The tradition of dinacharya (daily routine) is one of the single most powerful Ayurvedic tools for improving overall health and well-being. Even if you are brand new to Ayurveda, it won't be long before you hear something about the importance of doing a number of things—like eating, sleeping, and working—at roughly the same times each day.
A daily routine invites health, vitality, and a sense of clarity into our lives. Adopting an appropriate daily routine is undoubtedly one of the most grounding and nurturing things you could do for yourself, and while the concept of having a daily routine is at the heart of an Ayurvedic lifestyle, no single prescription is right for everyone. The general template can and should be adapted to meet the needs of each individual's constitution and current state of balance. And that's the beauty of it, because the right daily routine can dramatically improve your life.
We have developed a number of resources to help you create and implement a personalized daily routine – or fine-tune an existing one. Our daily routine resources are organized by the dosha(s) that they primarily seek to pacify. Because the spirit of a daily routine is to support your system in returning to balance, the best starting place is usually your current state of balance (if you don't know yours, take our Ayurvedic Profile™ quiz). Once you know which of your doshas need the most support, you can select the corresponding daily routine resource on this page. We recommend that you revisit this process at least a couple of times per year to track your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your routine. If you would rather build a routine based on your constitution, you can do that as well.
Often, ensuring that there is a sense of routine from one day to the next is more important than crafting the perfect combination of habits and practices. We recommend that you approach this process in whatever way best serves you – knowing that even the most humble effort to embrace a routine is likely to have a positive impact. For the best results, have fun with it, be nourished by the process, and add more to your routine only when you feel truly inspired to do so.
Select the dosha or dosha combination that you would like to focus on while building a daily routine.
Our daily activities have a profound effect on our health. A routine, practiced daily, is stronger medicine than an occasional remedy. The three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha, each have their own periods of time within a twenty-four hour day in which their energies predominate. By establishing a routine that "goes with the flow " of these elemental energies, we are able to more easily support the body 's natural rhythms and healing potential.
Studies show that people who practice a daily routine make healthier life choices and experience less decision fatigue. Read this article to learn more about how to get started on a healthy daily routine and approach life's decisions with a clear and focused mind.