Right, it's almost week two of Ramadan and we've all more or less gotten into the swing of things. You know what you're eating for seheri, you've got your group iftars planned out, you know which route to take to avoid iftar rush hour madness, heck you probably even know how to perfectly time that alarm so you can wake up just in time for seheri and collapse again.
So now that you're starting to more or less get used to starving your body for such long periods, how about this week you go out of your way and do all the other things you planned to do in Ramadan, like focus on your good deeds and mental wellbeing as well?
Day 1
As many of you already know, Cyclone Mora has recently landed in Bangladesh, and over 5,000 houses have been destroyed, and at least 14,250 people affected in 11 upazilas in Chittagong. This week, why not lend a hand in sending aid? Water, saline and dry food are always the most obvious things to send in the immediate aftermath, but you can also take your time, dip into your savings and make more long-term donations for rebuilding houses through well-known NGOs like BRAC.
Day 2
Since we're on the subject of the cyclone, one of the most badly hit communities have been the Rohingya refugees languishing on our borders in the Balukhali and Kutupalong camps, where an estimated 200,000 refugees have been affected. These are also the people who get the least help from local relief drives, partly due to lack of access, and partly due to prejudices against them. We're not saying you should jump into such a politically charged issue with your eyes closed, but maybe the least we can do is try and dispel the stigma surrounding them. Talk to your friends and family about why we feel such pity for Syrian refugees but not the Rohingya, and educate others and yourself about the crisis and forgotten genocide next door. If possible, try and donate to organisations that do work with Rohingya refugees.
Day 3
The middle of the week is always the most difficult, and it's very tempting to give in to sloth and just lie around doing nothing Ramadan. But how about engaging in a low-energy yet high-return activity like reading? Many bookworms out there are already looking out for the much-anticipated The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by renowned writer Arundhati Roy. After the The God of Small Things propelled Roy to fame, she surprisingly retreated from the literary scene for 20 long years, but rumours are that she is back with a bang.
Day 4
Ramadan is meant to be a month of spirituality, introspection and learning, and learning doesn't necessarily have to be restricted to just your religion. In a world that is increasingly divided, it might make sense to take some time and learn about all religions, not just your own. The similarities between the Abrahamic religions will only make you wonder why the world seems to spend so much time bickering about what are essentially shared beliefs.
Day 5
We know this is a cliché, but sharing your iftar really is such an important part of Ramadan. This week, try buying some iftaar for those who need it the most. It could be the nearest orphanage or school, or the beggars who live next to your street. If you live in an apartment block in the city, you're also bound to have a bunch of people who work behind the scenes for your benefit all the time, like security guards and cleaners.
Day 6
The week is almost coming to an end, so how about spending some time in the kitchen and making something for your friends or family? If you're looking for inspiration, choose from our recipes of summer drinks that will taste great and make sure you're hydrated during Ramadan too, just flip to page eight!
Day 7
The weekend is here! If you haven't got any iftar outings planned and are looking forward to a lazy lie-in instead, now is the best time to start a new show. We highly recommend starting American Gods, a new Starz show based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Visually stunning and so far true to the book, the show is already five episodes in, so now would be a