Their days turn into nights and nights into days. Employees, who normally start work early in the morning, suffer the most despite the fact that office hours are usually pushed back a few hours because of the fasting month.
The majority of families lose control over their children’s daily activities. For the whole of Ramadan, the concept of time management goes out of the window.
Most people find it difficult to mange their time. In Ramadan, some people start feeling lazy and unable to carry out their daily activities. By the end of the month they discover that they still need extra time to readjust to their normal routine.
Nuha Al-Shami, a Syrian dentist and mother of three, complained about the tough time she faces during Ramadan.
“Time management is very important for each family. In previous years, I tried to manage my time and failed. As I am a doctor I have many duties outside and at home,” she said.
She added that after Maghreb prayer she has a rest and watches television with her children. She then prays taraweeh for an hour.
For her, watching serials and socializing are two important elements that can impact on effective time management in Ramadan.
“It is impossible for me to manage my time in Ramadan unless I stop watching programs, stop visiting friends and take a vacation from my job,” said Al-Shami.
Children are also victims of the lack of time management during the holy month, according to parents. “My children stay awake the whole night and refuse to sleep. I have tried several times to force them to sleep early, but they say they want to live like our relatives,” said Misbah Al-Sheikh, a Saudi teacher and mother of five.
“Children’s lifestyle shifts during Ramadan. The majority of them sleep the whole day and wake up sometimes only a few minutes before iftar. This makes them unable to sleep at night.”
Al-Sheikh says that if the schools were still open during Ramadan, she could manage her children’s time better. “Because of the summer vacation, parents will never be able to organize or control how children spend their time,” she added.
Ramadan creates more pressure for housewives in particular. This is because of the extra responsibility they have in making sure preparations for iftar are done on time, said Asem Al-Hakim, the imam of Jafar Al-Tayyar mosque.
“Women and men are equal and share the same duties. Each one of them should organize his or her duties and manage time effectively, focusing on the important tasks they need to complete during Ramadan,” he said.
“Later on, they can watch the serials or visit relatives. Ramadan is the month where people should increase their worship. It is not the month of socializing or entertainment.”
