Wellbeing Archives

insight tag: Wellbeing

A reflection on emptiness, burnout, and Ramadan as a sacred reset.

Emptiness, confusion, and a loss of drive. These are very foreign emotions for someone like me, someone usually driven and excited.

As humans, we instinctively search for reasons, and so I found myself discussing this with my close circle. One conversation concluded that I may perhaps need to pay closer attention to my nutrition, movement, and sleep. Another conversation leaned toward burnout, given the extreme ‘usage of me’ on all fronts over the past year. A third conversation ended with a completely different solution: a new haircut and hair colour, which I actually did.

Somewhere between these discussions, questions, and layers of confusion, a reflection from Paulo Coelho’s The Manual of the Warrior of Light kept echoing in my head:

“A warrior of light often loses heart.

He believes that nothing can stir him in the emotion he so desired. He is forced to spend many evenings and nights feeling that he is one of the vanquished, and nothing seems able to restore his enthusiasm.

His friends say, ‘Perhaps his fight is over.’

The warrior feels pain and confusion when he hears such remarks because he knows that he has not yet reached the place he wanted to reach. But he is stubborn and refuses to relinquish his aims.

Then, when he least expects it, a new door opens.”

Paulo Coelho – The Manual of the Warrior of Light

What struck me most was how precisely it describes my state of losing heart. But there exists an opposite–regaining heart. How do I regain heart?

Interestingly, the conversations I mentioned earlier all arrived at the same answer, despite their different starting points: Ramadan. There was an almost unspoken consensus: Ramadan is coming. Ramadan will fix it. Ramadan will reset everything.

With Paulo’s words ringing in my head, I found myself wondering: Is Ramadan that new door? Something about that thought felt deeply right…but why Ramadan? What is it about Ramadan that feels like resolution?

Answers began to surface almost immediately. What emerged was that Ramadan is a mandatory reset button, not only through fasting, but something larger: the rhythm. Over time, we drift and get absorbed into pace, expectations, productivity pressures, technology, and endless stimulation. Gradually and almost invisibly, we shift from being human to functioning like machines. Coffee becomes our fuel for focus. Food becomes our fuel for energy, almost becoming tasteless at times. Connections become fuel for networking and our days become fuel for achievement.

Then Ramadan arrives and quietly dismantles these illusions. The routine is imposed on you, and suddenly decisions reduce, the body slows, awareness sharpens, and you reconnect with something elemental.

“I am hungry. I am thirsty. Yet I continue.” I wake at dawn for Fajr. By Maghrib, we gather to break our fast. We sit at the same table usually forgetting our roles, titles, or agendas, but merely as “hungry humans” sharing Iftar.

So why does Ramadan restore our sense of functionality as humans? Somewhere within that repeating rhythm, I see Time–its older rhythms, its modern structures, its emotional weight. Its fixed, predictable system and its psychological effect on us shows this interconnected relationship between Time, Productivity, and Rhythm, and how they shape our functionality, wellbeing, and continuity.

Within all these threads came a clear decision. Let’s begin to explore Time. Let’s research it deeply and see what it uncovers. Ramadan Mubarak, and happy resetting!

Wellbeing

Marwa Shaker Salama

Marwa is a seasoned research and marketing consultant with over 25 years of experience in market analysis, research, and human development. She leads the research department at Rouya, bringing depth and insight through her strong understanding of human psychology and certification in the field. Marwa has directed key projects such as Eid Al Etihad and the UAE Year Of, delivering culturally grounded, strategy-led research outcomes.

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From Burnout to Bliss

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Miscellaneous

insight tag: Wellbeing

Cultivating Work-Life Balance and Self-Love

Have you ever felt like you were physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, with no will to move around, or do anything exciting that requires an extra dose of energy? You’re probably suffering from burnout, an extremely common phenomenon in our fast-paced work environments. The belief that the world would collapse if we stepped away is a mental state that only exists in your head, and I am here to tell you why, how to pull yourself out of it, and how to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

By the time you’re burnt out, you’ve probably already forgotten that you have some days in your leave balance and find yourself too caught up with all the stress and day-to-day workload. You feel like you can’t even get yourself to sit down and just choose which week you want to take off from work.

Burnout is not just about how it affects you, your health, and your well-being, although it does explain all the headaches and the insomnia you may be going through. Burnout truly does affect your productivity levels at work–no one wants a droopy, miserable colleague who does a lot but with no positive energy.

How does it happen? It starts when you get addicted to proving that you are able to take on all the workload by yourself and working until late at night starts to become ordinary. The burnout continues to grow the deeper you dig yourself in the work-work-work lifestyle, believing that you’re the only one who can complete all the work and tasks that you have on your plate.

So how do you pull yourself out of it? The first step in fighting burnout is shifting your mindset and adopting healthier habits for the daily process you go through. If you work from home, once you wake up early in the morning, try to not turn on your phone and check all your social media pages. Get out of bed, have your breakfast slowly, and go for a 15-minute walk outside for some fresh air and scenery.

Next up, boundary setting. This is one of the most difficult things to learn, so it will, and should, take time to master. Boundary setting isn’t only about saying no; it includes many other applications, like defining your work hours, establishing clear communication routes with your peers, delegating tasks, asking for support so that there is less of a load on you, and even setting limits with technology. Sitting in front of a screen for long hours can be damaging on the brain, eyes, body, and mental well-being, so do not underestimate it. All these are just baby steps to getting yourself used to putting your health and well-being first, and not allowing burnout to get to you. Once your mindset shifts from feeling like you must always be available for work, clients, and your boss and colleagues, to putting yourself first, you will start to understand how valuable it is, not just for yourself, but for everyone else around you, too.

Now that we got to the point about ‘everyone else around you,’ this is where a very important aspect comes into play: your support system. Take a good look around you and find the people who truly care about you and want to see you succeed, do well, and be in your best state of mind. Look for the ones who genuinely lift you up, give you all the positive energy you need, and are really there for you whenever you need them. Every time you focus on this, you will start to notice your circle becoming smaller and smaller, until you’re left with the right support system for you, the one(s) who really do bring out the best in you every time they are around, and give you that pep talk you never knew you needed.

Once you’ve established a tight circle, this is where the energy and aura cleansing begin. There are multiple ways to stabilise the energy surrounding you and cleanse your aura from all the negativity that you face on a daily basis. Let’s be honest, no one is happy 24/7, but you can still be content, grateful, and in a state of bliss. Focus on the state of bliss that you want to achieve. The first and easiest way to start is by connecting with nature; go outside more, take off your shoes, and let your bare feet touch the grass, sand, or water. Sit on the floor, touch it with your hands as well, take in a deep breath and exhale slowly, take it all in and just clear your mind. Focus on the colours around you, how the sea has many shades of blue, how you can hear the sounds of the waves splashing against the rocks.

Close your eyes.

The next step is to learn how to meditate. There are lots of sources online that can show you exactly how to do it, but it’s important to actually believe in it so that it can truly separate your mind from all the chaos around you. Focus on your breathing and recognise any negative emotions you want to release during meditation. In addition to meditation, there is a process called smudging, which is burning sage and passing it around you and your space. You can take this extra step by passing it around your home as it releases all the stagnant energy.

Finally, and most importantly, make time for yourself and practise positive affirmations. Make it a habit to engage in self-care activities that activate the happy hormones in your brain. Whether it’s going out with a person you love, ordering sushi and watching your favourite show on TV, going for a late-night swim, listening to music loudly in your car while driving around the city, or simply even painting, reading or journaling, all of these activities are just examples of how making time for yourself can really keep you miles and miles away from burnout.

Going hand in hand with making time for yourself, positive affirmations are what help build your confidence levels, which also plays a big role in the workplace. When you have self-confidence, you indirectly boost your self-esteem and perform much better at work. When you perform better at work, you will find that you are also confident enough to push back on those extra tasks (that are not even urgent) lingering on your to-do list, giving yourself more moments to take a breath. Positive affirmations may sound silly to many, but once you believe in the practice, it truly works. Yes, it does take time to believe in talking to yourself in the mirror every time you look into it, but the more you do it, the more your brain believes in it. These simple steps merely strengthen your sense of self-worth, and it all starts with you. You owe it to yourself to feel great and worthy, and you don’t owe it to anyone else. At the end of the day, it all comes back to you and only you.

These are some ways in which you can manage to avoid burnout. Practice makes perfect, and preventing burnout by achieving a balance between work, life, and self-love is an ongoing journey that requires effort and dedication. Once you learn how to identify the start of your journey to a burnout, it will be easier for you to know where and when to stop and pull yourself out of it. Take it one step at a time and learn to celebrate your own successes, no matter how small they are. When you do that, you will realise how important it is to put yourself first and achieve the state of bliss we all need in our lives.

Business

Wellbeing

Mariam Sami

With 12+ years of experience shaping communications in the UAE, Mariam blends strategy, storytelling, and creativity to build meaningful brand narratives. At Rouya, she leads integrated communications projects for clients including the Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, MiZa, and the UAE Pavilion at Expo.

To know more about Mariam's work for a healthcare event, read our case study.

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Redefining Work Policies Through a Feminist Lens

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insight tag: Wellbeing

The Case for Miscarriage Leave

In one of the episodes of Rouya’s upcoming podcast–stay tuned!–Maryam Al Dabbagh and I explored how small businesses are pioneering feminist work policies and human-centric HR practices. We touched on what makes HR policies ‘feminist,’ who benefits from them (spoiler alert… everyone), and how a company might find itself in a position to be able to integrate these types of policies into their work culture. We determined that since small businesses can implement changes swiftly due to flatter organisational structures, they are able to respond to the needs of their employees and the market with less red tape and faster decision-making processes.

Since feminist work policies prioritise gender equality, they aim to dismantle systemic barriers and create inclusive environments where everyone has equal opportunities for advancement. These types of policies generally advocate for things like equal pay, parental leave, and flexible working hours.

In our conversation, we explored the importance of Parental Leave, including Maternity and Paternity Leave, which together recognise the crucial role that both parents play in welcoming a child into a new family. This inevitably led us to the topic of Miscarriage Leave, or my preferred term: Pregnancy Loss Leave.

While pregnancy loss is not discussed openly, it is an incredibly painful and profound experience for many. While I personally haven’t gone through it, I have seen firsthand the emotional toll it has taken on close friends who have gone through this heartbreak. The sheer prevalence of pregnancy loss among those close to me has instilled a deep, and somewhat irrational, fear within me that often keeps me awake at night. It’s a fear rooted in the reality that this could be a path I inevitably walk someday. Seeing so many women in my circle face this heartbreaking journey has made me acutely aware of the fragility of life and the emotional toll that pregnancy loss can bring. For me, this is a stark reminder of the challenges and uncertainties that many women (and men) may face on our own paths to parenthood. This is why I believe so strongly that true feminist policies must provision for Pregnancy Loss Leave. In this blog post, I explore current standards and make the case for the pressing need for this special type of paid leave.

The global reporting mechanisms of miscarriages are complex, but despite the variances in the definitions and cultural influences on disclosure, the available statistics show that miscarriages affect approximately 10-20% of known pregnancies worldwide. Society stigmatises speaking about pregnancy loss, leaving individuals to navigate this grief in silence, particularly within the workplace.

Pregnancy Loss Leave stands at the intersection of Maternity Leave and Bereavement Leave. The former is typically taken when a child is born and the latter addresses the loss of a family member. Pregnancy Loss Leave recognises miscarriage as a distinct and significant event that requires dedicated time off and also stands apart from Sick Leave, emphasising the need for a compassionate and supportive approach that goes beyond just physical recovery. This specialised leave not only provides the necessary space for healing, but more importantly, validates the grieving process experienced by individuals and families.

So, what laws are we looking at?

In the UAE, the labour law addresses both paid Maternity and Paternity Leave, as well as extended Maternity Leave due to complications or illness of the mother or child after birth. However, nowhere do modern laws address miscarriage or any additional Paternity Leave outside of the standard leave for fathers that can be taken within the first 6 months of the child’s birth. In fact, to date, only three countries have legislations that specifically address miscarriage: New Zealand, India, and the Philippines.

In New Zealand and India, female employees are entitled to six weeks of paid Miscarriage Leave, while the Philippines applies an equal, paid two-month leave for maternity, miscarriage, and emergency termination of pregnancies. In contrast, other countries do not have explicit policies addressing miscarriage leave, often leaving the decision to state-level government or private company policies.

Government policies aside, why should companies recognise the importance of Miscarriage Leave? Glad you asked…

Introducing Miscarriage Leave can bring a slew of benefits to employers. Being there for your team during tough times boosts morale, strengthens loyalty, and boosts workplace culture and diversity. For the linear thinkers out there: It is a strategic move for a company’s reputation; showing that you truly care about your employees can make you a magnet for top talent.

Designing inclusive policies isn’t something you do on a whim. It takes careful planning and consideration. You have to lay out clear guidelines that include equal accessibility for both women and men, recognising that men also experience emotional and psychological impacts during pregnancy loss. Additionally, HR professionals need to be trained to ensure that cases are handled with confidentiality and sensitivity. Companies that roll out Miscarriage Leave policies demonstrate that they understand the complexities of pregnancy loss. They prioritise their employees’ well-being during tough times, and that speaks volumes about their values.

There might be some pushback against Miscarriage Leave from those who worry about workflow disruptions or costs. However, the reality is that women will have to take time off to recover after a miscarriage. Men will have to take time off to support and care for their partners. The only question that remains is how a company will log it into their HR system.

In a nutshell, I don’t see Pregnancy Loss Leave as nice-to-have; I believe it is essential. It is part of the bigger picture of creating supportive workplaces, and slides in perfectly under the umbrella of feminist work policies. By acknowledging the unique challenges of pregnancy loss, organisations can create environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. It is time for companies to embrace feminist work policies and pave the way for a future of a more compassionate workplace.

Business

Policy

Thought-leadership

Wellbeing

Myriem Boussaad

Myriem is a seasoned Operations and HR strategist with over a decade of impactful experience. Her innovative approach to developing people-centric policies prioritise diversity, inclusivity, and collaboration. As Rouya's General Manager, Myriem shapes forward-thinking policies, ensures business continuity, and advises on key client projects.

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