The Best Ways Indians Shape A Better Life Abroad

By WFY Bureau | Lifestyle | The WFY Magazine, December, 2025 edition

Across continents, a new image of the global Indian is taking shape. It is not only defined by professional achievements or financial progress. It is shaped by the everyday choices people make, the habits they adapt and the way they build a life far from the familiar comfort of home. Over the past decade, the Indian lifestyle abroad has moved through significant shifts. The earlier generations carried their culture like a protective shell. The new generations carry it like a living identity, open to change yet rooted in belonging.

This article explores the many ways Indians around the world redefine their lives abroad. It looks at how they build homes, rituals, friendships, routines and aspirations in countries that challenge and inspire them. These lifestyle patterns are not accidental. They are deliberate choices made by individuals who want to merge the best of India with the best of the world.

It is a story of creativity, adaptation and cultural confidence.

1. The Evolving Indian Home Abroad

The Indian home abroad is a unique blend of practicality and memory. It looks different in London, Dubai, Toronto, Singapore or Sydney, yet it carries a common emotional thread. Most migrant homes begin modestly. Over time, they evolve into warm spaces that reflect both the country of residence and Indian cultural touchpoints.

A small but thoughtful beginning

When migrants first move abroad, their homes tend to be simple. People prioritise affordability, location and safety. Many start with shared accommodation or compact apartments. The first investment is usually a good mattress, a functional kitchen and items that bring familiarity, such as Indian masalas, pressure cookers or prayer lamps.

Building a comfort zone

As they settle, Indians gradually transform these spaces. A study of diaspora households in 2024 showed that more than 70% of Indians abroad personalise their homes with cultural elements such as traditional textiles, brass décor, indoor plants, framed memories and prayer corners. These items help them carry a piece of home into unfamiliar surroundings.

The rise of the dual-influence home

Newer migrant families create homes that are aesthetically global but emotionally Indian. Minimal furniture blends with vibrant cushions. Local interior design trends sit comfortably beside cultural artefacts. Kitchens are stocked with both pasta sauces and turmeric, both avocados and pickles.

This hybrid home style reflects a new mindset. Indians abroad are not choosing between identities. They are merging them.

2. Food Habits: A Blend Of Memory And Discovery

Food is one of the strongest connections to identity. For Indians abroad, it becomes both a comfort and an area of exploration.

Cooking as a link to home

In most diaspora households, Indian cooking remains central. Even in families that frequently dine out, home-cooked meals maintain their emotional and nutritional relevance. The smell of tadka, the sound of boiling dal or the ritual of making chai anchors people to their roots.

Ingredients and innovation

Access to Indian groceries has improved dramatically across the world. Large diaspora hubs now have multiple Indian supermarkets, spice stores and fresh produce markets. Even mainstream supermarkets carry essentials like basmati rice, paneer, ghee, curry leaves and frozen Indian breads.

At the same time, migrants experiment with new cuisines. They try local dishes, adapt recipes and fuse flavours. What emerges is a creative, hybrid palate that respects tradition yet welcomes innovation.

Weekend cooking as therapy

In many homes, weekends become a time for elaborate meals. Families try recipes that remind them of festivals, weddings or childhood memories. New migrants often cook together as a way to build social bonds.

Food becomes a language of connection.

3. Clothing And Identity: A Dual Expression

Indians abroad dress according to climate, work culture and comfort, yet their wardrobe continues to carry cultural threads.

Everyday clothing

For daily life, Indians abroad largely adopt local clothing styles. Workplaces and schools influence dress choices. Climate also plays a major role. Winter-heavy regions encourage layered clothing, warm neutrals and structured outerwear.

Cultural clothing for special occasions

Festivals, weddings, community events and temple visits become occasions for Indian attire. Women wear saris, lehengas or salwar sets. Men bring out kurtas or sherwanis.

This duality gives clothing a deeper meaning. It becomes a way to belong locally while staying connected culturally.

The rise of Indo-fusion fashion

Younger Indians abroad increasingly embrace fusion clothing. Kurtas paired with jackets, saris with modern blouses, and Indo-western outfits are now common at celebrations.

It reflects a confident blend of identities.

4. Work–Life Balance: The New Diaspora Priority

Work has always played an important role in migration stories. However, lifestyle patterns show that Indians abroad now value work–life balance more than earlier generations.

A shift from survival to stability

Earlier migrants often worked long hours with limited time for rest. Today’s migrants aim for structure. They seek jobs that offer stability, personal time and growth. This shift has influenced how Indians use their evenings, weekends and holidays.

The weekend lifestyle

Weekends abroad are very different from weekends in India. They are quieter, more personal and often revolve around self-care.

Common weekend patterns include:
• Nature walks
• Grocery shopping
• Family outings
• Visiting parks or beaches
• Cooking
• Cleaning and home organisation
• Social gatherings
• Short drives

The health and fitness revolution

Indians abroad have also adopted fitness-oriented lifestyles. Gyms, yoga classes, pilates, swimming and cycling have become integral to many routines. Fitness is not only about health. It is about creating structure in an otherwise demanding life.

5. Social Life And Community Belonging

Social life for Indians abroad follows a distinctive pattern. It is shaped by limited time, long commutes and the need for meaningful connections.

Friendship takes longer, but becomes deeper

Unlike India, where friendships form through casual daily interactions, social circles abroad grow slowly. People often meet through workplaces, schools, community centres or cultural associations. These friendships may be fewer in number but tend to become deeply supportive.

Cultural events as social anchors

Community associations, temples, gurudwaras and cultural groups play a big role in social interaction. Festivals become major social anchors. Events such as Diwali melas, Holi parks, Onam gatherings, Ganesh utsavs or Pongal celebrations draw people together.

Digital groups and neighbourhood networks

WhatsApp groups, social media pages and local neighbourhood networks help people stay connected. These platforms support everything from festival planning to finding babysitters or sharing groceries.

Challenges of social belonging

Despite these opportunities, many Indians still struggle with social alienation. The lack of spontaneous gatherings, cultural differences and time constraints create emotional gaps. Belonging abroad requires conscious effort.

6. Parenting And Family Routines Abroad

Parenting abroad brings its own lifestyle differences.

Children grow up between cultures

Indian-origin children grow up blending school culture with home traditions. Parents must balance academic expectations, cultural learning, language exposure and identity building.

Common lifestyle adaptations among diaspora parents

• Storybooks about Indian culture
• Weekend language classes
• Festival celebrations at home
• Indian meals balanced with local foods
• Mixed friend groups
• School involvement

Intercultural exposure

Many children grow up with classmates and neighbours from multiple backgrounds. This exposure expands worldviews and shapes inclusive values.

Family routines rooted in structure

Families abroad adopt structured routines. School timings, meal patterns, commuting and extracurricular activities guide the day. This structured environment influences the lifestyle patterns of adults as well.

7. Travel, Leisure And Nature-Oriented Lifestyles

Indians abroad increasingly embrace outdoor lifestyles.

Nature and recreation

Depending on the country, people engage in:
• Hiking
• Beach outings
• Barbecues
• Skiing
• Camping
• Cycling
• Park picnics
• Nature photography

Short-distance and budget travel

Many diaspora families enjoy local weekend trips or short breaks during school holidays. Travel becomes a way to discover their adopted country and create new memories.

International travel as a lifestyle marker

With dual-income families and structured holidays, international travel has become common among diaspora Indians. They visit neighbouring countries, discover cultures and expand their global experiences.

8. The New Diaspora Mindset: Blending Rather Than Choosing

The most defining lifestyle trend among Indians abroad is the shift from choosing one culture to blending two.

This mindset is visible in:

• Home décor
• Food habits
• Social activities
• Clothing choices
• Parenting decisions
• Travel preferences
• Friendships
• Language use

Indians abroad no longer see lifestyle adaptation as losing their identity. They see it as expanding it.

9. Lifestyle Challenges That Persist

While the diaspora lifestyle has evolved positively, certain challenges remain.

Common struggles include:

• Social isolation
• High cost of living
• Demanding workplaces
• Limited extended family support
• Winter-related mood changes
• Difficulty maintaining cultural identity
• Parenting pressures
• Housing constraints

These challenges vary by country, community and personal circumstances.

10. Rising Trends That Will Shape The Future

Lifestyle patterns among Indians abroad are expected to evolve even further.

Notable trends include:

• Hybrid cultural homes: More families are mixing modern design with cultural elements.
• Return of traditional wellness: Yoga, ayurveda and home remedies are becoming mainstream again.
• Greater financial planning: Diaspora families are paying more attention to saving, investing and long-term security.
• Climate-conscious living: Recycling, sustainable products and energy-efficient homes are gaining importance.
• Cross-cultural friendships: Newer generations form friendships beyond ethnic circles, encouraging cultural openness.
• Technology-led lifestyles: Smart homes, digital payments and app-based living are becoming standard.

Indians abroad shape their lives with intention, courage and creativity. They carry their cultural roots while embracing global influences. Their lifestyle choices reflect both memory and aspiration. They are not just surviving abroad. They are designing a better life with every small decision they make.

The global Indian lifestyle is no longer defined by compromise. It is defined by confidence.

Disclaimer: This article is for general cultural understanding and lifestyle insight. It is not intended to provide professional advice on health, finance or personal development. Readers should rely on local guidance and personal judgment for individual decisions.