Fasting, contrary to what is expected, is a tool for increasing production and improving health and even well-being (Pixels)

Many scientific studies have sought for decades to explore the impact of fasting on employee productivity during the month of Ramadan, especially with the change and reduction of working hours in some institutions, which leaves the impression that productivity may be lower, whether at the level of quantity or quality.

But the question remains that researchers tried to answer: How does fasting affect productivity?

What are the best organizational practices and policies related to the month of fasting that would keep production as normal?

Does fasting really affect productivity?

Despite what is rumored that fasting during the month of Ramadan is associated with a decrease in productivity due to a decrease in energy, a number of researches have indicated the opposite, including those entitled “The Impact of Fasting on Productivity and Well-Being in the Workplace” published in January 2024, where it was concluded 3 Kuwaiti researchers indicate that the issue is not related to fasting as much as it is related to organizing work and dividing time.

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In their study, the researchers pointed to a set of ways to improve working conditions, to obtain satisfactory results for stakeholders and businesses, based on a set of organizational practices and policies related to productivity.

Fasting in itself does not affect performance, but rather a group of other factors, such as suddenly stopping taking stimulants (Pixels).

Based on the research, which included a survey of employees in various industries in Kuwait, with a total of 201 employees, fasting did not affect the general health of the study participants in a negative way, only some impact on concentration during work, but it did not reach the point of making mistakes.

The same result was confirmed by a study conducted to measure the effects of fasting during Ramadan on the performance and physiological responses during running exercises among a group of athletes, which concluded that there were no statistically significant differences in performance measures between the cases of fasting and non-fasting.

The same idea was previously confirmed by many studies that indicated that fasting in itself does not affect performance, but rather a group of other factors related to the month of Ramadan, most notably the change in daily habits, such as the sudden cessation of taking stimulants during the day, and the resort of some employees to taking their vacations. Annually, as well as reducing the number of working hours, which actually sometimes leads to a change in the amount of production, sports or academic performance.

During the month of Ramadan, work must be planned in advance by scheduling meetings and priority tasks during focus times (Shutterstock)

Fasting, contrary to popular belief, remains a tool for increasing production and improving health, and even well-being, as it contributes to improving both mental and psychological health, as well as enhancing physical health.

At a time when Muslims abstain from eating and drinking for a specific number of hours, within 30 days, their bodies begin to adapt to food scarcity by activating many physiological mechanisms, starting with losing excess weight and improving blood fat levels, through reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of infection. Chronic diseases, leading to improving the body's sensitivity to insulin.

For these reasons, fasting is treated, in its religious form during the holy month of Ramadan, or in its healthy form, in what is known as “intermittent dry fasting” (fasting without food or water for more than 12 hours a day), as an effective means of improving concentration, health, and general performance. And then productivity and achievement.

Why do we feel weak and distracted during fasting?

A study conducted in 2002 on the effect of fasting on body composition, blood components, and physical performance concluded that fasting did not negatively affect the study participants when performing aerobic exercise, and that the slight changes that appeared in cardiorespiratory responses were due to, among other things, a change in the circadian rhythm.

The surprise is that some studies indicate that disturbed sleep during Ramadan can deprive the fasting person of the potential benefits of fasting, and thus the fasting person is affected in all directions, physically and practically, a condition that gets worse with excessive calories and not getting enough sleep at night. .

Disturbed sleep during the month of Ramadan can deprive the fasting person of the potential benefits of fasting (Shutterstock)

Tips for better productivity during fasting

There are basic tips for healthy fasting and ideal practical performance, whether at the level of work, study, or exercising. By following them, Ramadan can be transformed into one of the most productive months, including:

  • Training in fasting

    during the months of the year, even using the intermittent fasting method, to train the body to abstain from food and drink for a long period.

  • Accept the feeling of hunger,

    come to terms with stomach cramps by practicing mindfulness and understand that it is a temporary feeling and will not last long.

  • Eat a healthy breakfast,

    and choose types of food that do not exhaust the body, or that cause fatigue when trying to digest them.

  • Plan ahead for work

    by scheduling meetings, calls, personal interactions, and priority tasks during energy times.

  • Determine energy times

    carefully. Is it after breakfast?

    Or early in the morning?

    Or immediately after suhoor?

    Everyone has their preferences.

  • Replacing physical meetings

    and meetings that require movement and transfers to remote meetings in order to save time and effort.

  • Make sure to take a noon nap

    , as it allows you to recharge your energy in order to continue the day efficiently.

It is recommended to eat a sufficient suhoor meal without overeating to increase concentration and productivity during fasting hours (Pixels)

The University of Kent in Britain advises its Muslim students to follow a set of practices during the month of Ramadan for higher productivity and better performance during fasting hours, the most important of which are:

  • Eat an adequate suhoor meal

    , without overeating, and do not neglect the meal itself, making sure that it is rich in carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables, and plenty of water.

  • Adjust your sleeping hours

    and go to bed early so that waking up for suhoor is not difficult.

  • Take regular breaks

    , especially as the day progresses and the feeling of hunger increases. Breaks include washing your face with water and taking a break from work for some time.

  • Planning work in advance

    to increase focus and rationalize energy, so that difficult tasks are planned to be completed first, while easy tasks are carried over throughout the day, and the easiest ones are left for the last working hours.

  • Avoid caffeine during suhoor, or after breakfast,

     because it causes increased dehydration and lowers the level of fluids in the blood, which increases the feeling of thirst.

  • Review performance

    and productivity day after day, honestly evaluate oneself and write down the level in order to try to correct the situation in the following days.

Source: websites