Having a remote US job in India is considered winning a jackpot career-wise. However, working US hours in India comes at a steep cost. Taking to LinkedIn, brand strategist Shubham Srivastava revealed the reality of working US hours. He said that working US hours in India is not hustle but a slow health breakdown.“Meetings start at 7 PM. You're "done" by 10. Then your brain needs two hours to wind down. You sleep at midnight. Wake up at 8. Repeat…” he wrote.He revealed that there was no opportunity for working out or spending time with family, or going out on a walk.He lamented how working such impossible hours have become not just the norm but also a badge of honour in tech. “People say "just use your mornings." Sure - except you're running on 7 hours of broken sleep, and your body doesn't care about your productivity hacks…” he wrote.He explained that the real cost of such jobs is forsaking your health, ruining your personal relationships and neglecting what actually matters in life.“I'm not saying don't work hard. I'm saying the overlap culture has gone too far, and we've normalised something we shouldn't have. Someone needs to say it out loud…” he wrote. The post resonated strongly with many professionals on LinkedIn, sparking a wide-ranging discussion about the realities of working across different time zones and the impact it can have on personal well-being.One individual shared their experience of working according to US business hours, explaining that the schedule took a severe toll on their health. Persistent sleep disruption led to chronic fatigue, visible signs of exhaustion, frequent dizziness, and a constant feeling of being physically and mentally depleted. Despite these challenges, there remained an expectation to stay highly focused, maintain peak cognitive performance, and consistently meet professional targets.Another participant highlighted the dangers of celebrating excessive work habits. Drawing from years of entrepreneurial experience, they noted that exhaustion should not be viewed as a symbol of dedication or success. They emphasized that the aspects of life often neglected in pursuit of productivity—such as adequate rest, physical activity, meaningful relationships, and leisure—are frequently the very foundations that enable sustained performance and creativity.However, not everyone shared the same perspective. Some commenters argued that working US hours may still be preferable to certain workplace environments in India, where long workdays can begin in the morning and continue well into the evening, often extending beyond official office hours and blurring the boundaries between professional and personal life.