Many people think that Ramadan can have a negative impact on productivity, but it can actually be the perfect opportunity to get more work done! Having to stay away from food and drink actually creates a lot of extra time and space for yourself - think about how many fewer breaks you're taking than you usually would if you had to eat lunch or multiple snack(s!) throughout the day. This alone can easily give you an extra hour of focus time that you can use to your advantage!
Not everyone has the same experiences but as a Muslim student, here are some of my own tips that have really helped me to maximise my productivity for studying during Ramadan!
1. Sleep
Sleep is vital during Ramadan as your sleeping habits significantly change during this time. You are having to wake up or sleep in the early hours of the morning which can impact your energy levels throughout the day. A helpful tip to manage this is to ensure that you are sleeping at the same time every day - including weekends! This will ensure that your body is getting enough rest, and that you can make the most of your day ahead. Make sleep a priority during this time as you will need the energy.
2. Eating enough to fuel your body
It's so important that you are eating enough at Suhoor and Iftar time. Food can impact energy levels significantly, so if you want to study efficiently you need to ensure that you are eating the right foods. One of the best foods I like to eat for Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) are oats as they contain slow-releasing carbohydrates which keep me fuller for longer. You can also have Weetabix if you are not an oats fan. Other food types that are great for energy are proteins! Prioritise protein such as eggs, salmon, yoghurt bowls.. the list is endless. This will not only give you a boost in energy throughout the day but will help keep you fuller for longer.
Ensure that you are eating well-balanced meals for Iftar as well as Suhoor. It can be easy to think that eating processed foods and fried foods will not impact studying as you are no longer fasting, but highly processed and sugary food can make you feel even more lethargic! Of course, you can have fried and processed foods all in moderation.
3. Exercising!
The word many people dread… especially during Ramadan. How could you possibly exercise while not eating or drinking? I promise you it’s not that bad! Make time for some physical activity in your day. Exercise will help lower stress and release those endorphins which are definitely needed during exam time.
You don’t need to do a 30-minute full-body workout every day. It’s as simple as getting 15 minutes of fresh air and taking a walk. If you would like to work out, the best workouts to do are yoga, pilates, and other low impact exercises during Fasting.
4. Finding your study time
Some of us are early birds and some of us are night owls. It’s important to keep track of your energy levels throughout the day to make the most of the studying that you need to get done. An easy way to do this is to write out all the times you are awake (e.g 8am to 9pm) in a notebook, and use three colours (e.g. red, amber, and green) also known as traffic lights, to track your focus levels through the day. Highlight the times you feel most alert in green, medium alertness times in amber, and your least alert times of day in red. This will give you a clear insight into the best times for you to study; whether it’s after breaking your fast or before Suhoor, it just depends on you! I advise keeping this up for a few days so that you’re able to work out the best study times for you.
5. Set daily goals and make a plan
It’s so important to set goals and a plan for your day ahead. During Ramadan you may need to balance a lot of different activities such as school, prayer, Quran and Fasting. However, by planning your days and weeks, you are guaranteed to be more organised which will help your days run smoothly.
Time blocking your day, revolving your study sessions around prayers and making time for yourself is so important. Ramadan is not only for the spiritual cleanse but it is the time to build healthier and sustainable habits that you can take forward with you after the end of Ramadan.
Set 3 main study goals and tackle the first goal when you feel most energetic e.g after Suhoor or after Iftar. This will allow you to get more done in the week as you are less likely to leave a big project or subject until the very last minute. To-do lists will be your best friend during this busy month! Make use of making a realistic to-do list and be sure to add some self-care in to your day e.g. meditation, journaling or yoga.
6. Allow your body to rest and don't overwhelm yourself!
Fasting can be a unique experience for everyone. You know if you need more rest during this time and that’s perfectly fine. Allow your body to rest and take regular naps if needed. You don’t need to be productive every day to achieve the best possible results. Try to be smart with your time and schedule in self-care when needed (yes, napping is a form of self-care!).
Ramadan Mubarak!
Hope these tips are useful and help you to be as successful as you can during this month!
Good luck with your studying!
Hope these tips are useful and help you to be as successful as you can during this month!
Good luck with your studying!
Study tips and resources to keep your grades grades high and your stress levels low!
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