Ramadan Prep

This is a month of either success or failure.  It has been quite a struggle with me over the years to learn how to navigate myself successfully in this month of fasting, eating, sleeping, reading, and managing the house.  With the strides during planning this year, I feel I am ready to tackle this month using the skills I have learned.  Here is to motivation and accountability!

I used my Erin Condren LifePlanner and devoted a section to all of Ramadan planning.  My trusty planner is normally tucked in a nook in the kitchen, but I knew that I need to become serious.  Off to the office I went, that is where the heavy duty stuff happens and this was heavy duty planning.

With my planner and the desired readings laid out, it was time to start deciding which goals I wish to accomplish this month.  Next to the month layout, I filled in what I called “Plan for Success.”

Productive Muslim has come up with an excellent guide to a Productive Ramadan and while I am not able to incorporate each one of the suggestions this year, remembering that write furtive goals to fill up space will just lead to frustration, I highlighted the ones which can be tackled with my lifestyle.

It was then time to write down the weekly goals and begin to plan which pages which actions I will be doing.  The middle section of the planner is where I tend to write extra things such as friendly meetings and daily happenings.  It was a perfect space to dedicate to the spiritual activities of this month.

All of the readings, lectures, or videos to be watched that specific day are now written in my planner as well as the most dreaded task of all for me (most of the time, anyway): Cooking.  I decided to jot down the dinner for the evening which will turn into the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins the following day.  Out of the many good things that happen this month, less cooking is definitely one of them.

To write down things that I can do rather than things that I should be doing is my plan for success.  Being overwhelmed never leads to accomplishments.  Simple, sweet, and concise goals are what I had in mind while planning for this year’s Ramadan.

Planning simple things that I can do consistently and leave room to do other household tasks are essential in my approach to this month.  Don’t we all wish to take something away from this month?

How have you planned for success for this month?

–  S