Daily Routine

The quest for balance and harmony in life is one that never seems to end today. This is a reflection of our disconnect from the natural rhythms of life and the world around us. Ayurveda, with its emphasis on harmonious living has a strong tradition of daily routines that is particularly relevant for us today. This concept is called dinacharya and is regarded as fundamental to your wellbeing.

Why You Need A Daily Routine

According to Ayurveda, life follows a circular cycle and your daily routine should be in sync with your biological clock. This means that you need to follow a routine that matches the natural cycles of morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Ayurvedic recommendations for balancing doshas through daily routines are based on the concept of both a doshic and biological clock. By doshic clock, we mean that a day can be divided into segments on the basis of which dosha peaks at a particular time.

Based on these ideas, Ayurvedic physicians refined and perfected their recommendations over millennia, creating the perfect dinacharya. Practicing a daily routine for your dosha type helps to maintain harmony and promotes wellbeing. In case you haven’t identified your dosha type yet, it would be a good idea to try out our dosha quiz, so that you can access information that is personalized to meet your unique requirements.

Scientific Support for Ayurveda’s Daily Routines

In recent decades there has been growing support and recognition of Ayurveda’s concept of an internal biological clock. Scientists now refer to this as circadian rhythms. Studies show that your body clock is not just responsible for sleep and wake cycles, but also has a direct influence on other body functions like mood, immunity, hunger, and heart function. As we have long been warned in Ayurveda, disrupting or failing to follow a harmonious daily routine can have far reaching consequences. This becomes even more apparent when you look at some recent studies.

Researchers looking at the disruption caused by the time shift with Daylight Savings transitions found an increase in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction. Another study that appeared in the journal Current Biology disruption of the circadian rhythm increases your risk of insulin resistance and obesity. It’s no wonder that we are faced with an epidemic of obesity and chronic health conditions!

Find Your Routine!

With our fast paced lifestyles and erratic schedules, finding balance can be challenging at first, but the rewards are great. Having structured days, with a specific daily routine helps with time management and improves efficiency significantly. Following an Ayurvedic routine also promotes good habit forming behaviors that offer a variety of health benefits, keeping your body in sync with the rhythms of nature.

Ayurveda also recognizes the uniqueness of each individual and there are variations in the ideal daily routine, depending on your dosha composition. To learn more about the concept of doshas and to identify your dosha type, visit our Know Your Dosha page. Just remember, that making healthy changes is never easy and you should give yourself a chance to settle into any new routine. If you are struggling to find order in your life, simply start by making small changes before looking at the bigger picture. Keep at it and you will eventually get there!

References:

Salgare, U V, et al. “Importance of Dincharya.” IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science, vol. 4, no. 3, 2015, www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jnhs/papers/vol4-issue3/Version-4/H04344648.pdf.
“Journal of Circadian Rhythms.” Journal of Circadian Rhythms, Ubiquity Press, www.jcircadianrhythms.com/.
Janszky, Imre, and Rickard Ljung. “Shifts to and from Daylight Saving Time and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction | NEJM.” New England Journal of Medicine, Oxford University Press, 30 Oct. 2008, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0807104.
Shi, Shu-Qun, et al. “Circadian Disruption Leads to Insulin Resistance and Obesity.” Current Biology, vol. 23, no. 5, 2013, pp. 372–381., doi:10.1016/j.cub.2013.01.048.

The information on this page has been contributed by Meghna Unhawane, B.Sc. Home Science & Nutrition and is intended for the sole use of Allayurveda. Information contained within this article may not be reproduced without the explicit permission of Allayurveda.