Written by Hannah Sutton (Chinese Medicine Practitioner)

Want to know the key to unlocking the secret to making every day work for you?

A key challenge in our day-to-day life is achieving BALANCE.  In order to cultivate energy to create vitality and happiness our body/mind/spirit needs a predictable rhythm and routine of living.  If we lead a random lifestyle it cause disharmony and this depletes our energy. It can make you feel lost, confused and it breeds illness. 

The optimal times to eat, sleep, work, exercise, study and even to have sex, are all set out in the Chinese Body Clock.  Like clockwork each organ meridian in the body has a two-hour period when Qi (energy) is at its peak.  This is when the organ functions its best as the Qi is focused there, hence completing the correct activities at the right time, such as eating, ensures that the Qi flows and the organ is able to function properly. 

The Qi flows clockwise through the 12 meridians over 24 hours (see diagram above).  Living according to the Chinese body clock can strengthen health by keeping your life in tune with the universe and the body's natural rhythms and cycles. 

In this blog, we delve into the activities of the 12 meridians and explore the signs of imbalance in their respective organ systems. By recognizing the indications of imbalance in each organ system, you can then take proactive steps to support your well-being, foster balance, and lead a healthier life.

Rising & Letting Go

5am to 7am – Large Intestine – Wake up, Sit up & Drink water

The best time to wake up and start your day is when the sun rises. It is also the best time to have your first bowel movement.  This is when your Large Intestine experiences its greatest flow of energy and is primed to eliminate yesterday’s waste from your body as effortlessly as possible. This is just the beginning of getting synchronising with the Chinese body clock.

DO – Get up & sit up.   On rising, drink a large glass of warm water (add some fresh lemon juice if desired). Vigorous exercise, brisk walk, stretches. Sit on the toilet for 5-10min, take the time to pass a bowel motion.

DON’T – Sleep in.  Overthink, Social Media.  Have sex.

Indications of imbalance - constipation or diarrhoea, feeling sluggish in the morning, ability to let go or a tendency to hold on to issues, people or situations.

Breakfast

7am to 9am- Stomach – Eat a nice warm cooked BREAKFAST

As the old saying goes, “Eat dinner like a pauper, lunch like a prince, breakfast like a king.” This the time when the stomach has the best opportunity to absorb the nutrients from food and start your digestive fire for the day. Eat a warm nutritious breakfast ie. oat porridge. Allow yourself 10 to 20 minutes to sit - eat slowly and peacefully. Put yourself in the right physical and emotional place to start your day.

DO – Eat breakfast calmly. Plan your day, get ready for your work day

DON’T – Sleep in, rush. Skip breakfast. Eat on the run, standing up or with distractions of social media/TV.  Have coffee before food.

Indications of imbalance - poor appetite, nausea/indigestion, morning anxiety, overthinking/worry

Thinking & Working

9am to 11am – Spleen - Work hard, be productive. 

The Spleen organ is associated with the intellect and mental powers. After a full night sleep and receiving the nutrients from a hearty breakfast, your body now has the fuel to function at its best. Therefore you should do your most strenuous work at this time, be it physical or intellectual. 

DO – Work hard, prioritise important and more difficult tasks. Have a coffee or green tea and a protein snack for a mid-morning boost.

DON’T – Wait for inspiration, waste time on menial tasks. Distract & procrastinate with electronic devices. Snack on sweet treats

Indications of imbalance - fatigue, poor concentration, poor memory, inability to concentrate, procrastination, sweet cravings, bloating, anaemia, melancholy

Meeting, Talking & Connecting

11am to 1pm – Heart - Connect & Communicate with others

Work on things that you associate with passion, inspiration and bring you joy. Lunchtime is the perfect time to connect with others - meetings, social interactions etc. It is also a good time to address any issues you may have with others. The warm co-operative heart energy will mean solutions are found with less resistance and more cooperation.

DO – Work hard, visionary thinking. Connecting with others - meetings, socialising. Heart-to-heart conversations. Enjoy a nutritious lunch.

DON’T – Unimportant stuff, waste time on boring tasks. Hibernate/retreat from others.

Indications of imbalance - palpitations, anxiety, disconnection from self or others, emotional instability, lack of joy/passion

Digesting, Sorting & Organising

1am to 3pm – Small Intestine - Time for a break!  Rest, digest & breathe.

The small intestine is responsible for sorting and organising - the digestive function of sorting out of which substances it will collect for absorption and which it will leave for elimination. It’s common for people to experience an energy crash at this time, reaching for pick-me-ups like sugar, chocolate and caffeine, especially if they have skipped breakfast or have poor digestion in general.

Emotionally, this is the best time for problem solving - digest and thinking things over.

DO –   Take a break, rest & digest your lunch. Meditate, have a nap.  Easy work. Problem solving, thinking things over

DON’T – Skip lunch, eat while working.  Reach for quick pick-me-up snacks. Do physically taxing work.

Indications of imbalance - digestive issues, IBS, bloating, fatigue, overwhelm, poor decision making

Storing & Reserving

3pm to 5pm - Bladder – Time to relax, do routine tasks

The Bladder aids in detoxification and maintaining equilibrium. Time to slow down as you have completed the majority of your work day - done all your heavy physical and mental lifting. If you are well hydrated and fueled your body right throughout the day you won’t experience an afternoon slump and feel the need to reaching coffee and chocolate. Wind down your work day by scheduling mundane tasks that require less “brain power”.

DO – Cruise, less important & less taxing tasks.  Reading, browsing on computer, emails, social media, house duties. Go for a 10min walk & drink water if you are tired.

DON’T – Push, work hard or focus on stressful things. Rely on for sweet treats or caffeine.

Indications of imbalance - urinary issues, lower back pain, persistent fears

Socialising & Consolidating

5pm to 7pm – Kidney – Play, have a laugh & socialise.

The Kidney is essential for reproduction, growth, and overall vitality. The most important point to highlight during this time is to avoid doing high intensity exercise or strenuous workouts. This is especially relevant if you have an underlying hormonal imbalance, thyroid condition or adrenal fatigue. The late afternoon and evening time is best dedicated to unwinding, socialising and relaxing. Nurture and nourish your body/mind.

DO – Stop work.  Gentle exercise – relaxing stroll, stretches, yoga etc.  Time to socialise.  Listen to music, have fun.

DON’T – Work hard, create stress, vigorous exercise.

Indications of imbalance - extreme fatigue, insomnia, reproductive problems, low libido, timidity, heightened fear/anxiety.

Relaxing & Chilling

7pm to 9pm – Pericardium - Eat dinner, relax & put your feet up

Pericardium time is best spent relaxing with your loved ones, enjoying some creative time and sitting down to eat a light dinner. Have a shower, change into your comfy clothes and relax to in wind down for sleep. Turn off electronics, putting your phone on airplane mode. Laying on your back with your legs up the wall for five minutes is another way to relax the nervous system, and support your body in preparation for sleep.

DO – Have dinner, relationship bonding.  Creativity.  Chill out, watch TV.  Have a shower, relax. Flirt, have sex.

DON’T – Have complex heart-to-heart conversations. Argue, fight.  Work, study or create stress.

Indications of imbalance - heart issues, palpitations, emotional disturbances, intimacy problems, sleep avoidance, restlessness, insomnia.

Sleeping & Rejuvenating

9pm to 11am –San Jiao – Go to Bed, Sleep

The San Jiao or Triple Heater organ is a TCM concept believed to influence the trunk of the body and be responsible for co-ordinating and regulating energy, fluid balance and temperature. It is responsible for reorganising and regulating anything that may have become imbalanced throughout the course of the day. In terms of sleep, getting to bed during this time will mean the sleep you do have will be of the best quality and also ensure that early rising will not be so difficult.

DO – Turn off all devices.  Read or meditate.  Go to bed, sleep.

DON’T – Work or study.  Drink alcohol or coffee.  Consume stimulants, sugar or eat dinner. Doom scroll on social media

Indications of imbalance - hormonal issues, metabolism issues, weight problems, fluid retention, temperature sensitivities, inflammation.

What does your ideal day look like? Do you often find yourself procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed?

Unfortunately due to our busy modern lives, schedules, family commitments and unforeseen circumstances, we can’t possibly plan every day out to the exact hour. However, you can use the Chinese Body Clock as a guide to try to formulate a plan your perfect day. Observe changes in your body/mind throughout the day and use the body clock to identify which particular body organ needs attention. Acknowledge your signs and symptoms as the divine intelligence of your body, subtly but surely pointing you to the fastest route to your own healing.

Need help getting on the right track? Book an appointment with one of our Chinese Medicine practitioners by calling the clinic on (03) 5429 3610 or book online by clicking the link below.

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