Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar in which Muslims all around the world fast during the day & do Ibadat during the night in the meantime managing their professional life along with the religious obligations. The essence of the month is more than just not eating and drinking in the public but extends to how you are as a person or what you do when your patience is tested. Ramadan usually falls at the peak of the summer, and at the time like these maintaining energy levels and staying hydrated is essential for a person to complete their tasks smoothly. Fasting can be done smoothly if you take the following precautions during Ramadan.
- Stay Hydrated
It’s important that you drink several fluids during the period you are not fasting to keep your hydration level up. Drink 8 glasses of water daily from Iftar to Suhur to prevent dehydration and constipation.
2. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep for 6-8 hours a day to get sufficient mental and physical rest. Less sleep means you will feel tired during the day which in turn leads to less productivity and activity. However, this does not mean that you can spend the whole duration of fasting sleeping.
3. Balanced Diet
Have a balanced varied Iftar which incorporates dates, soup, salad, a main dish, fruits, and a small piece of Ramadan sweets to stay healthy and fit.
4. Physical Activity
Walk or participate in some kind of physical activity to digest your food. Light exercises are great to keep blood flowing and the system working. Cardio exercises are also fine to do when fasting as long as you don’t overdo it.
5. Find Out What Works for you
Have Suhur to fill your body with energy and helps regulate your blood sugar. Depending on your sleeping schedule, you may want to experiment with how often and when you eat to keep your energy up.
6. Eat less
Eat a moderate amount of food to maintain your energy level. There’s no need to rush through a meal. Breaking your fast by eating too much at once can cause indigestion and other gastric problems. Practice moderate eating. As the Prophet (PBUH) said, a Muslim should eat and drink in moderation, reserving “one third [of the stomach] for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.” (Hadith, Tirmidhi)
7. Take a short afternoon nap
Experts say you don’t need more than a 15-minute siesta to refresh you. Take a short afternoon nap. This can help your body adjust to the daily Ramadan schedule that requires early waking for Suhur as well.
