Taking Care Of Yourself During Ramadan

By Anisa (she/her), who is hopelessly obsessed with finding the perfect crisps. 

Preparing for Ramadan is always an exciting experience as it’s a time of spiritual connection, charity, and community. Everyone’s Ramadan experience is unique and special to them — these days I look forward to the calmness I’ll feel at the end of Taraweeh prayers.

But not so long ago, I’d worry about whether I was making the most of Ramadan. The holy month is fleeting, yet its impact is huge because it changes your day-to-day routine. Whilst observing the fasting period, the following tips have helped me to learn how my mind and body work best, and taught me how to structure my Ramadan alongside my commitments to school and work. So I hope you’ll find these tips useful in your life too. 

Tell people

Naturally, you’ll be fasting during Ramadan, so you might not have an infinite bundle of energy. You might be quieter or more distant, or feel under pressure — as if you’re letting your friends down by not being as social. So my tip is to let the people around you know that you’re focusing on Ramadan. 

Implement a routine 

You might know that a study timetable is vital to making the most out of your revision, but have you thought of creating something similar for Ramadan? A Ramadan timetable can help you to visualise your goals and how to achieve them. Giving yourself that direction, in how to use your time between iftar/maghrib and the end of your day, can help lessen any fears about there being too much to accomplish on your Ramadan journey.

Take breaks!

You may not be able to have your usual snack or lunch break, but make sure you still take a break nevertheless! You could watch TV or hang out with your family, and try to see these breaks as time to unwind, relax and slow down. Taking breaks is especially helpful during stressful periods, and can help you reset and feel more energised to resume revising or completing Ramadan activities.

Have realistic expectations 

In many areas of our life, we often feel pressure to be the best version of ourselves — at school, amongst our peers, and at home. Ramadan can feel the same way as this month is about becoming a better person. So, during this blessed month, it's important to keep your expectations realistic and simply do the best you can. Remember that your best might look different every day! Try and reframe your thoughts into a positive mindset. Ask yourself, are you celebrating your wins enough, however big or small? Are you managing to take time for yourself?
 
It is not entirely reasonable to believe that you’ll be able to spend every minute of Ramadan praying or studying, as you’ll be balancing Ramadan alongside your other commitments. You’re not a robot! You’re a being capable of love, gratitude, and hard work — as well as feeling tired, frustrated and sad! This is why Ramadan is a gift. It’s a human experience, and it teaches us to focus on the collective struggle. So remember to not shy away from recognising your own struggles this month, as you too are a human being who’s persevering in aligning your faith with your everyday life.
 

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