5 Strategies To Maintain Mental And Emotional Health When Fasting

Illustration (July M Cameron/Pexels)

JAKARTA - The holy month of Ramadan is celebrated by Muslims around the world. Ramadan is marked by fasting from sunrise to sunset, prayer, and other sunnah prayers. While fasting for a full month, it is also important to maintain mental and emotional health in this blessed month.

In an interview that VOI summarized from the Hindustan Times website, Friday, March 7, Nausheen Shaikh, a diet nutritionist and consultant, Alyve Health, said, "Although its main focus is on the physical aspect of fasting, it is important not to ignore mental and emotional implications. Ramadan presents a unique opportunity to maintain mental health in addition to spiritual growth."

Here are some strategies to maintain mental and emotional health during fasting during Ramadan:

Maintaining a structured daily routine during Ramadan can help regulate your body hours and provide a sense of stability. Make sure you allocate time to sleep, relax, pray, and cook. Time management is very important during Ramadan.

Precise hydration and nutrition play an important role in mental health. Although fasting from morning to evening, it is very important to consume enough water and healthy foods rich in nutrients during hours of not fasting. Dehydration and inadequate nutrition can cause mood swings and fatigue.

The first step in managing any problem is to acknowledge the issue, enough to list all the challenges you will face. This helps you create a structure that can be obeyed as best you can. This will help ease anxiety about the challenges to come.

Ramadan can be a time of encouragement but also tiring. Check your mood on a scale of 1-10. Take note of a list of things that can help improve your mood. This can mean listening to the Koran, stretching your body, or making some Eid greeting cards for loved ones.

Make a list of stress triggers that are under your control and trigger stress that is beyond your control. It is important to be patient and be kind to yourself during the month of Ramadan, and remember fasting is a mental and physical challenge.