Ramadan | My Tips & Tricks
20:00
The month of fasting is, once again, upon us and ohmyword has time FLOWN. It honestly feels like last Ramadan just left us yesterday and yet here we are, preparing for another month of fasting. The supermarkets have their Ramadan aisles stocked, the Eid lights are up, and the British heatwave has dawned upon us. Yes, Ramadan is well and truly here.
| "Reaching the month of Ramadan, is in itself, a gift from Allah" - Sheikh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz
I am so excited that it's come back round. The air of spirituality, the atmosphere as we enter this incredibly blessed month, the buzz that surrounds these thirty days...the sheer beauty of this month is unparalleled. There's a quiet mystical peace in waking up hours before the crack of dawn to stand in the stillness of the night to pray, in spending a long 20 hours abstaining not just from food and drink but all else that is materialistic, to detach from the world and build a closer connection with God. There's a profound sense of unity in knowing that when the sun sets, hundreds of thousands of us around the UK and millions of us across the many time zones that span this earth, are preparing to break the fast before readying ourselves for the long night in which we submit once again to acts of worship. It is a driving force for spiritual recharge and it's true, that a mere thirty days can change the rest of your life if you let it.
It's a personal time of year; it's a time of healing and rekindling of faith, and it means something different to those lucky enough to see it through. Sometimes, our souls just need to feel peace and it feels like, so often, Ramadan is the only time we ever get that. We're so caught up in a meaningless world that it takes detaching from it to heal the cracks that it imposes on our fragile hearts. And so, I hope and pray that all you lovely people that are celebrating Ramadan find what you're looking for in this blessed month.
I'm going to try and blog a Ramadan series this year, I stumbled upon a Ramadan Journal idea the other day and I'd love to do it. Fingers crossed, I should be uploading a post a week provided I feel inspired enough. And I thought what better way to kick off Ramadan than with a few tips and tricks - tried and tested by my own experience - to make this month a productive, happy, healthy one :)
R A M A D A N
Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks
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1. Stay hydrated
I don't know about you, but as much as I don't feel the hunger, I do live with a permanent headache for thirty days. I don't know if it's my messed up sleeping pattern, dehydration, or caffeine withdrawal, or a combination of all three, but throughout the day, my banging headache gets progressively worse and I find that drinking as much water as I can eases the pain a little. And if you live in the UK, you know as well as I do that the British heat isn't the kindest so look after yourself by drinking as much water as you can, both when making and breaking the fast
2. Experiment
On that note, I find Ramadan a great time to experiment with food and drink. Discovering new recipes and making ice-cold treats that I can look forward to breaking the fast with is one of my new favourite time-kills. Go all out and make crazy combo milkshakes, or a traditional pink lemonade, or an iced tea - it works wonders in the heat!
3. Nap
I find napping for an hour or two in the evening works better for me than waking up super late in the afternoon because when I do that, I just feel sluggish and drowsy with a really heavy head. Waking up early, being productive, and then napping when I feel drained later on in the day makes the fast go so much more smoothly
4. Time manage
Especially if you're one of those poor souls sitting their A-levels whilst fasting. A-levels, at the best of times, are a horrific nightmare and Lord knows it'll be multiplied ten-fold this year. But as long as you devote enough time to studying, and enough time to rest and take it easy, it should be a breeze. Late-night revision, cram-studying, all-nighters...chuck all that out the window because it's going to be beyond counter-productive. Start the day early, revise, give yourself time to rest and pray, eat well when breaking the fast, and get in a good night's sleep. (And repeat).
5. Reflect
I find Ramadan is the best time of year to take the time out to reflect on life. There is no denying that everyone has moments in life where they struggle with their faith. It waxes and wanes like the phases of the moon and there are times where it quite literally, falls apart. Ramadan is my clean slate. Just as it is for thousands of others out there. Set goals to right what's wrong in your life and instead of writing them down in a pretty journal and forgetting about them in a week's time, make the conscious effort to implement/achieve them
6. Kick that bad habit
We all have our vices. Bad habits are the bane of our mortal life. If we were to tally the amount of times we stray in the day, we'd be up in the hundreds, and that's if we're lucky. It is impossible to erase our endless stream of sins, we're only human and we're constantly slipping and tripping up, our mistakes catching up with us as we slowly stack them up on our unseen record. But live by the saying "quality not quantity". Pick one bad habit - whether you're a serial offender of using foul language, or you have an unhealthy addiction to music, or you're a pathological liar - and do your best to stay away from it, consistently, for the month. And then stay away from it consistently every day after that.
| It takes 21 days to make or break a habit
7. Implement a good habit
It can be just the one. But do it, and do it consistently. Whether it's consciously making it a habit to read a page or two of the Quran every morning, or making an effort to wear a scarf more often than you don't, or taking a social media hiatus, whichever good deed you want to strive at, these next thirty days are the best days in which you'll find the motivation to do so. It doesn't have to be drastically effective, but even the simplest of deeds like channelling your inner human kindness is an act of worship; smile, give charity, be kind to your parents...whatever you choose to do, do it for thirty days, and I promise it'll become second nature for the 335 days that follow. Watch it transform your life.
8. Repent
Repent repent repent. Sincerely ask for forgiveness for your mistakes and wrong-doings, and the times you've strayed, and don't lose hope in being forgiven. Because you could return to that sin during the day and repent for it with all your heart throughout the night, and God's mercy will still transcend the weakness of the human heart. Repent because you don't know which night will be your last.
9. Pray
This goes without saying. It is a month of immeasurable reward and a month of detaching from the world to focus on our ultimate purpose. Believe me, I know the days are long and tedious and in-between work and studying, it's hard to find the energy and strength to pray. But set some manageable goals and dedicate a little time every day to achieve them. Slow and steady does the trick.
10. Find a balance
Yes, Ramadan is for praying. It is a month of worship and spiritual awakening, but it's also a time to recharge. If you burn yourself out, you'll drive yourself insane. Take some time out for your hobbies. Read a book, sleep (to kill those long hours), write, learn how to cook your favourite dish, play some Mariokart (you'll be amazed at how addictive this can be in Ramadan, it's the favourite time kill for me and the brother), go on a shopping spree, be creative, go to the park and take a walk - whatever it is that lets you wind down and relax, give yourself that time to just do it.
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