By Rizwana 

Approaching and during Ramadan, I realise how in need I am of a spiritual reset to nourish my mind, body, and soul. In order to energise my iman, I have a checklist to help keep myself accountable for when Ramadan begins and throughout. Below are some of the steps I will be taking this year to help me prepare mentally, spiritually, and physically for the month ahead:

Three White Days

Revive a sunnah and fast on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of Sha’ban. Not only will this help with the transition into Ramadan, but every good you do will be multiplied by 10. So, it will be as if you have fasted for the whole month of Sha’ban.

Decorate Your Space

Ramadan decorations can help you get you into the Ramadan spirit. This is also a great time to declutter and organise your space. Your environment will reflect your state of mind.

Manage Task Expectations and Stay Consistent

It is very easy to give yourself ambitious goals for the month but what I realise is this is not always manageable or realistic. There have been times when I have not been able to complete reading the Quran or feel as if I have not made the most out of the month due to a range of things. So, I make a checklist of things I can do on a daily and weekly basis which will accommodate my schedule best. For example, I make achievable tasks like making dhikr and dua daily and a weekly target will be to spend time reading additional Islamic books. And, then of course to aim to stay consistent with my tasks.

Journaling

I’ve tried journaling before, but I just couldn’t stick with it. However, I have seen Ramadan journals floating on my socials and I want to give this another go as it will be dedicated for the month. I believe this will help me to keep on top of my goals as well and where I can jot down any other thoughts and feelings I have.

Meal Prep

The last thing I want to do is be worrying or rushing to make food so I will be planning ahead iftar and sehri recipes, so I have more time to spend in worship. Not only will this help with time management, but I can make sure I am consuming food which will help nourish my body.

Digital Detox

I will be aiming to reduce the amount of time I spend on my phone and replace that time with beneficial tasks, such as, dhikr, salawat, istighfar and reflection.

Whether you use this checklist or modify it for your needs, I pray Allah (swt) allows us to reach Ramadan where we can reap its rewards.