Ramadan fasting versus dopamine fasting — Ramadan fasting is beyond hard resetting your brain.
A comparative analysis of Ramadan fasting and dopamine fasting
Ramadan fasting versus dopamine fasting — Ramadan fasting is beyond hard resetting your brain.
Ramadan fasting correlates with dopamine fasting and with other important domains of life.
Recently, we have seen a popular trend called “dopamine detox or fast” circulating at a much faster pace. After careful exploration & research, I realised how closely it matches with the goals and outcomes of Ramadan. In fact, after more digging, I found that the results after Ramadan fast are way beyond than just a dopamine fast. It would therefore be interesting to appreciate the connection of dopamine fast with that of Ramadan fast in order to make the most of this auspicious month.
What is Dopamine?
Dopamine, which is a feel-good neurochemical in our brain plays an important role in life. There are various ways our brains can produce it. Healthy or controlled amount of dopamine can be generated via exercise, reading, journaling, meditating and even healthy diet. We are however, surrounded by an over stimulating world around us which results in a much stronger hit of dopamine. This further escalates into a repetitive pattern which can eventually lead to addiction. The list of the later sources is pretty long, common ones include social networks, watching TV or movies, inappropriate sexual content, gaming, junk foods, vaping, even text messages notifications or any other forms of instant gratification.
Rules of dopamine fasting or dopamine detox
Dopamine fast or detox allows an individual to self-abstain from high dopamine activities. The extreme or advanced form of dopamine fast means escaping from anything that brings pleasure. This includes avoiding social networks, video games, internet, sex, any digital resource or technology and even food. The bigger outcome is to reset the brain’s reward system by avoiding or limiting the outbursts of small pleasures. Dopamine fast is also stated to uplift the focus. Ramadan fast covers most of the components of the advanced practice of dopamine fast, and in addition to this approach, Ramadan fast also incorporates other important domains of life that seem missing in the dopamine fast which are discussed later.
A brief snapshot of Ramadan fasting
Muslims spend their normal working day like the rest of the world, yet fast for a full lunar month each year. Every day, fasting commences at FAJR prayer which is a time just before the sun rise and ends just when the sun sets at MAGHRIB prayer. The fast is broken with a light snack like dates and drinks (legacy of beloved Prophet Muhammad SAWS), which is followed by a larger meal later. The duration of fast depends upon the location where the Muslims reside, and it usually ranges from a minimum of 11 hours for up to a maximum of 20 hours.
Rules of Ramadan fasting
Similar to advanced or extreme form of dopamine fast, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking, from watching inappropriate contents, sexual engagement and other time-wasting activities. In addition to this, all other incongruous forms of behaviours like anger, lying, jealousy, negative thoughts or complaining and even back biting are extremely discouraged in the state of Ramadan fast. Furthermore, this sacred month is an intense one-month training programme about establishing a deep connection with God, dedicating a big junk of time studying and reciting the Quran, meditating and offering optional night prayers, practicing more hygiene, following a healthy lifestyle, helping needy and boosting up charities.
Pros of dopamine fasting and its comparison against Ramadan fasting
Dopamine fasting has clear benefits based on the literature. According to one author (Jari Roomer) who tried 24 hours — dopamine fast noticed clarity of thoughts, improved focus, self-awareness, happiness and peace in life. Ramadan fast take these outcomes to the next level as it is not limited to certain hours, but it’s a progressive and consistent journey over the course of one whole lunar month, approximately 29–30 days.
Cons of dopamine fasting and its comparison against Ramadan fasting
Another author John M. Grohol has some criticism against dopamine fasting. In his article, he said there is no research yet piloted on humans that has assessed the effect of dopamine fasting. All understanding of dopamine is based on animal models. He further emphasised that it is alright to take some break from the overstimulating technology lifestyle but discouraged overdoing it or ending up being self-isolated. The beauty of Ramadan fast is that every single day is structured in a balanced way and it is not too extreme. The beauty of the Ramadan fast is that due to its consistency, it automatically directs the brains to make sensible choices without letting a person feeling too overwhelmed. In addition, all the Muslims of the world simultaneously fast together, pray together, break their fasts together so there is no danger of self-isolation. Establishing and strengthening a strong connection with the creator construct a special sense of having a divine source always intact in situations when even no one is around, so there is no question of being secluded during Ramadan.
Final analysis of the outcomes of Ramadan fasting and dopamine fasting
Dopamine fasting bigger outcomes primarily include resetting our brain’s reward system and improving our focus. Ramadan fast in addition to these sequels, also offers a ton of other benefits in a more structured and balanced way without ending up being depressed or self-isolated. The physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual health benefits and rectification of difficult behaviours are pretty robust ways to raise one strong and happy individual. It doesn’t stop here as it is followed by paying more attention to the poor and needy and boosting up charities which result in the overall improvement of the community and then society as a whole. Therefore, Ramadan fast is a much superior form of fast than a dopamine fast. If Ramadan fast is sincerely followed to its full potential, it is guaranteed to rejuvenate oneself and to come out morally, intellectually, spiritually, mentally and physically stronger than before with the advancement of the society, nation and the world as a whole.
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