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Working through Ramadan

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Re: Working through Ramadan

#11

Post by back_beyond »

amasad wrote: post #5

I was just saying the other day that fasting in Ramadan could work as alternative to Soylent[1]. Eating one meal a day frees up a lot of mental cycles that goes into thinking about food (what will I eat for lunch, where from, etc). It also allows for longer stretches of uninterrupted coding time. And probably most importantly the post-lunch slump is gone. One phenomenon that I hadn't found an explanation for is that…

Have you found that the freed mental cycles came later in the month, after adjusting to the fast? In my experience, fasting requires even more mental effort than I'd normally spend just to ignore hunger pangs.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#12

Post by sndean »

Waterluvian wrote: post #4
back_beyond wrote: post #2

>> 2. If you accidentally fall asleep in your office cubicle, people won’t judge you because you are fasting. Oh, yes, please don't judge me while I underperform this entire month because I feel compelled to follow some ancient superstition.

Any religious activity is fine if it doesn't interfere with your duties in society. If you're falling asleep while fasting, isn't that a sign of going too far with it? Seems intuitively unhealthy.

In my experience mentoring students and working with people during Ramadan, they get sick really often (maybe three times in that month). This is good, in a way, because then they're not required to fast and we can get some work done.

In many cases the lost month leads to them not graduating (MS or PhD) on time.

Personally, it's made me more aware of what a brain that's low on glucose acts like.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#13

Post by [deleted] »

vdfs wrote: post #9
back_beyond wrote: post #2

>> 2. If you accidentally fall asleep in your office cubicle, people won’t judge you because you are fasting. Oh, yes, please don't judge me while I underperform this entire month because I feel compelled to follow some ancient superstition.

It's hard to believe that some thing going on for ~1430 years without changing is a superstition, IMHO.

[deleted]

Re: Working through Ramadan

#14

Post by inssein »

Ramadan was my most productive month last year (hard to measure this year as I started at a new job just before Ramadan). There are no food related distractions (no thinking about lunch, getting up for water, going to the washroom, etc). The key was adjusting my schedule a little bit (start work later) to ensure you get enough proper sleep.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#15

Post by back_beyond »

vdfs wrote: post #9
back_beyond wrote: post #2

>> 2. If you accidentally fall asleep in your office cubicle, people won’t judge you because you are fasting. Oh, yes, please don't judge me while I underperform this entire month because I feel compelled to follow some ancient superstition.

It's hard to believe that some thing going on for ~1430 years without changing is a superstition, IMHO.

Is fasting during Ramadan a data-driven decision?

Re: Working through Ramadan

#16

Post by EugeneOZ »

It's funny to observe how people think that fasting or any other ancient rite will make their faith more valid. "If I'll eat this sandwich it will be huge sin and God will judge me".

Re: Working through Ramadan

#17

Post by amasad »

vivekd wrote: post #8
Waterluvian wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any religious activity is fine if it doesn't interfere with your duties in society. If you're falling asleep while fasting, isn't that a sign of going too far with it? Seems intuitively unhealthy.

I wonder how this would affect individuals who do physically intensive work such as manual labor. The article seemed to focus on writers, CEOs, I wish they had included a few people involved in physically intensive work. I wonder what these people do, is there some sort of Ramadan exception for those involved in physically intensive work? What about for diabetics? Do people struggling through Ramadan experience some…

I can answer some questions.

>is there some sort of Ramadan exception for those involved in physically intensive work?

In the Muslim world government jobs working hours is usually adjusted from 8 hours to 5. Although I'm not aware of any laws that makes the private sector adjust it's hours, they usually do. I'm not aware of any special treatment for physically intensive work but there is a general sense of compassion in the month so I wouldn't be surprised if they were cut a lot of slack.

>What about for diabetics?

If your sick you're not expected to fast.

>Do people struggling through Ramadan experience some sort of closeness with God or spiritual feelings of joy?

Yes but this is not specific to Muslims. Many faiths has some sort of fasting practice. I'm not very religious but I do feel a heightened sense of spirituality and mindfulness while fasting.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#18

Post by chollida1 »

I didn't know that you weren't supposed to have water during the day. That's pretty cut throat!!!

I typically fast for 24 hours 2-3 times a week. My Energy levels have been higher since I've started this habit.

I've also done 7 day fasts and I find my brain gets sharper as it goes.

I think fasting along with meditation are two activities that I see as my "Secret weapon".

While a lot of people view them that as new age nonsense, I find they are worth 10 additional IQ points and believe they are activities that will be start to be pushed by doctors as part of what's considered preventative health care.

If you've never tried them, I'd highly recommend you consider it!!

Re: Working through Ramadan

#19

Post by suprgeek »

While it may be manageable for most, I wonder at what point it becomes downright dangerous for people in critical jobs.

It would be interesting to do an analysis of say Muslim Surgeons observing Ramadan fasts and the numbers and types medical errors during the fasting vs non-fasting periods.

Or the Pilots on Fast and Long Haul flights who have been fasting daily for a month....

Re: Working through Ramadan

#20

Post by vdfs »

vivekd wrote: post #8
Waterluvian wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any religious activity is fine if it doesn't interfere with your duties in society. If you're falling asleep while fasting, isn't that a sign of going too far with it? Seems intuitively unhealthy.

I wonder how this would affect individuals who do physically intensive work such as manual labor. The article seemed to focus on writers, CEOs, I wish they had included a few people involved in physically intensive work. I wonder what these people do, is there some sort of Ramadan exception for those involved in physically intensive work? What about for diabetics? Do people struggling through Ramadan experience some…

Fasting is only mandatory for people who are capable of doing it, if a doctor tell you can not fast, you should listen to him. All people i know love Ramadan, it's just peaceful, even the crime rate is kind of low in Ramadan, the night of 27th (to night in must countries) is "spiritual intensive"
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