Written by: Shereen Gaber

Let’s be honest, fasting in this heat is not the easiest or the most enjoyable thing to do. A lot of people eagerly wait for Ramadan each year but then there are those who really don’t. So in order to make fasting a little bit easier, here are a few tips you can try that will hopefully make Ramadan a little bit easier and perhaps, even more enjoyable.

1 – Don’t overeat and drink

A lot of people think that when they eat or drink beyond their normal intake, that this will help them not feel hunger or thirst during the day while fasting. Side effects can include weight gain, bloating and lethargy. So in fact, these habits will only have an opposite effect. You should continue with your normal diet and focus on eating foods that don’t get digested quickly and, if it’s summer, foods that don’t generate thirst like garlic, spices, salt and fried foods. And hydrate regularly until Sehour. Eat lots of fibres and good carbs.

 

2- Don’t bite more than you can chew

If you can’t focus no matter how hard you try while fasting, don’t slack off your own work but don’t accept new projects or other people’s work when applicable. You’re already having a hard time doing your own work so don’t take on more work if you can’t handle it.

 

3 – Manage your time

 

Don’t keep making plans that you yourself are unsure of. If one day you’re tired, then rest. Designate a specific time to rest if you feel like you need to. Ramadan has lots of outings for Iftar, Sehour and family gatherings. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and like you have too many things to do but not enough time, then prioritize and apologize from attending outings if you have to. You don’t have to go everywhere and see everyone. This also applies to work. Adjust your work schedule accordingly so you can finish your work without extra unneeded effort.

 

4 – Don’t stress yourself about fasting

If, for any reason you can’t fast, don’t stress yourself by having to hide it or being afraid of someone finding out. There are many reasons why some people can’t fast and it’s OK. God has given us legitimate passes that we can use so you don’t have to feel ashamed if you end up using one.

 

5 – Exercise

Light exercise will keep your body active so you won’t feel so lazy and tired. Of course, in this heat, it can be quite difficult but if you can find a way to do it without tiring yourself out then go ahead!

 

6 – Get enough sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential even when it’s not Ramadan, but having a good sleep schedule will help a lot while fasting. Make sure to manage your day in order for you to get around 7 or 8 hours of beauty rest. The optimum is for you to have all 8 hours at once but you can divide them into 2 parts if it’ll help; like taking a one hour nap when your return from work or school and then the rest will be at night.

7- Eat dates

Dates have an amazing amount of benefits; you can have them for both Iftar and Sohour. Dates are good carbs and they help the glucose levels go back to normal.

 

8- Be thoughtful

Ramadan is a time for us to better ourselves. There are many ways you can achieve this, whether it’s attending to the poor or just being a kinder person to others. So if you remember being a jerk to a specific someone, then perhaps it’s the perfect time to make it up to them. Reflect on your actions and behavior and see if there’s anything you can improve about yourself. Going to bed at night knowing you did a good deed or succeeded at conquering one of your bad habits will make you feel so much better throughout the holy month.

Hopefully, following these tips will make Ramadan more enjoyable and more bearable in this heat. A lot of people are so preoccupied with going to the best outings or holding the grandest feasts while in reality, Ramadan is all about taking it easy and re-evaluating yourself and trying to get closer to God.