Don't Abandon Your Ramadan "Project" Just Yet

As-salamu alaykum,

It’s just over 2 weeks since the fast of Ramadan ended and for many of us - including myself - chances are we've had days when it’s just been a real drag.

Ramadan ended on a high note with a very intense period of training especially in the last 10 nights as we searched for Laylatul Qadr. 

What did many of us do after that final night or maybe even after the 27th night of Ramadan?

We know what many of us do every year in healthcare circles - docs, nurses, pharmacists etc…we jump right back into it! No pause, No recovery, and sometimes No Eid!

The No Eid part can be a downer for many of us and our families but it's a reality of service at the frontlines of healthcare - we do it because it is aligned with our “calling”. Fortunately, unlike some other obligations in our Faith - the Eid prayer itself is mandatory on the community but not on every individual so we can get a pass there.

We, however, can not get an indefinite pass for many other things in life such as spending quality time with family, doing due diligence with patient care, optimizing core aspects of our Faith such as our 5 daily prayers, our relationship with the Quran and many other similar resolutions that we committed to in the final days of Ramadan. 

Not even simply because we are super busy healthcare professionals. 

It is not in our best interest personally or professionally. And it is definitely not in our favor when we think about our investment portfolio for the afterlife. 

We must take action to stop the drag - to recover physically and mentally and refocus our efforts on becoming that next best version of ourselves that we committed to in the final hours of Ramadan. #YourRamadanProject

If you are still struggling with the post-Ramadan “drag”, then you are not alone. It’s expected after a period of intense training and especially if you really went all out in the last 10 nights (and potentially had to work through it). 

You, Me and Others in our Healthcare camps are all Human. 

The drag can be explained by at least a few things: “the return of our open enemy - Shaytan”, the absence of the Barakah of Ramadan, the reduced impact of communal worship among other things.

One often underestimated factor is the lack of attention to recovery - especially Physical Recovery. 

The science of recovery after an intense work-out is well-established. 

We underestimate the physical, and by default, the mental toll that the intensity of the last 10 nights of Ramadan has on us and we do not give our bodies its due right in the following 1 - 2 weeks.

Narrated by`Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O `Abdullah!  Have I not been informed that you fast all day and stand in prayer all night?" I said, "Yes, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!" He said, "Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them (the fast) at other times; stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you." [Sahih al-Bukhari 5199]

Giving our body its due right to rest and recover in those first few days to a week (or longer for some) post Ramadan is a crucial investment in your intention for longterm transformation towards your next best version. 

Now, let’s explore a Ramadan “Pick-up” Game Plan that’s well within your reach;

1. Prioritize rest - yes, sleep. Your sleep wake cycle may have been disrupted in those final days of Ramadan and for some, the effect may linger on without intentionally working on adjusting the sleep routines. This can be a recipe for long-term struggle with your mental and physical recovery if not addressed now. 

Consider the approach shared here and customize it with your next best self in clear view.

2. Build movement into your daily routine - you may have slowed down in terms of exercise during Ramadan. If you did, then it's an absolute priority to bring this back if you have not already done so. Movement can range from working at a standing desk, using the stairs more often than elevators, to taking walks or going all out to exercise at home or even engaging in a “pick-up” or competitive games on a regular basis. 

Regardless of what you lean towards, the key thing is to not fall for the trick of Shaytan - all-or-nothing - but rather to do something even if it appears ridiculously easy at first glance and then gradually build forward. Movement is great medicine for your body and for your mind. Don’t underestimate the immense potential on your journey of transformation.  

Check out some gems here on reframing your relationship with movement and exercise - there’s a lot more to it than weight management and physique! 

3. Nourish your body with what is wholesome and build in food-breaks - yes, fast. Remember the fast of Shawwal. Don’t let it slip you by. It's a meager 6-day investment for a robust annual harvest…with the potential of a lifetime harvest if you make an annual commitment!

Abu Aiyub Al-Ansari (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will be (rewarded) as if he had fasted the entire year." Related by Muslim. [Book 5, Hadith 32]

If you can’t do all of it then do a couple at least incorporating fasting into your recovery plan is a thoughtful approach to easing your body's transition back to your typical year round eating habits. And choose your food and drinks wisely as you settle back into your annual routine. Lean towards choices that truly nourish your body and soul (it’s ok to slack every now and then my friend - I know you were thinking about that - we are not zombies but we can certainly rise above the expectations of our nafs (our lower selves) if only we try more often than not!

Looking for more depth on this? Discover some profound divine and scientific wisdoms on when, what and how to eat from a physician colleague here.

Having a recovery mindset is essential for busy healthcare professionals year-round and not just just post-Ramadan as we often go through intense work cycles and the chronic fatigue that builds up puts us at significant risk for burnout.  Let’s not allow the Post-Ramadan drag to tip us into a chronic fatigue state that gets in the way of our journeys to our next best versions.

If you are exploring additional support on your journey in this regard then please register your intent for an upcoming group coaching class here, in sha Allah

May Allah SWT continue to assist us all on our journeys of self-transformation towards our next best versions. Ameen.

Sincerely,

Sulyman

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