Ramadhan is mere days away. The ninth month in the Islamic calendar, it is a month of great blessings. Throughout the year, our focus tends to wave from one thing to another. We try our best to fulfil the religious obligations upon us while juggling the dunya life. Ramdhan is a time when we can spiritually focus on ourselves. Our focus automatically is directed towards how we can improve ourselves in our character and worship. This month is special and those who enter into the month are among the blessed people. Not everyone will see this month and not everyone will come out of the month. Each second of this month counts.
Time is always something that is fundamentally important when considering an action. A second gone is not a second that will come back again. Planning is what makes it easier to use each day wisely; we might not always stick to a plan but being consciously aware of our productivity and time management is a paving stone to success. In Ramadhan, this principle needs to be applied. Given many are still in school, university or will be working during the month, being able to pack in as many activities can be difficult. Planning wisely is something that will help you overcome this problem.
We want to get the most out of the month. Our aim should be to come out a better person in some shape or form once the month has passed away. The transformation does not have to be something massive; a sustainable change should be made through the course of this month. Ensuring we go into the month with a mindset that allows us to use each minute to the best of our abilities is key. To help you do that, here are some top tips on how to organise your time in Ramadhan:
Dua
With every action we take, every problem we face and every idea we have, we should turn to Allah first and foremost. You want to have a productive Ramadhan? Ask Allah for it. Is through His help and His guidance that you will be able to achieve greatness. Keep your intentions pure in what you want to achieve and make dua’a to Him to help you make the most of this month.
Goals
Do not go into the month blindly, thinking “I want to be a better person”. This is a great notion to have however we must hold ourselves accountable to a goal. How do you want to be a better person? Do you need to work on your Salah? Do you need to work on your mannerisms? Find a few things you want to sincerely work on this month and think of what steps you can take to get there.
Schedule your week
We all have different things to tackle in the week. Be it work, family or studies, everyone’s life is different. Whatever your schedule is, think of where the gaps are and what you can fit to do with that time. Simply thinking “when I get a minute, I will read some Qur’an” will not necessarily lead to you having the time to do so. We are creatures of habit so fix into your schedule when you want to do certain activities.
Eat healthy
What does this have to do with having a productive Ramadhan? A great deal. The food we consume has a major impact on our awareness, concentration and thus, our ability to focus. If at iftar you are eating fried foods, lacking crucial nutrition, then you will find the next day is a struggle. In order to gain the most out of the day, we need energy. That energy will come specifically from what you are consuming in the hours you are eating. Choose good, wholesome foods and drink plenty of water to keep your body and mind in the best state to help your spiritual growth. To avoid spending lots of time in the kitchen, try to plan as many meals as you can. Prepare as much as you can in bulk so this valuable time can be spend doing something worthwhile your ibaadah.
Smoothie, Blueberry, Yogurt.
Remain Realistic and Optimistic
As mentioned, we have a number of things to consider when planning out our day. With this in mind, we must be realistic in our goals. If you are working full time, you may not have the same time or energy to do the activities someone who is not working will have. However, this does not mean you cannot perform ibadaah. Having the right intentions in any action we do can, insha’Allah, lead to reward from Allah swt. Be realisitic in what time you have, what goals you want to pursue and stay optimistic because Allah swt knows your intentions.
Consider post Ramadhan
The month is a month, not a day longer. What we achieve in Ramadhan should be amazing but that hard work should not stop there. If you are able to schedule in activities of ibaadah that develop you as a person, then try to continue these afterwards. Continue to stay productive in your ibaadah and selfdevelopment after the month has passed.
I pray these tips have been useful for yourself. If you have any other ideas on how to plan for your Ramadhan in the last few days remaining, please leave a comment below.
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