We’re halfway through Ramadan already! And even though this month has been a completely different experience, there are still things that don’t change. Like the sugary desserts and the weird sleep patterns which might not be the best of habits, but there are other things that are actually quite beneficial that we should consider sticking to for the rest of the year.
Charity
Giving back has always been a significant part of the holy month and people commonly donate cash and cooked meals, and so much more. Science agrees that philanthropy is good for us and our communities and doing it more regularly will definitely benefit everyone. Find a charity or cause that you believe in and commit to a cash amount or to volunteer your time with the organization. Set a monthly reminder, so you won’t forget. Use Give to donate and it will take you mere minutes to do some good in the world!
A Shared Family Meal
We were unaware that the humble family dinner can do wonders; from higher self-esteem and improved academic performance to lowering your risk of depression. But we do feel happier when we sit down to even the simplest meal with our loved ones. Ramadan scheduling makes it so easy, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to do this during the rest of the year. Start with weekends, promise yourself and your family to at least one meal that you can all share and then add other days. It might be easier if you start doing themed days, like Taco Tuesday, Seafood Sunday, Frittata Fridays or Meatless Monday. Invite everyone to find recipes or try different dishes for an even more involved and fun event.
Join #TeamNaps!
Our sleep cycles take quite a hit during Ramadan. We stay up late for Suhour and are exhausted before Iftar and are prone to more napping. But it turns out that biphasic sleep can actually be better for us. Taking a short nap everyday can do wonders for your health, mood and productivity. Finding the time might be difficult but it is totally worth it.
Social Connections
Loneliness and social isolation can kill us (we’re being a little dramatic, but not entirely facetious ). Before the socially distanced Ramadan of 2020, we were almost fully booked for Iftars, Suhours and Ghabqas for the entire month. We loved connecting with our friends and family. Even during a pandemic, people have been using technology to stay connected. Life can get hectic, we know, but making a mental list of all the people you care about and even writing it down can help you make sure you check-in with everyone more regularly to stay connected. Not only will your friends feel happy that you called them, you will too!
Intermittent Fasting
Anyone who has sat down to Ramadan Iftar knows that they might not be the healthiest. The mountains of deep fried samosas can’t possibly be a healthy choice. Nor is the amount of sugar and ghee in any random Middle Eastern dessert. If we fasted and ate normal meals, it would be much better for us. There has been a lot of research into the concept of intermittent fasting and the evidence supports the hypothesis that it is actually very good for our bodies and brains. We’re definitely going to give this a go after Ramadan, if only we can stop ourselves from the constant snacking.
More soup, please
While we’re on the topic of eating, why do we consume a lot of soup during Ramadan? It made more sense when we fasted in the winter and a nice hot cup of soup was the perfect thing to start with. Yet, here we are in the summer and still making soup for Iftar. Despite our bafflement, soup is good for you and you should definitely incorporate it more often in your diet regardless of the month. You can even make batches and freeze it so you always have a hearty, healthy homemade option available. Bonus tip: An immersion blender is one of the cheapest yet biggest game changing purchases you can make to level up your life and soups.
Photo by Kasya Shahovskaya on Unsplash.
