Ramadan is here! And as much as we love the vibes and essence of this holy month, and the heartwarming family gatherings, surviving it in a 9 to 5 job isn’t easy.

Working 9 to 5 During Ramadan

To be honest I worry a lot about how to make it through working days during Ramadan. So much that it takes some of the anticipation and excitement away. Because it’s the lunch break and on desk snacks that usually help us get through rough and long working days. And when you fast you, obviously, don’t eat, and also you don’t get to enjoy the daily lunch gathering with your workmates.

But this year I decided to take a whole new approach to fasting & working and make this year’s Ramadan a productive one. So, here are my 7, so far, proven ways to survive your 9 to 5 job during the blessed month.

• Audio Books

listening to audio books while sitting for long hours behind your desk is probably the most time efficient way to not fall asleep. Holding and reading a book is not always OK while on duty. And breaks are not for reading in Ramadan, listening to audiobooks is a great solution.

Personally, I use 2 mobile apps for this purpose; Audible and Blinkist. Both really useful with tons of great books that will make the time fly.

Also, Why don’t listen to the Quran?
Working for long hours means you don’t get enough time to do much when you get back. And it also means you get home quite tired. So while you’re working play some verses from the Quran. You’ll stay on track with your reciting and memorization, and it’ll help the time go by faster.

• NAPS

That’s what breaks are for in Ramadan; NAPS!
I can swear those 30 minutes are the highlight of my day at work in Ramadan. No offense to my great co-workers! Who knew power naps were a real thing? Like you’d sleep through the night and wake up exhausted. But a 15 minutes nap is just enough to get you all pumped up and ready to work like a beast. Now I get how my kids are oh-so energized all day every day.

• Socialize

The rest of your break? Well, spend it socializing with your co-workers. Catch up on their latest news and updates. It’s a great way to bond, and get your head off the Lasagna your mom is making for Iftar tonight.

• Walk & Stretch

Sitting behind a desk for long hours is pretty bad for your health in general and will massively add to your sleepiness when you’re fasting. So try to get up and get moving for a couple of minutes every 30 minutes or so. And stretch a bit, you need it. Stretching in your workplace actually has many benefits including:

• Reduced risks of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
• Reduced risk of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs)
• Reduced workplace stress. Which peaks when you’re hungry, I’m just saying!
• Improved productivity

• Caffeine

Although specialists advise otherwise, I highly recommend having Caffeine in Ramadan. As long as you’re getting enough water between Iftar an Suhoor, you should be fine taking some Caffeine. I personally find it very helpful to have Caffeine at Suhoor. It helps with the crankiness and also keeps me as awake as possible while at work, and avoid this kind of embarrassment.

• Eat Well at Suhoor

Never ever skip Suhoor!
Getting all the nutrients your body needs is essential to maintain normal levels of energy. This could be a bit challenging since we only have 2 meals a day, but you gotta make it work. Make sure you get enough proteins, fibers, and complex carbohydrates.

You also need loads of fruits and vegetables, 7 servings to be exact. So try to get enough of these at Iftar and Suhoor.  In addition, staying hydrated is crucial to every single body function. So if you’re hoping to stay focused at work, 8 to 12 cups of water is what you need to drink, a day.

• Sleep Well

It’s very difficult and challenging to maintain a normal sleep-work-live schedule in Ramadan. We eat at night, go out at night, and basically turn into human-sized bats.

But if you are serious about making it to work on time, and not getting fired, you should get some sleep. Skip on the late night outings and get to bed early. This is just for one month, you can go back to your social life in 30 days.

May you and your families be showered with happiness, love, and blessings during this Holy Month. And may you work 9 to 5 full energy and productivity.