How I Aim To Make My Mornings Attractive
Muslims should be naturally inclined to make their mornings productive!
I’d wake up in shock. Scramble to check the time. And heave a sigh of anger mixed with guilt, for missing my Dawn prayers. Every morning consisted of a rushed morning shower (or skipping it entirely), grabbing clothes that didn’t need ironing, jamming my school essentials frivolously into my school bag and missing out on breakfast.
I struggle to be a morning person — it didn’t come naturally to me. Often, I barely made it to lecture on time. And that rushed, panicky and sweaty morning is the morning, a doctor to be should own.
“Am I really doomed to be a less successful person? Being a night owl had always worked for me.” It took marriage and an earnest conversation with my husband to amplify that this is a vicious cycle.
I wasn’t focusing in lectures. I would take a nap every chance I get. I felt groggy and my sleep at night wasn’t great either. This problem seeped into my weekends. What used to be ‘sleeping in’ until 12pm dragged on to 1–2–3 pm.
Being asleep more than half the day translated into lesser quality time with my husband. “You’re not a single lady anymore” — he added. “You’re right” — I replied. I can’t live as if I stayed alone anymore. Now I have the added responsibility of a wife or perhaps, a mother in the near future.
Change occurs when the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of changing — Tony Robbins
I’ve been listening to Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s clear to me (pun intended) that if I could win the morning, then I could win the day. James told me to make my mornings attractive — a question I posed to my husband. “B, how can I make my mornings attractive as a Muslim?”
To which he pointed out the hadiths and rewards Muslims should chase in the morning. “But I guess that’s not attractive” He ended. My heart sank. “That’s sad. All that you mentioned should have been attractive enough for a Muslim.” Why didn’t I see it that way?
5 Reasons We Are Equipped At Being Productive As A Muslim
What’s your definition of productivity? Muslims should be productivity gurus! We’ve been practicing so many hacks all…medium.com
Morning Block: 04:00–05:00
Drink a cup of honey water
Make my bed
Take ablution
2 rak’ah Tahajjud + 2 pages of Qur’an
Revision: 2x 45min
God, says in the Qur’an: “Perform the Salat (Prayer) from midday till the darkness of the night, and recite the Qur’an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur’an in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels).” Qur’an 17:78
Subuh Block: 05:00–06:00
2 rak’ahs Sunnah of Fajr
Fajr prayers
Morning stretch
Plan the day
Prep for Breakfast & Pack Lunch
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The two Rak’ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains.”
AM Block: 06:00–07:45
Morning Shower
Get ready for school
Breakfast + 1 cup of coffee
1x Lecture pre-reading
Commute to school
This is the morning routine I’ll be sticking to this March. How have your mornings been?
Care to share more tips with me?