Innovative Tricks for Women during Ramadan.. Here’s How to Organize Time in Ramadan

SadaNews - Many plans and schedules are prepared by women in anticipation of the holy month, but as soon as it begins, a radical change occurs in their lives, especially within larger families. On top of daily tasks, additional duties accumulate, not only those related to fasting and prayers but also more visits and family obligations, which can turn the lives of many women into chaos and a state of distraction and continuous fatigue that may overshadow their enjoyment of the blessed days. However, some tricks can help in reorganizing time during Ramadan.

Changing Schedules and Reshaping Routines

According to a report by the International Labour Organization, women around the world spend 12.5 billion hours daily on domestic care tasks, a figure that doubles in millions of homes during Ramadan, as is the case with Manal Khalil.

Manal, a mother of two living in Alexandria, Egypt, has been preparing for the first days of Ramadan for many days. She tells Al Jazeera Net: "I prepare food for about 25 guests in addition to my family, while the guests prefer stuffed dishes and grilled chicken, my son and daughter prefer macaroni with béchamel sauce."

Under normal circumstances, Manal would go to sleep early because her children's school starts at six in the morning, but with the first night of Ramadan, her schedule becomes more crowded. She says: "After the Isha and Taraweeh prayers, I have a Quran study circle, and then I continue preparing until morning, then I will get my daughter and son ready for school."

The gatherings do not continue throughout the month; therefore, Manal feels that the pressure does not persist at the same level during the month, especially after several days, as the new routine becomes more familiar, especially with a set of tricks to optimize time. She says: "At first, the times of government and private offices change, and many scheduled lessons and opening and closing times of shops also change. Over time, I start noting the opening and closing times and make sure to buy my needs at the right times according to the new schedule, and with time and focus, the routine forms automatically, and things proceed more smoothly."

Less Communication, More Time

Hadeel Salama, a mother of four, focuses on a group of hidden obstacles that consume time and effort, according to her. She says: "The effort required increases during the holy month of Ramadan, but it is not impossible. I checked my usage times on social media before Ramadan and discovered that I spend no less than four hours daily browsing social media. So, I decided to enjoy this month with family gatherings, times of worship, and spending more time with my children by refraining, even for one month, from accessing any social media platforms."

Hadeel started her plan with a brief farewell message to friends and a decisive decision not to follow any series or engage in unnecessary conversations with friends. She adds: "In the end, it's just one month. True, the tasks increase, but I see it as a true challenge for discipline and self-control—it's a real test of willpower and a challenge to manage time and pressures. Those who succeed come out of the month stronger and more disciplined."

Top Tricks for Controlling Time and Effort

Trying to control the disruptions caused by changing meal schedules and appointments is the most important trick. The first step begins with ensuring adequate sleep during the night to maintain a healthy daily rhythm, focusing on managing energy rather than time by monitoring activity levels. According to the Sleep Foundation, it is possible to distribute activities by the hour throughout the day, performing cognitive tasks that require planning and focus after Fajr, postponing light tasks until before the main meal, followed by social gatherings.

A study published in the Springer journal recommends getting help from other family members and not letting women bear household burdens alone to avoid stress and negative impacts on both mental and physical health, as the study indicates that sharing plays a significant role in alleviating this pressure.

Mona Al-Fakhrani, an organizational coach and home consultant, believes that the real secret to controlling time and effort during Ramadan lies in organizing thoughts, steps, and preparation in advance, as this reduces what the American Academy of Psychiatry refers to as "choice overload," which takes time and mental effort that can be saved by writing down required tasks in priority order, letting go of some unnecessary steps, and making some effort to prepare meals in the freezer, either before Ramadan or even in the first days for quick cooking. Some of the highlighted preparations by Al-Fakhrani include:

Marinating chicken, whether for grilling or frying with eggs and breadcrumbs.

Preparing and shaping kebabs, dividing them into halves, with one half in balls cooked in dishes like Dawood Pasha kebab, and the other shaped into fingers directly placed in a foil tray, wrapped well to cook directly over a potato tray.

Preparing several trays of macaroni with béchamel sauce, wrapped so it can be cooked two hours before Iftar, and the same goes for two trays of pastry.

Preparing a suitable quantity of beef and chicken shawarma and chicken drumsticks for quick cooking.

Al-Fakhrani adds that advance preparation not only saves time and effort but also reduces feelings of stress and anxiety, especially in cases of unexpected visits or unforeseen circumstances. It also helps women enjoy their worship during the holy month.

Source: Al Jazeera