Ayurvedic Time-Blocking: What is it?

Last year, I coined a term I call "Ayurvedic Time-Blocking". It comes from my years of studying the ancient science of Ayurveda, and how it can be used in today's society to support our alignment with the natural energies of the world around us.

For thousands of years, people have been studying and practicing Ayurveda. But, in today's modern world, most of what is taught about Ayurveda is based on what we eat (unless you spend years studying to become a practitioner).

While eating seasonally is a major facet of this modality, it's just ONE part of it... what most people would call Pop-Ayurveda (see: Pop-Astrology).

What many don't focus on are the daily, weekly and seasonal routines we create that align with Ayurvedic energy.

That's where Ayurvedic Time-Blocking comes in.

While there are certainly seasonal routines that are important in Ayurveda, what I became enamored with -- and what I find is most helpful for me as a business owner -- are the daily routines we can map to the three main energetic constitutions in Ayurveda (doshas).

The 3 doshas in Ayurveda are three energetic constitutions that scholars noticed made up all things. They are a combination of the elements of earth, water, fire, air and space.

🌱 Kapha dosha is a combination of Earth and Water. It is a grounded, stable, and predictable energy that is downward-moving (think of roots growing down into the earth).

🔥 Pitta dosha is a combination of Water and Fire. It is a confident, focused, precise energy and is outward-moving (think of a wildfire quickly spreading through a forest).

💨 Vata dosha is a combination of Air and Space. It is fluid, creative and avant-garde. The energy is upward-moving (think of water vapor rising from a boiling pot of water).

So, how does this ancient system of understanding energy help your modern workday?

Simple: Each of these constitutions rules a specific time of day.

The time of day is Universal for anyone, and modulates with your timezone. If you want to go a step deeper, learn what your own personal constitution is (what elements are more present inside you). That can tell you which energy you'll want to leverage more and which you might want to leverage less.

So, here's the main event ... the meat and potatoes ... what you've been waiting for!

Ayurvedic Time-Blocking Schedule

Kapha

Time: 6am - 10am, 6pm - 10pm

Tasks: Slow and Intentional

Pitta

Time: 10am - 2pm, 10pm - 2am

Tasks: High-Energy

Vata

Time: 2pm - 6pm, 2am - 6am

Tasks: Fluid and Flexible

Note that these are generalized recommendations for you, based on each dosha's natural energy. You may find that these tasks work well for you, our you might find that you need to switch things up to align with your own dosha.

Here's a real-life example:

I'm a Pitta primary dosha, meaning I have more Fire and Water inside me. My energy is naturally more focused and direct. That means that, throughout the day, I might have better access to Pitta and might not need to leverage Pitta time as much as someone who has a Vata dosha.

However, it's important for me to pay attention to how I'm feeling throughout the year. During Kapha Season (winter), I often notice that I have less energy and feel more lethargic, as Kapha is my secondary dosha and can easily go out of balance. So, I might need to tap into my Pitta more during this time in order to keep myself from sitting on the coach and binge watching New Girl for 6 hours a day. 🍿

Regardless of how you use this information, I hope that you will find it a helpful way to think about setting up your days differently -- in a way that is supportive of you, your goals, and your energy.

Want to take things a step further? Download my free guide: Align Your Workday with the Cosmos.