- 14 Mar, 2025
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- 4 Mins Read
Staying Productive During Fasting Season
Fasting season is a term used to refer to a period of the year when certain religions or cultures practice abstinence from certain or food or drinks, at certain times of the day. Fasting is observed by various religions in different ways, at their own time.
The essence of fasting can vary depending on cultural, religious or personal contexts, but it generally includes the following key aspects:
Spiritual Growth: In many religions, fasting is a way to seek spiritual closeness to a higher power or to purify one’s soul. It’s often seen as an act of devotion and sacrifice.
Discipline and Self-Control: Fasting requires discipline and self-control, which can help an individual develop greater self-mastery and strengthen their willpower.
Compassion and Empathy: By experiencing hunger or deprivation, people who fast may develop greater empathy for those who are less fortunate and cultivate a sense of compassion.
Health Benefits: Some people fast for health reasons, believing that it can promote detoxification, improve metabolism, and provide a break for the digestive system.
Ritual and Tradition: Fasting can be a way to observe important religious or cultural traditions, helping to reinforce a sense of community and shared identity.
Mental Clarity: Many individuals report that fasting helps them achieve greater mental clarity and focus, which can be beneficial for meditation or prayer.
Fasting is a deeply personal practice, and its meaning can vary widely across religions and from person to person.
Many parts of the world are presently experiencing a fasting season and Nigeria is no different – Muslims are in the Ramadan period which lasts for about a month, well technically until the moon is sighted. Christians (mostly Catholics, Orthodox and some Protestant traditions) are in the Lent period as well, which is 40 days long and ends on Easter Sunday.
Maintaining productivity of any sort during the fasting season can be very challenging. The fuel the body would usually get from eating and other activities is being restricted to a certain time. It can be daunting and could possibly affect productivity at work and life in general.
Using Nigeria as a case, where the major religions are Christianity and Islam, the fasting season is undebatable for the religious devotees – so regardless of the situation they are in professionally, the fast is to be observed.
For the Muslims in Nigeria and most especially Muslim dominated states like Niger, Kaduna, Kwara, Borno, etc., state governors put in a decree to reduce activities that require physical strength, so observers don’t get worn out and stressed out, making the period unbearable. States like Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, etc. are not Muslim dominated and observers of the fasting period will just have to find a way to make it work! They still have to go to work and engage in typical activities like struggling for transportation, interacting with others who are not fasting, etc. All of these can hinder productivity in one way or the other.
The question is, is it possible to still maintain professional productivity during the fasting season without becoming marginally or totally burnt out? Yes, it is. Difficult? Sure, but definitely doable. How can you go about it?
Let’s discuss…
First and foremost, you need to have your time management skills on lock down. If you’re struggling with time management you can check out our last blog update. All you need to have your time on lockdown is highlighted in the article and you can also do further research, but we are sure you’ll find a thing or two to help you in our last update. So, we won’t be dwelling much on that.
Secondly, if you’re into exercising and working out, you’ll want to keep it light ad moderate through the season. Avoid heavy lifting and rigorous body movements that consume a lot of energy, especially if you do morning sessions. Keep it light and limit the time of your work out. Take walks (they are effective and do not consume so much energy).
For dinner, we recommend consuming foods high in proteins, rich in fibre and carbohydrates to help give you energy and keep you full till the next food break. For Muslims, we recommend consuming balanced and nutritious meals before dawn (Suhoor).
During fast breaks, drink lots of water to keep hydrated.
Most importantly, rest well! Do not involve yourself in activities that will burn you out unnecessarily.
Furthermore, prioritise your mental health above all else. Discard or totally avoid whatever will stress you. Stress drains the body of much energy and you definitely don’t need that in this period. Practice good stress reducing techniques like the famous breathing in and breathing out. Always remember the reason you started fasting, the benefit of the spiritual cleansing and that should keep you going at all times. Keep a positive mindset, be optimistic.
Maintain respectful communications. Only involve yourself in communication that are not disrespectful to your faith. Ensure to avoid toxic gatherings or places that could hinder your productivity both at work and at home. As much as you are fasting, respect those that are not. Don’t impose your fasting or beliefs on them or make them feel guilty for not fasting. That way you breed positivity.
Lastly, continually remind yourself of the reason and benefit for observing your fast and that should keep you going each day.
We wish you the best during this season!