generations especially want more than just a fancy title or paycheck; they want time to actually live, too.One user commented, “Work life balance in India is seen as a weird term.

And the “indian Mindset” is coined because of this.

Our people think being available 24/7 and over working as an performance stunt but reality is totally different.”Others said, “Very true .. no work life balance in India,” “11 - 12 hrs is normal in india and 6 days.”However, several users also pushed back and underlined the “growing anti-immigrant sentiment” abroad.

One commented, “Love your honest take on things, staying put in Canada would have been the easier option and I applaud your family for making the jump.

I suspect the children are still young? Otherwise other priorities creep in and you get tangled up.

There is a growing anti-immigrant sentiment all over the world.

Indians generally do well where ever we are and can be a bitter pill for the locals to swallow.

I wish you and your family all the best!”Another said, “They never worked in India before moving to Canada? People in Silicon valley check emails even during holidays.

Earler, family time meant kids playing around the neighborhood and husband wife doing whatever they wanted.”One user even pointed out, “Now you are getting time to make videos which was not possible in canada.”In the end, this isn’t really about India vs.

Canada.

It’s about figuring out what kind of work-life balance makes sense for you.

For some, climbing the career ladder is a top priority, and that means longer hours.

For others, being there for dinner, having time to exercise, unwind, or just be present with family matters, is just as much.Work-life balance in today’s time isn’t just a buzzword anymore.

It’s a conversation employers in India are going to have to take seriously, because a whole lot of people aren’t willing to settle for the old status quo.Get the latest movie news, reviews, and celebrity updates.

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