We are now entering the beginning of Ramadan 2024, and as time flies past due to the hectic daily routine, sooner or later, all good things must come to an end, and we'll end up meeting the last day of the holy month. Thus, we should make full use of the days we have left to repent and strengthen our faith while bringing ourselves closer to Allah SWT.
Surely, many of us have welcomed this month with the intention of turning over a new leaf or improving ourselves positively. However, if you have not had the chance to do so, you can start preparing now! Whether you want to learn a new dua, read more pages in the Quran, memorize a surah or be a more forgiving person, here are a few tips to get started on your Ramadan planner:
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Make a list and be reasonable with it. Make sure the list does not overwhelm you. Setting too many goals will only serve to make you feel stressed during Ramadan and disappointed at the end of it when you do not manage to complete all your tasks. At the end of the day, you know yourself best, so be sure to plan your goals in accordance with how much you can handle.
As for Muslims who live in non-Islamic countries, be sure to carefully plan out your time in a way that you can balance out work with your religious pursuits.
A list is a great start, but the next step to note is time management. How are you going to manage your time with everything else that must be done?
Easy, just set achievable targets and take note of when you want to achieve them respectively. Also, make regular updates about what you have accomplished. That feeling of accomplishment you get upon completing a task should serve as a motivating factor for you to continue with the task you set for yourself.
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The world is full of distractions, which range from social media to popular television shows and the latest movie releases. Even birthdays and other celebrations can sometimes be a distraction.
But since Ramadan is about to come to an end, why not go on a social media cleanse or give up watching the television for a while? This way, you are making an attempt to stop yourself from seeing things that are inappropriate, or people who are dressed immodestly during this holy month. By respecting the month, Allah will surely recognize your efforts and reward you.
Perhaps if you haven't seen a currently some of the premiering and exciting movies in cinemas yet, save it for Eid! You have all the other months in the Islamic calendar to watch it, so don't waste your Ramadan away. Instead, spend time focusing on yourself and your spirituality. And do your best to abstain from those worldly things that are truly not beneficial to becoming closer to Allah SWT.
For example, if you have set a goal to memorize one of the Surahs from the Quran, then prepare the video or audio clips you require to aid you in your memorization beforehand. And if you are planning to visit the mosque every weekday, be sure to have a few modest outfits and shawls put aside so you don't end up struggling to find them on the days you need them.
A little pre-planning will most definitely go a long way in helping you make the most of your Ramadan planner.
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By telling your friends and family about what your Ramadan goals are, you will experience an adrenaline rush that will make you feel pressured to complete the tasks that you have told them you intend to do. Indeed, this is a good tactic to ensure you always stay focused and on track with your planner.
Furthermore, your peers will know not to disturb you during the times you’ve set aside to achieve your goals. Instead, they will act as your cheering squad and motivate you to keep going whenever you feel like giving up.
Perhaps some of your goals are too ambitious, but you do not realize it. This is when speaking to a professional will come in handy. They will serve to point out any mistakes or flaws in your planner.
Remember, you are not alone. There are many people who will be more than willing to help you work towards your Ramadan goals - all you have to do is seek them out.
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All the planning and preparation will only come to fruition if you get going.
Be sure to follow through with everything that you have planned, as best as you can. Know that it is okay if you do not manage to complete one or two things you set out for yourself due to circumstances. As long as you put your best foot forward, you should be proud of yourself nonetheless.
So don't procrastinate - start now! Wishing you all a very peaceful Ramadan!
Sakina has over 20 years of experience in the field of corporate communications; having worked for a leading Annual Report Production House dealing with top corporates of Sri Lanka and overseas, and later as the Group Communications Specialist for a Sri Lankan conglomerate for their overseas plantations business. She is well-versed in the production process of annual reports, sustainability reports, corporate videos and other corporate communication media. She also has experience in Social Media Marketing and works to increase and improve social media presence of corporates and small niche market businesses. Today, she works as a freelance writer and undertakes consultations on corporate communications and social media related projects. She enjoys writing for blogs on topics of interest.
