The number of hours of sleep decreases in Ramadan, as the fasting person sleeps late until after midnight, and thus wakes up late in the morning.
This sleep deprivation increases the rate of drowsiness during the day, and this irregular sleep routine negatively affects the fasting person's psychology and productivity, causing:
- Headache and mood swings.
- Poor concentration, and inability to make decisions and solve problems.
For better sleep, you should:
- Change your sleep pattern while getting sufficient and continuous hours of sleep, for example try to sleep for at least 4 hours at night after Iftar (before waking up for Suhoor and Fajr) and return to sleep for a few hours before waking up the next day.
- Take a short afternoon nap for 15-20 minutes, and avoid oversleeping, as it can cause dizziness, as well as more sleepiness than you were before the nap.
- Regulate your sleep pattern, by creating a daily routine for the month of Ramadan, so that you sleep and wake up at approximately the same time every day.
- Avoid drinking stimulating drinks, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks, four hours before bedtime.
- Prepare the room before bedtime, to get a peaceful and continuous sleep, by staying away from: sources of disturbance, lighting, mobile devices, and television.
- Adopt a healthy sleeping position, and it is preferable to sleep on the right side and place the right hand under the right cheek, according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
- Make sure to eat healthy Iftar, and avoid fatty foods and sugars, which hinder digestion.
What causes insomnia in Ramadan and how is it treated?
Insomnia occurs because of overeating, especially fatty foods and hard-to-digest foods. To relieve insomnia, it is preferable not to overeat, but rather to eat simple, healthy food and not to go to sleep immediately after eating.
What causes drowsiness and the desire to sleep during fasting and how can it be alleviated?
These symptoms occur because of overeating, which forces the body to direct the largest percentage of blood to the digestive system at the expense of the amount allocated to the brain, which leads to drowsiness. To alleviate this, it is preferable not to overeat, but to eat only enough.