Ramadan is a holy time for the Muslims fraternity. It is also the time for fasting and prayer, which may lead to lack of productivity during times of hunger and thirst. Here are some ways to work smarter and be productive throughout the Holy Month:
Embrace afternoon naps
It is very rare for adults to take afternoon naps, but this activity is actually very helpful to those who are fasting. On a normal day, you may be able to work throughout your afternoon without a nap. But in the fasting period when you only have a certain amount of energy, being productive throughout the day can be a challenge. Afternoon naps can supply you with plenty of energy and give you rest from your high-stress working environment.
A 15-20 minute power nap at your work table can do wonders for you.
Know your limits and energy reserves
Knowing your limitations and energy reserves are also the key to working smarter. It will be difficult to stay energetic for the whole day and you might even faint if you push yourself to much. The key to solving this problem is by prioritizing the tasks you have and working on them when you have the most energy. If you don’t, you will be at risk of doing minute tasks splendidly while straining yourself and making more mistakes for more important tasks.
Discover other ways to regain energy
Sometimes, work can be quite demanding throughout the day and you don’t have the option of taking a rest. When this happens, it will be the perfect time to find specific ways to regain your energy. Some of the activities we recommend include light exercise, stretching, washing your face or even wearing your favorite perfume.
Swap meetings for video chat and calls
Rather than spend your energy on meetings, why not swap it with video chats and calls? Although it will be more assuring to meet face-to-face, a simple activity such as walking a distance might take a toll on you in the afternoon.
A virtual meeting online will not only save you energy but also time. As a result, you will be more efficient in doing your work. Adequate wifi or internet connection is enough for a virtual meeting without either of you being present.
Many tools like Skype, Whatsapp, GoToMeeting etc make virtual meetings effective.
Utilize every minute of your time
We may not realize it, but there are spare minutes in every part of our day. In Ramadan, we have more spare time because of Sahur at dawn. You can simply choose to rest or sleep after sahur, but we would recommend doing the most minute tasks during this time. This is to maximize efficiency and minimize strain before breaking the fast, as you will still be fresh and energetic.
Limit distractions
Although most of us are strong enough to hold off temptations during the Ramadan, sometimes it can take a toll on our mental and emotional condition. The best thing we can do is limit distractions so we would be able to fully concentrate on our work rather than the difficulties that we are experiencing. Some of the things that can be done include limiting daily use of social media and avoid talking about food.
Plan your days in advance
As each task you has a different workload, planning is required to maintain your work momentum. You can start by listing out your tasks for the day then determining the workload for each of the tasks. Allot time in the morning for high-energy and high priority tasks such as meetings, calls and other interpersonal interactions. Afterwards, schedule the rest of your work in the afternoon.
