The working man's Ramadan

For students and professionals alike Ramadan is a trying time. A time of extremes; numerous transitions from being hungry and tired to feeling full and lethargic, grip almost everyone. This leads to periods where even writing a simple article such as this turns out to be a massive chore. Working at the office or going to classes is even worse and if you are not careful, you might end up feeling truly wretched and getting no work done at all.
That being said, here are some tips to help make the coming month easier to handle while not affecting your CGPA or getting on your boss' bad side.

Be careful what you eat
The most important constituent of a person's well being during Ramadan is food. It has the most profound effect on how you feel and how well you can work or study. To a lot of people, it is extremely easy to overindulge in eating like a glutton during Ramadan, losing oneself amidst mountains of piyaju and lakes of haleem. This can lead to feelings of intense lethargy before and after Iftaar and may lead to indigestion during the day. This is to be avoided. Doctors recommend that it is imperative to watch what you are eating during Ramadan, more so than other times of the year, as the body is taxed more heavily during Ramadan. They recommend that people should take smaller, more frequent meals during the hours between Iftaar and Sehri while drinking plenty of water. It is very easy to get dehydrated during Ramadan especially when stuck in one of the legendary traffic jams Dhaka is famous for. Students and professionals alike should drink plenty of water during Sehri and avoid drinking soft drinks during Iftaar. While thirst quenching, soft drinks do the opposite and end up dehydrating you even further, leading to nausea and headaches.  
Hide the remote
Avoiding lethargy is vital during Ramadan as it is easy to lie in bed binge watching a television show and getting nothing done. For students, this is especially to be avoided otherwise the homework and term papers will no doubt pile up. Thus it is good to do some light exercises during Ramadan; anything as simple as a 20 minute walk or stretches and jumping jacks, while not taxing, are enough to keep one active. Saif, a student of North South University, goes for a fifteen minute walk thirty minutes after Iftaar before coming home and getting ready for Taraweh. "It helps to keep me from being lazy." he says.
Spending the interim time before Sehri is especially difficult to do in a productive way. Instead of watching TV, it is a great time to do some light non-strenuous work. Things like reading a book, writing an article (like this one), or emailing are apt. Surely more productive than salivating over pictures on Foodbank.
Make the most of office time
For those at work, it is best to avoid online distractions. Social media can wait while at the office. Instead use whatever time you are away from the comfort of home to do as much work as you can to keep your boss happy. Planning each day the night before has been known to make one more efficient. It is best to focus on three important tasks each day for office and to do those as early in the morning as possible, when energy and willpower levels are high and unencumbered. It is important to be goal-oriented. Having a clear list of things which need to be done acts as a boost to morale and helps keep one's mind from wandering to thoughts of Iftaar. Finally, when you are hungry or worn out and it is not yet quitting time, it is best to do routine administrative tasks. Even something as simple as cleaning up one's desktop is enough to keep one from slipping into an unproductive state of mind.

Rest your body and mind
It is important to keep track of one's sleeping and eating habits during the month of Ramadan. With the World Cup falling in the midst of Ramadan, it is even more tempting to stay up half the night and wait for Sehri. However, sleep deprivation will make working or studying even more difficult and so care must be taken.
Similarly, to keep oneself from becoming too overwhelmed, praying is a necessity. After all, Ramadan is a time for quiet introspection and prayer. Prayer is a great way to make the most of Ramadan and is one of the most effective ways to stay productive

Make your own tricks
Finally it is important to experiment and work things out for yourself. Everyone is different and what works for person A will not be the best for person B. Some people are suited for working late at night while others are early risers. Sakib, a student from the Institute of Business Administration, stays up all night during Ramadan, working and studying before sleeping after Sehri. On the other hand, some people prefer going to sleep immediately after Iftar and waking up at Sehri, using the early morning solitude to work uninterrupted.
Whatever your method, keep these ideas in mind and hopefully you'll be on your way to a productive and prosperous Ramadan.