For those observing the holy month, we come in with great intentions, but sometimes the realities take a toll.

Marrakech – Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-discipline, community, and sometimes – et’s be honest – some serious food fantasies. 

We tell ourselves, this year will be different! We’ll be more mindful, eat cleaner, and dedicate more time to prayer instead of scrolling through ftour recipes at 3 p.m.

You imagine yourself gracefully waking up for suhoor, sipping water like a wellness influencer, and enjoying a perfectly balanced meal of oats, dates, and maybe a smoothie. 

You’ll pray Fajr with deep devotion, feeling spiritually aligned. 

But in reality? Your alarm rings at 4 a.m., and suddenly, every ounce of your soul is bargaining with the universe for more sleep. 

Five more minutes turns into waking up at Fajr, panicking, and chugging water like you’re preparing for a desert trek. Who needs suhoor when you have regret?

The hunger won’t be that bad, you think. Fasting will make you patient, calm, and spiritually in tune. 

Who needs food when you have faith? But by noon, your stomach sounds like an earthquake, and you suddenly resent anyone chewing too loudly. 

By 3 p.m., your energy levels are nonexistent, and if one more person asks you for anything, you might just stare at them in silence, willing them to disappear.

But it’s fine, you think. You’re looking forward to ftour — because this year, it will be light and nourishing. A date, some soup, maybe some grilled fish. Moderation is key. 

But, then the adhan sounds, and suddenly, you’ve inhaled three samosas, half a tray of briwat, and an entire bowl of harira before you even realize what’s happened. 

The meal that was supposed to be balanced now has you lying on the couch, wondering why you ate like it was your last meal on Earth.

The nights will be different though, you think. You’ll spend them in deep prayer, reading Quran, attending Taraweeh, and making heartfelt duas. 

Except, somehow, you open your Quran app and two minutes later, you’re deep into a TikTok rabbit hole about aesthetically pleasing ftour table setups. 

You tell yourself you’ll pray extra tomorrow. (You said that yesterday, too.)

At least fasting all day means you’ll lose weight, right? Wrong. Because somehow, despite eating only at night, your jeans are mysteriously tighter. 

It turns out the combination of chebakia, late-night leftovers, and post-ftour sweets wasn’t exactly part of the weight-loss plan.

But here’s the thing—  Ramadan isn’t about being perfect. It’s about trying. 

Some days, you’ll pray with deep focus, and some days, you’ll struggle to stay awake. Some ftours will be balanced, and some will be 90% carbs. 

Growth happens in small steps, and if this Ramadan isn’t as picture-perfect as you imagined, that’s okay. 

A date, a prayer, and a little self-improvement? That’s already a win.