6 "Restful" Habits That Actually Drain Your Vital Energy!

Written by: Melody, TCM Practitioner

We often think resting means truly relaxing, but some behaviors that seem like rest are actually 悄悄消耗我们的气血 (quietly depleting our Qi and Blood). In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi and Blood are the foundation of all life activities. When Qi and Blood are abundant, you're healthy and full of energy. But if they're insufficient, you become prone to various illnesses.

Why These Habits Are Secret Energy Drainers

1. Playing on Your Phone Before Bed 

Many modern people obsessively play on their phones in bed, trying to extend their alone time. But this habit actually 伤神耗精 (harms your spirit and consumes your essence). The blue light from phone screens stimulates your brain, making it hard to fall asleep. 长期如此会伤及心脾 (Over time, this damages your Heart and Spleen) and depletes your vital essence. The blue light keeps your brain excited, making it impossible to sleep. In the long run, your body becomes like a battery-drained machine, getting weaker and weaker.

2. Using Your Phone While Eating

Have you noticed that when you eat while looking at your phone, you unconsciously eat too much? Plus, because your attention is divided, you swallow food without chewing it properly. For your digestive system, this is like adding a lot of extra burden.

🔸 Spleen and Stomach Damage: 

Eating while distracted affects food digestion and absorption, harming Spleen and Stomach function.

🔸 Internal Dampness Generation: 

The Spleen and Stomach are the foundation of acquired essence. Poor Spleen and Stomach function easily leads to internal dampness, triggering various illnesses.

3. Sitting for Long Periods

t's like water in a pond; if it doesn't flow, it breeds bacteria. Your body is the same. Long periods of inactivity slow down blood circulation, and your body's "waste" piles up. Over time, this leads to illness.

🔹 Qi and Blood Stagnation: 

Prolonged sitting obstructs Qi and Blood circulation, leading to Qi and Blood stagnation, causing various aches and discomforts.

🔹 Dampness Obstruction: 

Long periods of sitting easily lead to dampness obstruction, worsening feelings of heaviness and sluggishness in the body.

4. Constantly Reliving Bad Memories

Always dwelling on unhappy things is like planting a seed in your heart that grows bigger and bigger, making you feel anxious and depressed.

🔸 Disturbed Heart Spirit: 

Repeatedly recalling bad memories harms the Heart spirit, leading to restlessness and affecting sleep.

🔸 Liver Qi Stagnation: 

Persistent unhappiness easily leads to Liver Qi stagnation, impeding the smooth flow of Qi and Blood.

5. Using Your Phone on the Toilet

Using your phone on the toilet is like texting while driving – it easily leads to problems. Over time, it affects normal bowel peristalsis and can even lead to issues like haemorrhoids.

🔹 Consumes Qi and Harms Spirit: 

Using your phone on the toilet extends bathroom time, consumes mental energy, and is not conducive to body rest.

6. Drinking Cold Water Regularly

Our body is like a thermos. Regularly drinking cold water makes the body's "thermos" colder and colder, easily leading to colds and cold hands and feet.

🔸 Damages Spleen and Stomach Yang Qi: 

Long-term consumption of cold water damages the Spleen and Stomach Yang Qi, leading to Spleen and Stomach coldness and deficiency, affecting digestive function.

🔸 Internal Cold-Dampness Generation: 

Cold water can worsen internal cold-dampness, triggering various cold-dampness related illnesses.

The Harms of These Behaviors Can Be Summarized As:

• Affects sleep quality

• Damages the digestive system

• Lowers immunity

• Triggers various chronic illnesses

• Affects mental health

So, What Should We Do?

🌟 Go to Bed Early, Ditch the Phone: 

Try not to look at your phone for an hour before bed to let your brain relax.

🌟 Focus on Eating: 

When eating, focus on your meal and chew slowly.

🌟 Move More: 

Set aside some time each day to exercise and get your body moving.

🌟 Maintain an Optimistic Mindset: 

Learn to let go of worries and keep a positive and optimistic attitude.

🌟 Develop Good Toilet Habits: 

Focus on using the toilet when you're there; don't play on your phone.

🌟 Drink More Warm Water: 

Drink less ice water and more warm water to protect your Spleen and Stomach.

How TCM Can Improve These Issues

TCM believes that the key to health preservation lies in regulating Yin-Yang balance and ensuring smooth Qi and Blood flow. For the unhealthy habits mentioned above, TCM can provide regulation through the following methods:

🌱 Adjusting Routine: 

Go to bed early and wake up early, ensuring sufficient sleep.

🌱 Dietary Regulation: 

Pay attention to a light diet, eat more warm foods, and less raw/cold and chilling foods.

🌱 Exercise for Health: 

Moderate exercise, such as Tai Chi or Ba Duan Jin, helps promote Qi and Blood circulation.

🌱 Acupuncture and Cupping: 

These methods can unblock meridians and regulate Qi and Blood.

🌱 Herbal Conditioning: 

Based on individual constitution, take Chinese herbs that nourish the Liver and Kidneys, invigorate the Spleen and replenish Qi, and activate Blood and resolve stasis.

These seemingly minor bad habits, if continued long-term, can cause significant harm to the body. TCM health preservation emphasizes "preventing illness before it arises." By adjusting our lifestyle and maintaining a good mindset, we can effectively prevent diseases and improve our quality of life.

If you'd like to learn more about TCM wellness, or if you'd like more personalized advice for your specific situation, we recommend booking a consultation.