Plan your meals and stay energised
RAMADAAN is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar when people go on a spiritual journey.
Abstaining from food and water during sunlight hours, fasting is supposed to cleanse the body and teach self-discipline. Abstaining from indulgences, meditating on God and encouraging acts of generosity feed the soul.
During the holy month of Ramadaan, Muslims wake up before dawn for Suhoor and then have iftaar in the evening, a special supper celebrated with friends and family.
While fasting, it is important to start your day with nutrient-rich food that will help keep you nourished through the day.
Eat healthy snacks to avoid stomach problems.
Here are tips to help you plan your meals better, and stay energised:
Opt for healthy meals
The most important element during fasting for long periods is mindful eating. Prepare a plan for your meals. Include food that is high in nutrients, proteins, and fibre such as fruit or nuts to keep the body as well as the mind energised during the day. One food to add to your Ramadaan diet is almonds.
Almonds are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals such as protein, vitamin E and zinc. Almonds also have satiating properties that promote feelings of fullness and keep hunger at bay.
So make sure to include a handful of almonds as a part of your meal at dawn.
Create a sleep routine
Since you have to wake up early for the first meal of the day, try to adjust your sleep pattern. With everyone under lockdown, working from home can be exhausting at times, with many people working later.
However, during Ramadaan, ensure that you outline a scheduled time to sleep, complete work tasks and take breaks. As part of that schedule, make sure to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Good sleep habits are an important indicator of your overall health and well-being and help to increase your productivity.
Include a workout session followed by some meditation
Fasting for longer periods can make you feel tired and low on energy during the day. To avoid this, add a short workout session and 5 to 10 minutes of meditation. It will do wonders. This can include basic exercises such as breathing, low-intensity yoga, stair climbing or even stretching. This will calm your mind and rejuvenate the aura around you.
Divert your mind with your favourite novel
During this time, the days may feel longer and more tiresome than usual. A good way to avoid feeling like this is to plan your day in advance and allocate time for activities besides work. Invest your time in reading. This is good practice whether you are working from home or the office. Reading a good novel will help strengthen your vocabulary, brain health and memory as well as relieve stress.
Invite a little sunshine in
Being in the sun improves your metabolism and induces a refreshing feeling in the body. Your mood will lift and this will give you the energy to be more productive. Open the windows and let the sunlight brighten up not only your home but also your mood.
Try to follow these simple steps to keep yourself energised during the day and focus on self-care during Ramadaan. Do not push your body or stress yourself unduly with minor things. Instead, immerse yourself in doing what you love.