Coffee, without question, is the world’s favorite stimulant. This is because as humans, we are constantly looking for a quick and easy way to regain energy, have more vitality, and become invigorated. We want to be able to expend as much energy as possible, often without taking very good care of ourselves or doing anything at all. 

Now, you might not know what it is yet (you will by the end of this post) – but coffee, and caffeine in general, is one of the fastest way to deplete your qi, or body energy. Coffee is simply never going to be the sustainable answer for increasing energy. We are always going to chase that second or third cup, we’re always going to endure the afternoon slump, we’re always going to feel the dehydration and see it in our dark circles. Of course, that’s only if we keep things as is.

What if I were to tell you that with a simple lifestyle change or two, you could have increased energy, improved quality of life, and perhaps even an extension to your remaining life?

“…with a simple lifestyle change or two, you could have increased energy, improved quality of life, and perhaps even an extension to your remaining life.”

My youngest brother lived in China for 6 months, on a snow-topped mountain, working and learning in a Taoist temple. There, he learned Chinese, traditional Chinese herbology, tai chi, qi gong, and all about qi and the human body’s meridians. His days began at 4:30 am and wound down around 5 pm – a daily schedule that takes after the one we’re going to be discussing today. 

When he returned to the U.S., leaner and in need of a clean shave, he spent hours recounting the fascinating things he picked up over there. Day after day, I would listen in awe.

A year later, I found an old book in my small home library titled “The Book of Chinese Qi Gong.” In it, I discovered a way of applying some of the information my brother had passed on to me all that time ago. Using that book and others, I was able to put together a practical guide to applying the meridian and qi cycle to my daily schedule.

I picked up some new habits, and found that they improved the quality of my life tremendously. Since seeing such positive results in my own life, I decided it was time to share this not-so-secret schedule with all of you, in the hopes that you could benefit from it, as well.

Keep reading if you:

• Want more energy every single day
• Want to feel refreshed and healthy
• Want to heal your body and/or mind
• Need a new daily routine
• Want to pick up some good habits
• Want to learn about another culture’s secrets to longevity and vitality
• Are interested in how body energy works

“I picked up some new habits, and found that they improved the quality of my life tremendously.”

For hundreds of years, Daoists focused around balancing vital energy through various means, as life was considered to be a bio-electrical and vibrational energy phenomenon. So now, living according to your meridians and qi will renew your energy and improve your health. It is a restoration of our natural state, a return to naturalism. It’s a way of living according to the energy flow of your body at certain points of the day and according to certain seasons.

I think it absolutely makes perfect sense that living according to the sun and the moon, and in extension in accordance to the seasons, would impact our health positively. We are nature, too. We have gotten so far from it, but we are still a part of it.

WHAT ARE QI AND THE MERIDIANS? 

The Chinese character for Qi (pronounced “chee” and sometimes spelled “chi”) means SO many different things – it could mean gas, energy, air, electricity, and more. The fact that this one character has so many different definitions is a great way to explain the vague nature of qi. It is a concept that resists being defined. You could say there isn’t an exact definition of qi in the west.

However, we do have a working interpretation of the word. We can look at qi as the governing force of our body – an electrical current that runs through pathways called the meridians. Qi is the living aspect of a being; the life force energy that flows within a person. P

Everything in our body depends on the balance of qi. Qi controls our mind, and in turn our mind controls qi. It is absolutely vital to learn how to live according to the flow of qi within our bodies. 

When qi is not flowing freely through the meridians, psychological and physical problems can and will occur. Our meridians are basically channels of communication within us, along which information is transmitted. Meridians are what moves qi throughout our body.

“It’s living in the fashion that we would be living if we ran according to the sun, the moon, and the seasons.”

If we have a block in one of our meridians, our qi energy will not be able to get through to that meridian and will negatively affect our health, especially in regards to the area that that meridian governs.

You can recognize which one of your meridians are blocked or inactive by becoming more in tune with your body. I could make a whole video about becoming more in tune with your body if you’d like, leave a comment about that and I will. Being in tune with your body and having free-flowing qi goes hand in hand.

A few methods of taking care of the meridians and qi are as follows: practice light yoga, qi-gong, tai chi, and accupressure. There is also a Japanese meridian stretching therapy, called Makko-ho that is very helpful in caring for qi flow.

Qi flows in a pattern of movement through our bodies and is strongest in certain parts of the body during certain times over a 24 hour period – which is why living according to qi and our meridians is living closest to our natural selves. It’s living in the fashion that we would be living if we ran according to the sun, the moon, and the seasons. 

WHAT DOES SCIENCE SAY?

In the past, mainstream science has been quick to reject the Meridian system and qi. That’s mainly because the meridians could not be seen when a human body was dissected.

As far as I’m concerned, we all have consciousness and souls. Those can’t be pinpointed when human beings are dissected, either. However, I know that many of us like to have some scientific evidence behind our holistic and spiritual teachings, so I’d like to assure you that this field is expanding.

In the past 70 years or so, researchers have found compelling evidence for the existence of the meridians and qi. For example, scientists at Seoul National University claimed to confirm the existence of the meridians, which they called the “primo-vascular system,” and explained that they are a crucial part of the cardiovascular system.

Other scientists have discovered clear distinctions between the anatomical structures of acupuncture points and non-acupuncture points through CT Scans of the body. Many other tests and studies have been conducted, providing convincing evidence that this interesting part of Chinese medicine is deserving of our recognition.

LET’S GET ON WITH THE SCHEDULE!

Now that we’ve gone over qi and the meridians a bit, let’s get on to a practical application of these concepts. The following is a schedule that gives us a daily routine that corresponds to where our qi is circulating at each part of the day. It is a way to best use our energy and to heal our body without much effort at all on our part, just simply a return to our natural state.

3 AM-5 AM Lung Meridian Time

Qi flow begins from 3 to 5 in the morning, in the Lung Meridian. At this time, it’s important to be asleep in order to enhance your energy for the following day. This is the time right before waking.

The reason why the Lung Meridian Time is so important is because pure qi is created from an amalgamation of the air we breathe and the from the food that we eat.  At 3 AM, our lungs extract qi from the air and that’s when it begins its flow through the meridian system.

If you find yourself unable to sleep around this time, or if you wake up often during this time, then you likely have an issue that involves your lungs. 

Tip: Wear white to bed. This is said to improve qi flow to the Lung Meridian.

5 am-7am Colon Meridian time

Our day begins at 5 am to 7 am, which is the Colon meridian time. At this time, you should begin to rise and prepare for your day. The best way to improve your qi flow at this time is to exercise, even lightly. If you are an athlete, right now is the best time to train.

If you can’t exercise, spend some time trying out Makko-ho stretches. There are specific stretches for each Meridian.

7 am to 9 am Stomach Meridian Time

At 7 am to 9 am is your Stomach meridian time, and it’s very important to nourish yourself with a healthy breakfast at this time.

Pure qi is comprised of the qi that comes from the air and from the food that we eat.

Eating a very healthy breakfast is a great way to set the tone for today, as it will allow qi to flourish in your stomach and happily and healthily create pure qi that will flow through your body for the rest of the day.

9 am to 11 am Spleen Meridian Time

9 am to 11 am is the Spleen Meridian time. At this time, you should get to work – whatever work you have to do. Create a to-do list, starting with the most time-consuming or difficult things you need to do all the way to the easiest. The spleen meridian time is the best time to complete your most difficult tasks of the day.

If you’re a big procrastinator like I am, get in the habit of doing the hardest things you have to do that day during these two hours. The rest of your day will feel like a breeze if you make this your routine.

You want to have great spleen qi because deficiency in this area is the cause for extra weight. If you are looking to lose weight and lean out, improving your spleen qi should be your top priority.

11 am to 1 pm Heart Meridian Time

From 11 am to 1 pm is your heart meridian time. At this point, you should switch from your hardest tasks of the day to work that fulfills you, if possible. If you can, do something creative during this time. Draw, read, write, or work towards a goal that’s really important to you and that you love. Work on the tasks that are productive, but also give you joy and meaning.

The best way to improve your qi during the heart meridian time is to feel joy.

1 pm-3pm Small Intestine Meridian Time

Our small intenstine meridian rules the hours between 1pm and 3 pm. At this point, it’s time to start winding down and slowing down. You know that afternoon slump feeling? That has to do with your small intestine working overtime. To enhance your qi at this time,  don’t do any difficult tasks right now.

This is also the time to eat a healthy, light and relaxing lunch.

3 pm-5 pm bladder meridian time

At 3 pm- 5 pm is the Bladder meridian time. This is the time to wrap up your work day, or your studies. At this point, you should be handling any minor details from the day, and start thinking about how you will spend your evening.

Bladder meridian time is a good time to answer any non-urgent emails, plan the following day, and just overall take care of any small lingering tasks.

5pm-7 pm Kidney Meridian Time

Kidney meridian time comes in between 5 pm and 7 pm, and this is when it’s time to slow all the way down. You want to cool down at this time, switching from the fast-paced energy of the day to a slow, relaxed state.

According to Chinese medicine, many illnesses are caused by people not allowing themselves to relax at this point of the day.

When you get home or wherever you go after work, try to be in a darkened environment. Read by candlelight, or turn on a Himalayan salt lamp. You want to be away from your computer screen at this point, and ideally from TV and phone as well. Doing this is extremely beneficial for emotional well-being, and you will see great results within as little as a few days.

Kidney Meridian time is ideal for a healthy dinner.

7 pm-9 pm Pericardium Meridian time

7 Pm to 9 Pm is the Pericardium meridian time, a very important time in the 24-hour qi cycle. The pericardium is the protector of the heart. At this time of day, you must prepare to go to sleep in the next few hours.

Though it is recommended to have stayed away from electronics staring between 5-7, at this time it’s absolutely crucial. Protect yourself from light, television, smart phones, computers, and anything else that casts artificial light.

It might seem insane to be asleep by 9, but if you are looking for emotional stability, mental well-being, physical health and well-being, a proper weight and tons of energy, being asleep at 9 is absolutely ideal for human beings.

Before trying to be in bed by 9, you can take this time to do things you really enjoy, like reading, listening to music or playing music, crafts, hobbies, light stretching, and then get ready for bed.

9 pm-11 pm Triple Heater Meridian Time

Between 9pm to 11 pm is the Triple Heater meridian time. This is the beginning of our sleep cycle, and we should be prepared and ready to sleep soundly at this time since winding down from 5 oclock. The absolute best way to enhance your qi at this time is to be falling asleep.

11 pm to 1 am Gall bladder meridian

11 pm to 1 am is the Gall Bladder Meridian time. It is absolutely crucial for you to be asleep at this time, when many biological functions are taking place to restore your body and mind.

1 am to 3 am Liver Meridian Time

1 am to 3 am is the liver meridian time, and it is very important that you stay asleep at this time. This is when your liver performs metabolic functions to keep you healthy. If you find yourself awake at this time, it could have something to do with your liver not being able to process something you’ve consumed such as alcoholic drinks from the evening. If you pick up a similar schedule to this, within a couple of weeks you will be sleeping like a baby around this time.