How Ramadan Affects Sleep Patterns in Tunisia
During the month of fasting, sleep schedules are often thrown off. Some people stay up until very late hours and only get a few hours of sleep after the S’hour meal! This disrupts the biological clock, leaving it completely out of sync.
Yet sleep deprivation can be genuinely dangerous for health. For many Tunisians, the day really only begins thirty minutes after Iftar.
- Some go to the mosque, read the Qur’an, and perform the Tarawih prayers.
- Others binge on sweets while watching TV.
- Still others attend theater shows, stay out late at cafés, join organized evening events, or wander in nature—especially now that the weather has calmed down.
Regardless of the night‑time program, the majority of Tunisians, pressed for time, cut short their sleep hours.
Most fasters either sleep only at dawn or have fragmented sleep. While some can afford a lie‑in, those who work manage just 3–4 hours of nighttime sleep before waking up again to go to work.
Good Sleep Quality Is Essential
Health specialists warn that lack of sleep is harmful.
“Indeed, the period of abstinence and fasting feels longer, so people tend to stay awake to make the most of the night when they can eat and drink. But this must never come at the expense of sleep quality and the time allocated to it,” they explain.
They add that if the body does not receive the required amount of sleep, a disturbed biological clock can lead to physical and psychological damage.
Nevertheless, they note:
“It is difficult for working fasters to secure the sleep capital they need! Relying solely on nighttime sleep is impossible. Even if you stay up a bit at night, you must recover the lost sleep with two consecutive good nights of rest, or at least a solid nap.
You can sleep a little less than usual for a month, but the body will not tolerate less than six hours per day for several days in a row.
Never accumulate a sleep debt—otherwise, people become extremely fatigued, which will reflect on both physical and mental health.”
Walks and Diuretic Beverages
“Right after Iftar, even if you feel a strong urge to sleep, don’t. It is also advisable to avoid tea and coffee after 9 p.m. because they are stimulants that hinder sleep and are diuretic.
They can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night with an urgent need to urinate, possibly several times, leading to fragmented, low‑quality sleep.”
The classic saying goes: “Eat lunch and sleep, eat dinner and go out.” Specialists suggest updating it to a new wisdom:
“Eat lunch and go for a walk, eat dinner and go for a walk.”
A brisk walk after meals—especially during Ramadan when the food is already rich, salty, and sweet—helps digestion. Once you return home, you’ll feel relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep.
Keywords: Ramadan, fasting, sleep deprivation, Tunisia, Iftar, S’hour, biological clock, sleep quality, health, diuretic drinks, walking after meals.
