Ramadan

There are lots of ways to feel positive and focused during Ramadan:

• Plan ahead for any special arrangements you might need to reduce how much you’re doing.
• Check that your school or college knows if you’re fasting, and find out if they can make any adjustments to help.
• Make a list of goals you’d like to achieve during this special month.
• Be kind to yourself and take things slowly when you need to.
• Keep in contact with friends and people you care about.
• Think about what Ramadan means to you, and speak to the people close to you about their experiences of it.
• Spend time planning ways to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with people you care about.

Struggling to cope?

If you’re feeling unwell or observing Ramadan is having an impact on you physically or emotionally, then it’s important to get support. It can help to talk through what’s happening with an adult you trust, or with Childline. You can also always visit your doctor when you need support.

Events and times focused on food, fasting, or eating can feel difficult to cope with when you have an eating disorder. That includes Ramadan, and it’s important you get support if your health or eating problems may be affected.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or you have problems with eating, you’re not alone. There are things that can help during Ramadan:

• Keep talking to someone you trust at home, school, or Childline about what’s happening.
• Speak to your doctor or anyone supporting you with your eating about whether your health allows you to fast during Ramadan, or if you’re exempt from fasting.
• Check with a religious scholar that you or your family trust to see what else you can do.
• If you are fasting, make sure take part in Suhoor and Iftar, including having meals and making sure you’ve had enough water or other liquids.

Even if you’re not able to fast during Ramadan, you can speak to your family, carers, or the people in your life about other ways to build on your faith during this special month.

Fasting during Ramadan can have an impact on your ability to concentrate and take part in things at school. It’s natural to have times when you’re struggling to work or keep up your normal routine.

Your school is there to support you, and they should be able to help you adjust your routine to allow you to pray and manage how you’re feeling. It can help to ask someone at school about:

• doing less during lessons like PE
• giving you somewhere else to go during lunch, instead of spending time with people who are eating
• making sure you have time and space for prayers.

Revision and preparing for exams can be tough when you haven’t eaten. It can feel harder to focus and take in information.

It can help to speak to your teachers about how they can support you during this time, as well as thinking about when it’s best to revise. For example, it might help to plan most of your revision in the morning after Suhoor or in the evening after Iftar.