Is it just me, or did it feel like adulthood snuck up and took over before I was ready for it?!
Sometimes I feel I’m not the best at this ‘adult’ thing.
My friend recently posted this on Instagram, which I strongly resonated with!
“Ok, so we need to sleep for 8 hours a day. Work for another 8. Add in commute. Walk 10’000 steps. Meditate. Buy food and cook and eat and wash up x 3. Shower at least once. Socialise. Hoover. Clean/tidy. Laundry. Am I the only one who finds all this impossible!?”
Ain’t that the truth! It seems there is much to do within the confines of one day, and don’t the days just fly by.
Childhood is largely marked by set plans and a daily routine. This offers safety and security and ensures everything that needs to get done gets done – nothing more, nothing less.
Then, seemingly by surprise, one is thrust into the realm of adulthood, and is responsible for their own time management.
I have a few skills, but time management has never been one of them. I’ve always fought against daily plans and set schedules, feeling as though they confined and restricted me. I like to operate spontaneously and have the sense that I am free to move as I am led.
I recently found myself in a place of burn out. Work, study, and general life duties piled up to the point of suffocation, and my productivity levels seemed to plummet. I took this to my Ayurvedic teacher (for those who don’t know, Ayurveda is the sister science of Yoga), who was quick to identify the issue.
“How’s your Dinacharya (sanskrit for ‘daily routine’) going?” She asked. The penny dropped. Somehow, I had laid aside one of the foundational teachings of Ayurveda, proven to assist one in living a balanced life. Coming back to my dinacharya – daily routine – very quickly pulled me out of burn out and set me back on a path of peace and productivity. Imagine reaching the end of each day with a deep knowing that everything that needed to get done, got done – nothing more, nothing less? With a dinacharya, this is possible.
True spontaneity is simply living in the moment, being completely present, right where we are.
Dinacharya” means “to follow the knowledge of the day”. Building this simple structure into your day will allow you to stay physically, mentally, and emotionally balanced, and ensure that you live according to your values and intentions. Consider: You may have the intention to get fit or begin a meditation practice. You start off well, exercising or meditating whenever you can fit it in. But your intention is overtaken by demands from your mind, family, career, and life. Sound familiar?
Creating a supportive dinacharya is the key to great health and making the changes you want to see in your life. Through a simple schedule, you become in control of your day instead of it controlling you.
Ayurveda is based in the rhythms of nature. It offers a basic foundational dinacharya that is useful for us to keep in mind while we build our own. Once we feel ready, there are more in-depth practices that we can choose to add to our dinacharya, to further enhance our physical, mental, and emotional health. If you would like more information on these practices, let me know!
Wake before sunrise, prior to or around 6:00am. Waking early ensures you avoid sleeping past the heavier ‘Kapha‘ time, which can lead to grogginess and inertia.
Purify your body. Wash yourself, scrape your tongue and brush your teeth.
Meditate and move. Make time for meditation, Yoga or any other spiritual practice or supportive exercise to bring balance to your mind and body.
Eat breakfast by 7:30 or 8:00am. Take 20 minutes to sit down and give your digestion a good start for the day.
Eat lunch by 12:00 or 12:30pm. Setting a designated time to eat lunch will improve your health by reducing the chances that you’ll overeat or eat poorly because you are too hungry. Walking away from work or daily activities for a short time to eat also helps you come back with a clear focus for your afternoon. Be sure to sit down while you eat and leave your phone, email, or other distractions behind.
Eat dinner by 6:00pm. This gives your body enough time to digest before bedtime so you can avoid feeling foggy and heavy in the morning.
Wind down activities (including shutting off electronics) one hour before bedtime and focus on your spiritual practice, reading or quiet time with loved ones. This prepares your body for the transition to sleep, ensuring a peaceful rest and more energy for the next day.
Go to bed before 10:00pm. Getting to sleep before the more active ‘pitta’ time begins ensures you don’t get caught in the “second wind” trap.
If you are finding it difficult to set your dinacharya because your schedule feels too full, here is an exercise I suggest:
Write down your top 5 priorities in life and ensure that you’re spending your time on these priorities – nothing else. If television isn’t one of those top 5, leave it out!
If you would like more information about any of the information I have shared, or would like help setting your dinacharya, let me know and we can book an Ayurvedic health consultation.
Featured Video: Yoga to Balance Body & Mind
Still your mind and come back to your natural state of balance and harmony through this 18-minute centring and grounding Yoga flow. This flow is specifically designed to bring your body and mind back into connection using balance and stability exercises plus a short meditation. This class is also excellent for anyone working on their balance!
Class Update:
All studio classes are currently cancelled due to lockdown! But my one-on-one Zoom sessions are always available, and I am considering starting some Zoom group classes so if you have a preferred time or class style, now is the time to let me know!
Sending love and light to you all, my beautiful Yogi family. Please know I am here to support you however I can and am truly grateful to be doing life with you.
With love,
Dimity Skye.
