Dinacharya: Midday/Evening Routine

The midday and evening routine should consist primarily of work and winding down. Midday is the pitta time of day and the time where we fulfill our dharma, the duties that have been assigned to us by society.  Laborious and mental effort should take place during this time. Doing work outside of this will not allow the body to engage in what it instinctively needs to do. For example, waking up at 6:00 am and jumping on a business call at 6:10 am, or being 12: 00 am and still calculating numbers; this is like going from 0-100 and running on zero fuel. It really messes with the doshas.

Vagbhata explains more chores to be done in the morning, but the others are meant to support our lifestyle and so do not apply to everyone equally. Everyone is responsible for coming up with a routine that supports their health and needs. After the morning routine, one starts the day as a contributing member of society. Vagbhata goes on and explains the respectable jobs that one can take and rituals to do before leaving the house.

A modern adult usually starts work at around 9:00 am, and they have their own rituals: drop off the kids, take out the trash or the dogs before leaving, clean the car's windows, etc. This part of the day varies for everyone since everyone has very different lifestyles. One thing is certain is that everyone must drink water and eat at some point while they are out of their house.

Though we probably can't run home during our lunch hour, or every time we need a drink of water, we can keep a mindful eating practice right where we are. Making meal times the most sacred time is important for proper digestion and absorption. We could probably add a bit of oil to our head and say a gratitude prayer before eating our lunch at work. If possible, maybe choosing a shade tree and bench to eat the meal instead of your office desk, which servers as a reminder of the endless paperwork that needs to get done afterwards. Such view will create stress and an unpleasant state of mind. During a meal time, all we have to think about is ourselves, our meal, and the peaceful vibes that surround us.

If you are working from home, or have a larger lunch break, then consider making lunch your largest meal of the day. Remember that at noon, pitta is at its strongest. That is when we want to eat a heavy meal because it will be easiest to digest. Have a complete meal with whole grains, vegetables, salad, and a soup. In the evening, the food should be light, warm, and nourishing. Maybe a soup with bread, or a cup of hot spiced milk. 

It's become customary to slouch on the couch after dinner and fall asleep before it is even time to go to sleep. When the sun is setting, it becomes the kapha time of day and this habit creates inertia and slows digestion. While this time is not appropriate for a full body workout, one should go for a walk, clean the kitchen with cheerful music and dance -engage in gentle movement and after a while, one can enjoy their favorite show or book. Saying "thank you for this food, is sometimes not enough when there is no sentiment behind it. Feeling thankful and expressing it with every bone in your body is how we show gratitude. Words are useless when they are not backed with strong emotion as the currency.