Note: Apologies for the delayed post, I am with my Family and couldnt carve out time properly to write this week's post on time!

Hello and Eid Mubarak! It's a joyous time as approximately 1.6 billion individuals across the globe celebrate the end of Ramzan, culminating in a day of familial togetherness and unity. I hope you are making the most of this weekend just as we are. The essence of Ramzan is to instill the significance of hunger and privilege within ourselves. Today, I would like to delve into the physical aspect of this notion, but first ..

Weekly Inventory Check:

How has the month of April been treating you so far? Have there been any noteworthy moments that you would like to jot down and reflect upon? Writing things down can provide us with a better perspective, allowing us to evaluate the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Nutrition of Body, Mind and Soul

During Ramzan, I realized the impact that food and water have on our physical and mental wellbeing. I observed that I was energetic throughout the day until late afternoon when I would experience a sudden crash. After breaking the fast at iftar, I would feel a burst of energy while eating, only to experience another crash due to overeating. By the time my energy levels stabilized, it was already midnight, and I had to prepare breakfast for the next day since I preferred to eat early and then wake up for morning prayer.

I also realized how much impact oily food (which is commonly eaten during Ramzan) had on my energy levels and the lack of water intake. Drinking a lot of water throughout the day is something I usually do, and during Ramzan, I missed it so much. I also realized that eating late at night and then going to sleep was not good for my gut health.

Despite the physical health setbacks, the spiritual nourishment I received during Ramzan compensated for everything. It was a beautiful month, especially since I spent some of it in Pakistan and Dubai, where the festivities are more vibrant than in the Netherlands. The sense of belonging, love, and social currency built during this month made up for any short-term physical losses.

However, it's crucial to talk about the importance of physical health. We often don't realize how vital it is until we experience the good side. Therefore, I recommend some things to improve your physical well-being. First, Drink a lot of Water; I drink 1.5-liter bottles while sitting and talking to people in one sitting, and it's so refreshing. It helps to flush out toxins from the body quickly and routinely, resulting in more visits to the bathroom, but it's worth it. Second, Exercise is crucial since the modern desk lifestyle involves prolonged sitting and standing, leading to muscle tension and stiffness. Relaxing those muscles and releasing pent-up tension is essential for overall health.

If you want to truly benefit from exercise, you should also make sure to stretch and get massages, or else you will still be tensed sitting on your desk, just with more pain from the workout. And finally, take some time to breathe. We are constantly bombarded by notifications on our phones or mindlessly watching TV, not even realizing where our time goes. So, consciously set aside 10 minutes to just breathe. Imagine walking around your house with no one there, no screams, alerts, or distractions. Just you and your breaths.

What are your thoughts? Shoot me an email or comment below, would love to hear your thoughts!

Want More?

Research has been conducted on Downtime and its benefits.

Read about 6 Reasons to Drink More Water to convince you to have more water everyday.

Wonder why Massages are Underrated?

Read of the Week

I'm currently on vacation and reading an interesting book called "Good Arguments" by Bo Seo, which delves into the value of debating and discussions. The author emphasizes how debating teaches us the importance of listening and understanding than being ready to argue back. This is because in order to refute someone's argument, you first need to truly listen and comprehend their perspective.

Thoughts to Leave you With

I never realized how quickly physical stress can translate into mental and spiritual stress. It was not an easy revelation to deal with, as we often neglect to take time for ourselves, let alone spend time with our loved ones. It's important to prioritize our own well-being by investing in our health, wealth, and headspace first.