Ayurveda recommends that we sleep before 10:00 PM and wake around 6:00 AM. It divides the day into cycles dominated by the three dosha.

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Vata (2:00 to 6:00 AM & PM)

• Light, clear, and subtle energy.
• Best for routine, creative, and spiritual practices.

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Pitta (10:00 to 2:00 AM & PM)

• Transformative, metabolic energy.
• Best for physical and mental activity (during the day), and physiological activity (during the night).

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Kapha (6:00 to 10:00 AM & PM)

• Heavy, slow, grounding energy.
• Best for gentle nurturing and self-care practices.

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Modern science explains this phenomenon through the concept of circadian rhythms which manage our 24-hour internal clock and are regulated by light and darkness. They govern our sleep-wake cycle, hormones, temperature, and digestion/ metabolism. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, peaks between 9:00 and 10:00PM. Cortisol, the "wake-up" hormone, starts rising between 4:00 and 6:00AM.

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Disrupting these rhythms (by staying up late, sleeping in, or exposure to blue light at night) can cause health issues like fatigue, weight gain, stress, and chronic disease. Adhering to this age old proverbial wisdom yields better digestion, immune support, emotional balance, clarity, energy, and productivity!