Pre Eid Burnout: How to Combat Procrastination Before Eid
So what can we do to fix that? How can we finish the delegated tasks at hand so we can enjoy Eid stress-free?
Since I'm also in the same predicament as you, I will offer some relatable advice that works for me and hopefully will work for you too.
LEAVE YOUR PHONE
I cannot emphasize enough that it's very important to leave your phone and TikTok behind and focus on work.
The doomscroll curse is real, and that 5-minute window where you just catch up with the news or see who got engaged, it ends up being an hour and even more.
So leave your phone, it's not going anywhere, and do the pending tasks.
Make a Good Playlist to Motivate You
While Missy Elliot said that music makes you lose control, it also gives you a mood boost. With the right playlist, you can do everything you set your mind to.
Choose songs that are guaranteed to make you feel pumped, whether you're going to play Seven Nation Army, Eye of the Tiger, or Work. Just put your headphones on, turn on the volume, and immerse yourself.
Ask For Help
Work is always difficult and plenty before the holidays that it becomes stressful, so to avoid feeling overwhelmed, ask for your coworker's help, even if it's for a small task that can be done in minutes.
This is not the time for pride and not admitting that you need help. Finish up the tasks, see which coworker you can trust to ask for some assistance, and lift some weight off your shoulders.
Take It One Step at A Time
The key thing to remember is not to panic.
I REPEAT, DO NOT PANIC.
Those emails are not some scary monsters, and those clients are not vindictive. Just take a breath, focus, and make a to-do list, prioritizing which task is more important and which one can be done later, and do things one step at a time.
Refresh, Restart, Repeat.
Zoning out too much and feeling lazy, then it's time to leave your computer, go refresh, whether that's washing your face or having an iced coffee, your body is literally giving you signs to stop and restart the progress. Give yourself a proper break and then begin again.
Time is of the essence, and we all want to enjoy Eid al-Adha without any stress or any work left behind. So hopefully, when you follow these steps, you will be ready to have the days off without worrying about emails, meetings, or tasks.
You got it, champ.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
17-07-2025
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Friendship through baking - Living - Al-Ahram Weekly
A group of students has been holding social baking events to encourage people to join an interactive experience grounded in human connections. At a time when social media addiction, isolation, and constant scrolling can dominate our daily lives, a group of eight university students decided to break the digital barrier with the warmth of outdoor baking. The group, dubbed maamoula fi magmoua (made in a group), is a graduation project created by eight senior students from the Faculty of Mass Communication at Misr International University. It reimagines social gatherings through an interactive experience grounded in human connections. It seeks to transform a simple act – baking bread – into a dynamic space for communication, interaction, and the building bridges of acceptance and respect. The students believe this experience can revive essential human values such as understanding, sharing, and coexistence, which may be being increasingly lost in modern lifestyles. By promoting social baking, the students aim to shift people away from passive digital consumption towards live and face-to-face human interaction. The initiative began when the students gathered at one of their homes several months ago to prepare kahk, traditional biscuits, for the Eid. The experience sparked the idea and laid the foundation for their project. 'It was a warm and friendly gathering,' they recalled. 'Perry would explain how to mix the ghee with the flour. Thomas curated a playlist, adding joy and fun and even sprinkling us with flour. Julia and Hossam documented the event, posting it on social media. And we were all grateful to Jenny, whose passion for baking inspired new ideas.' Parthena, one of the students, said that baking is a sensory experience associated with comfort and nostalgia. 'The smell of baking reminds people of home, warmth, and childhood,' she said. 'We encourage people to return to the joy of baking together in order to collaborate, create, and connect.' 'Our target audience is young adults aged 25 to 35. They're the most addicted to social media and the ones who most need genuine human interaction and relationships.' The project was brought to life with a small mobile cart equipped with a waffle maker, a pancake machine, and recipe cards printed on cardboard. The students rolled the cart into the University garden and organised an interactive baking day event. Many of the participants had no prior experience of baking, but the team was there to help. Carol, a senior student, said that 'I asked people on the street about their understanding of social baking, but I found that it wasn't widely known even among young people. Some tried to interpret the name as a reference to gathering and reminiscing while baking. Those who had experienced something similar lit up with joy as they recalled those memories.' Andrew, another team member, said that 'we wanted to make baking easier for those without experience by allowing them to decorate baked goods. For example, we made heart-shaped cookies and asked the participants to decorate them.' The students also shared a variety of recipes on social media, with cookies and waffles proving to be the most popular. RECIPES: To make the cookies made at the social baking event, you will need two cups of sifted white flour, one tablespoon of baking powder, one cup of butter, one cup of sugar, two eggs, three packets of vanilla extract, one cup of chocolate chips, and a pinch of salt. Place the butter in a bowl and beat it until soft. Add the sugar and beat again until the mixture becomes creamy. Add the first egg and beat until it disappears into the mixture. Then add the second egg and the vanilla and continue beating until the mixture is smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir well. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, stirring with a spoon until fully combined. Mix in the chocolate chips or sprinkle them on top after shaping. Shape the dough into small balls, place them on a baking tray, and bake until the edges are golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool completely before serving. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. To make the group's fluffy golden waffles, you will need two cups of flour, two tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoon of baking powder, two eggs, one and three-quarter cups of milk, a third of a cup of vegetable oil, one teaspoon of vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, oil, and vanilla. Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined (do not overmix). Preheat the waffle iron and lightly grease it with oil or butter. Pour in an appropriate amount of batter, close the iron, and let cook for three to five minutes until golden brown. Serve with honey, chocolate, or fruit. The students spared no effort in promoting their initiative. They visited a pasta and pizza restaurant, where they rolled up their sleeves and made their own pasta and pizza, documenting the experience with videos and sharing it on social media. Parthena recalled that one restaurant generously opened its kitchen to the team, allowing them to bake bread and share it with customers in a lively and entertaining atmosphere. The project also caught the attention of several food bloggers, including the blogger Nehal who joined the students at a popular restaurant to share the experience and featured it on her social media platforms. The initiative reached a wider audience when the team was invited to appear on a satellite TV channel for a live cookie-making segment hosted by chef Hassan. The chef praised the project, describing it as a brilliant idea not only for its human and social impact but also for its potential as a promising entrepreneurial venture. Parthena said that the project is currently a non-profit initiative and remains strictly a graduation project. While the group may consider expanding it into a business in the future, she stressed that their current focus is entirely on the project's message and societal value. The students take pride in leading a graduation project that breaks from academic convention, offering a new model of activity that blends creativity, real-world interaction, and meaningful social impact. The group hopes that their initiative will serve as an open invitation to rediscover the human connections people may often overlook through simple, shared moments spent baking, dreaming, and growing closer together. * A version of this article appears in print in the 17 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
11-07-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Understanding Generation Z — offline at home? - Living - Al-Ahram Weekly
They may share their deepest thoughts with strangers online, but they say little at the family dinner table. What does Generation Z's emotional distance at home mean for Egyptian families, asks Omneya Yousry It's a paradox of the modern household: a teenager laughs loudly at a phone screen, fingers tapping out clever replies on Instagram, only to turn silent when asked how their day went. In many Egyptian families today, the sound of silence between Generation Z teenagers and their parents is more common than many will admit. The same young people who freely post about emotions, values, and even personal struggles online often offer only one-word answers when talking to other family members. It's not rebellion – it's retreat. And for many families, it feels like quiet heartbreak. 'I say more in my Instagram captions than I say to my parents all week,' said Rana, 19, a university student in Cairo. 'It's not that I don't love them. I just don't feel they'd get it. Or worse, they'll make it about them.' She admitted that when she once told her mother she felt mentally drained, she was met with confusion. 'My mother said, 'you're too young to be tired.' After that, I stopped trying to communicate with her.' The tension isn't always dramatic. Often, it's a quiet emotional distance, one made more visible by the contrast between digital presence and home absence. Many Generation Z'ers, raised in a global village online, may now struggle to find language that fits within their local family dynamics. Marwan, 22, an Alexandria resident, says he's 'two different people.' One online, where he writes poetry and posts about mental health, and another at home, where he stays quiet to avoid conflict. 'My dad saw a post once and asked why I was writing 'weird things' online,' he said. 'He didn't mean any harm. He just doesn't get the language I use.' Marwan shrugged and looked away for a moment. 'It's easier to just keep that part of me away from them,' he said. And it's not just about mental health or deep emotional talk. Sometimes it's about identity, politics, or even humour. What feels completely normal and expressive to a Generation Z teen might sound like sarcasm or disrespect to a parent. The cultural gap is real. This phenomenon of digital expression versus emotional disconnection has become part of a pattern, especially in Egyptian households that still value restraint over vulnerability. And while some see it as a phase that all teenagers go through, others fear it's creating a lasting gap between the generations. Mona Al-Zayat, a 45-year-old mother from Cairo, said she often feels as if she's 'living with strangers.' She laughed softly, but there was a weight behind her words. 'I used to know everything – what they liked, who they talked to, what they were worried about. Now I ask, and they just say, 'nothing.'' She tried to keep up by creating a TikTok account and following them on Instagram but found that she was met with resistance. 'My daughter blocked me,' she said, managing a smile. 'She said that it's 'my space.' I thought I was being supportive.' For many parents, the shift isn't only emotional. It's deeply personal. It's a feeling of loss or of being left behind by their own children. And unlike past generations, today's parents are navigating a parenting experience that has no blueprint, especially as the pace of social change accelerates. This isn't just a family issue. It's a social one. Emotional fluency, self-expression, and mental health conversations are all happening more freely online, and Generation Z is leading the charge. But when those conversations are met with confusion or dismissal at home, many simply redirect their words to digital spaces. Laila Sherif, a clinical psychologist in Cairo, sees patterns like this on a daily basis. 'This generation is not emotionally detached. They're emotionally displaced,' she explained. 'They are speaking, but in environments where they feel they can express themselves without correction. She noted that Egyptian family structures, rooted in respect and modesty, often unintentionally discourage emotional dialogue. 'If a teen says, 'I'm anxious,' and the response is 'you'll be fine, don't overthink things,' then that teen won't try to communicate again,' Sherif said. The emotional risks aren't always visible, but they're there: loneliness, internalised pressure, and a growing sense of isolation inside one's own home. 'We need to stop asking, 'why don't they talk to us?' and start asking, 'what do they need to feel safe talking to us?'' Sherif added. Back in Cairo, Nada, 17, said she wishes things could be different. 'Sometimes I just want to tell my mom about my day, or my thoughts, or even show her something I posted. But I stop myself. I think 'she'll just say it's silly.'' She paused. 'She's not mean. I just don't think she knows how to meet me where I am,' Nada said. She shared that she sometimes feels more connected to strangers online than to people at home. 'I get messages from people saying, 'I feel this too.' That's all I want. Just someone to say, 'I get it.'' But not all stories end in silence. In Alexandria, Ahmed, the father of a 20-year-old son, said a health scare last year had changed the way he parented. 'Before, I used to ask questions like a policeman. 'Where were you? What are you doing on your phone?' But now, I just sit next to him. Sometimes I ask, 'are you okay?' and then I wait.' The results surprised him. 'He didn't open up right away. But after a while, he started talking. Not everything, but enough.' He added thoughtfully that 'I realised I don't have to know everything. I just need to make him feel like I'm safe to talk to.' And that seems to be the real bridge: not grand gestures or forced conversations, but a quiet, patient presence. A kind of love that doesn't demand, but invites. For many families, that may be the starting point – not fixing the emotional distance, but simply acknowledging it, gently, without shame. It's about making room for the quiet, for the awkward moments, for the chance that one day, the silence might break. Because the truth is that Generation Z isn't silent. They're just choosing when and where to speak. And maybe, just maybe, the home can become one of those places again. * A version of this article appears in print in the 10 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
25-06-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
Healthy Fruit & Nut Crackers Recipe
Pasant Elzaitony Crackers are a favorite snack for everyone, especially during the summer, when food cravings decrease. Crackers are an easy solution for providing healthy nutrients for adults and children alike. 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp nutmeg 1/8 tsp black pepper 3/4 cup dried fruit, chopped (apricots, figs, dates, raisins, cherries, etc) 3/4 cup nuts or seeds, chopped (pistachios, pecans, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, etc) 2 tsp orange or lemon zest 1 cup milk of choice (we used oat milk, but any kind works) 1/4 cup honey Preheat oven to 350˚F and line two mini loaf pans (~5 1/2' x 3 1/4') or one regular loaf pan (~8 1/2' x 4 1/2') with parchment paper. Add both flours, baking soda, salt, herbs, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, dried fruit, nuts and zest to a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. Stir in the milk and honey until well combined and no streaks of honey remain. Divide between the 2 mini pans (or just the 1 regular loaf pan). Bake for ~25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Let cool to room temperature, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours, or overnight. (You can also leave them frozen for up to 3 months, as long as they are tightly wrapped.) Remove from the freezer and preheat oven to 300˚F. Use a serrated knife to slice into 1/8' thick slices. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes, then flip each cracker over. Bake for another 12 minutes, then check for doneness. They should be golden brown and feel dry to the touch, but they may still look soft due to the fruit. Don't worry - they will crisp up as they dry! If they're not quite golden brown, flip and leave in the oven for another 3-6 minutes. Let cool completely, then enjoy! read more 15 Ludicrous Cosplay Costumes That Will Blow You Away Watch... Dorra's natural beauty will blow your mind in latest photo session Exercising For As Little As 150 Minutes A Week Will Make You Happier، Study Claims ARIES: Your Horoscope for April 7 FDA Now Considers Vaping A Rising Epidemic In High School Lifestyle How to make Dried salted fish (feseekh) -By Chef El-Sherbini Lifestyle Batarekh Dip & Sardine Dip Lifestyle Best of Easter cookie and cakes Lifestyle ARIES friendship News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
