This Daily Routine Will Get Your Circadian Rhythm Back On Track

Our rushed, 24/7 modern lives can disrupt our natural circadian rhythms and our health. As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I've seen how India’s time-tested science of life can restore these rhythms and help people move through their days in a more balanced way. Here's a primer on the Ayurvedic approach to circadian health and how to reset your body clock using the ancient modality.

How Ayurveda has cracked the circadian code 

Circadian rhythms are innate 24-hour cycles that control key bodily functions such as metabolism, sleep, hormones, temperature—you name it. Though treated as a relatively novel topic today, these rhythms were extensively mapped out in Ayurvedic texts thousands of years ago. 

By closely studying nature’s rhythms from dawn to dusk, Ayurvedic sages cracked the "circadian code" long before modern science had a clue. They revealed a mind-blowing understanding of how external cycles sync with inner biorhythms to impact well-being. I’m here to give Ayurveda the credit for discovering foundational circadian science.

Ayurveda teaches that we each have a unique mind-body type, or dosha, that shapes our ideal daily and seasonal routines. By aligning your lifestyle with your dosha, you can better synch your inner world with the outer world.

Here are some practices to help you begin to do so:

More ways to support a healthy circadian rhythm:

Beyond daily routines, Ayurveda provides many ideas for rituals and remedies that help heal circadian imbalances:

Sample circadian routine

What might a circadian-friendly day look like with Ayurveda? Here’s a snapshot: 

Morning: 

Afternoon: 

Evening: 

Night: 

The takeaway

As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I believe there is plenty of room to apply Ayurveda’s profound circadian insights into even the busiest of schedules. Our bodies know just what to do—we just have to listen. By doing so, we are one big step closer to bringing our mind-body-spirit back into alignment with nature.