For any yoga practitioners who know a little bit about ayurveda (yoga’s sister practice of the science of life), following a daily circadian rhythm in which your body syncs with nature’s night and day cycle can help to promote a more balanced lifestyle. However, this can be difficult to achieve in today’s modern world, especially for those with an inconsistent schedule or a family household that requires flexibility in daily routine. So today, we are sharing more practical ways to gently align your circadian rhythm with everyday life for optimal balance. 

1. Sleep Patterns

Sleep is one of the most significant parts in syncing with your circadian rhythm. In ayurveda, this is recommended through waking up and falling asleep with the rise and fall of the sun. However, this can be difficult to achieve in everyday life. A great alternative that may be a bit more practical is to create consistency in your sleep patterns and choose times that align with your schedule or household that are as closely connected to the sun as possible. For example, maybe your work schedule allows for a bedtime at 9pm and a rise time at around 7am in your household. These are times that are close to typical sunrise and sunset times, so maybe you can aim for 30 minutes earlier for each. In addition, to create more consistent sleep patterns and encourage these new time adjustments, you could consider limiting your electronic devices 30 minutes prior to bedtime and 30 minutes after waking up. This can help the body to adjust to a more consistent sleep rhythm.

2. Meal Windows 

In ayurveda, eating meals consistently at the same time everyday helps the digestive system to maintain regularity. While it may not seem practical to eat at the exact time every single day, especially due to the nature of life occurrences and inconsistent schedules, you could consider creating consistent time windows. For example, you can create windows in the morning, midday, and evening for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with snack windows if needed. Choose times that are no longer than 2 hours and align practically with your personal schedule and household. Maintaining consistent digestion will assist in balancing the body’s weight, hormones, and sustainability. 

3. Physical Activity  

Movement in the body is another significant piece in achieving a more balanced lifestyle. Choose a time window in your day where you can move your body in a way that feels good to you. This can look like an online yoga sequence, a walk in the neighborhood, a swim in your pool or attending a class if you have the time and resources to do so. Be sure to stimulate physical activity of some kind in your day-to-day to help the body move through any stagnant energy, produce endorphins, and keep its systems actively functioning, 

These small adjustments can be applied in everyday life, regardless of your daily work or family routine to align better with your circadian rhythm and promote a more balanced lifestyle in a more practical manner.