Ramadan Prep time ladies (and well gents…).

Grab a pen and paper ladies; and maybe a cup of kava. There’s plenty that needs doing before Ramadan is here~Alliyah.

It’s the blessed time of the year when we all think about what we want to achieve in Ramadan but for some of us the things that we should park to one side take over and Ramadan simply becomes a rat race. Here are some tips to help you prepare and get the most out of the holiest month of the year.

1) Get a piece of paper and some pens and create a time chart of how you spend your time NOW. Colour code the following:

Essential duties: school run, work, caring for family etc

Things that can be delayed or adjusted: shopping, crafts clubs, cleaning daily*, social events, gym time

Things you can survive a month without: watching TV, films, catching up with friends, sports club

The idea is to see how much time you can potentially free up for holier activities. The essential duties must continue. Things that can be delayed or postponed/adjusted potentially open up the opportunity to delegate or postpone until after Ramadan. For example if you go food shopping and it takes you half an hour to get your little one ready, two hours to do the shop then you stop for a much needed cuppa consider ONLINE shopping. If you do a weekly shop for fresh food make a list of these essential fresh items and fit in the small shop around other errands or again shop online.

If like me you do a monthly ‘pantry shop’ of tins, rice etc you can do this a week before Ramadan to reduce the stress.

Things you can survive without: no explanation needed! You need extra hours os anything in this category can be put on ice to free up much needed time.

2) Make a list of your top 3 or 5 priorities for Ramadan. These can be anything that is close to your heart. Here are a few examples:

Recite the full Quran in the first 20 days of Ramadan

Give 30 food items to the food bank

Volunteer at the local soup kitchen with your teenagers every weekend during Ramadan

Increase gratitude as a family

Kick a bad/ugly habit e.g. smoking/a friendship that is weighing you down

Now be realistic and work out how much time you really need to complete these targets. If you have worked out you have enough hours to complete these targets simply by freeing up time from projects/tasks you are putting on hold e.g. instead of spending two hours a day in the gym you will spend it reciting the Quran kudos. You have figured out how to adjust life to more welcoming of Ramadan. Disclaimer: by no way am I saying the gym isn’t important. I’m just showing you temporary ways of welcoming the temporary guest that is Ramadan into your life.

If you find you have too many tasks and not enough hours even after you delegate tasks take the top two priorities and work to achieve as much of them as possible. The rest of your tasks can be spread across the remainder of the year In Shaa Allah. Allah watches us all; and if he sees you struggle to make time he will no doubt assist you beyond your expectations.

3) You’ve got approximately an MONTH until Ramadan. Now is the time to PREPARE your body as much as possible. How can you prepare? I’m glad you asked!

CAFFEINE addicts now is the time to reduce your daily intake or better still cut it out. The last thing you need is a a headache from the lack of caffeine going in your body.

Smoke? You know what you need to do! Ask your GP s Surgery for information on what support is available to you.

Ensure you are taking the correct vitamins for you and if you suffer from fatigue double check if you need Vitamin B12. Remember that it’s recommended you take any vitamin for a month before you will feel any positive impact.

Don’t sleep enough? Play on your phone in bed? Snap out of this habit NOW. Maybe you can try turning your phone off? Electrical alarm clocks still exist so invest in one rather than use the excuse that your phone is on as an alarm. Make those changes now.

WORK long hours? Well if you work for someone else you could ask if you can take your lunch break at the end of the day (or start a bit later) rather than using lunch time to watch other eat.

IMPORTANT: If you want Eid off now would be a good time to check if you can book it off.

If you cannot adjust your lunch break use this time to build on your Islamic knowledge by reading a good book or catch some online lectures on important subjects.

BONUS TIP: once you’ve pretty much sorted out your priorities for this month update your calendars/diaries to reflect this e.g. postponing plans etc.

3) Make a list of all your PRAYERS you wish to be granted during Ramadan. Sounds a bit weird but I find listing what I want to ask for ensures I don’t miss out on anything. Ask friends and family for their prayer requests too.

4) GET CLEANING now. The amount of sisters I see trying to clean their homes in Ramadan are high. Yes cleanliness is a positive thing (islamically yes, and for attracting positivity in general). You have approximately a month. Try and do as much as you can realistically. Ideally you should have systems in place to avoid your kitchen/living room/wardrobes going into meltdown.

Top tips for keeping a cleaner home in Ramadan:

BAN all toys from living and dining areas (restrict them to children’s room/play rooms only). You have a month to get this rule into place.

Declutter your main living areas before Ramadan. This should include removing magazines, unwanted toys, decorations etc.

Deep clean any rugs/carpets now as Ramadan isn’t the time to be getting out heavy cleaners.

Keep furniture wipes in the main living area to do a daily easy spot clean.

Have children? Delegate tasks to them. Younger children can help dust by putting a clean sock over their hand and wiping down surfaces. Research shows chores never killed a child and in fact will assist a child in the journey that is life. For real.

Launder all cushions/throws/covers now. Refresh before Eid with a good freshening spray (I swear by Wilkos own brand).

Organise wardrobes now. Remove unwanted clothing and give to charity. Store away unwanted clothing now. Get the family involved. If you have younger children consider organising 10 outfits and pinning together for Ramadan. Then before these outfits run out create another 10. You will hopefully only have to organise what they need to wear 3 times during the holy month.

Sort out your Freezer & Pantry now. Remove out of date items and use up items that are coming up to the end of their use by date.

5) Make a list of the food/beverages you will use during Ramadan. Check your ingredient supply levels and make shopping lists to reflect this. You don’t want to be shopping during Ramadan if you can avoid it. Stock up wisely especially if space is limited.

6) Do you give presents on Eid? Find out what everyone wants and order/make presents asap. For a guide on foodie presents see my article on it.

7) Eid clothes…we know Eid is coming so why leave it to the last minute? Plan outfits in advance and get shopping done prior to Ramadan. Tailors are often less busy before Ramadan too. And if like me you purchase clothes and then DIY with them the earlier you get your shopping done the better. At the time of writing this I’ve had by outfits bought for over a month….so….

8) Do you live in the West? Man do we have our work cut out for us as parents.

We are competing with Christmas, Easter, Valentines etc etc etc.You can deny it all you want; it really is what it is. So instead of rolling your eyes at the commercialisation that your children gravitate towards think of family traditions you can incorporate into Ramadan that have an Islamic meaning. We have a gratitude jar. We write down what we are grateful for and place it in our jar. It doesn’t matter what you are grateful for or if its the same things being repeated; gratitude is essential as a Muslim and teaches children the importance of acknowledging the blessings in their lives.

How about making crescent moon cookies decorating them and sending them to your child’s School with a short explanation of Ramadan and why we celebrate it.

9) Do you have DIY projects going on? Get them done now. If they cannot be completed before Ramadan as they are huge projects you may wish to negotiate with your workman about times that are suitable for you in Ramadan that cause less inconvenience to you and your family.

10) Looking for activities for Ramadan and Eid? Start asking at the Masjid/Community Centre now. If you cannot find suitable activities you may need to create your own.

11) Create activity boxes for younger children. I usually invest in colouring books, pencils, Eid related crafts, cookie cutters (such as crescent moon shapes), Ramadan related story books, bubbles (for outdoor play). Small items that the girls like playing with but they can have a treat every day/every other day. Something to promote cooperation during the month. Especially if you want a bit of quiet time.

12) Sort out your meal planning now.

If you are catering for large groups of people plan your meals to reflect this. Try and keep meals seasonal if possible. If you are in the United Kingdom bare in mind the weather maybe warm/bordering summer. The last thing you want to do is slave over a hot stove when you could be reciting Surahs and extending your knowledge by cooking an equally yummy meal that takes less time.

If you have freezer space utilise this.

If you must have fried foods such as pakoras, samosas etc please remember Ramadan is not about stuffing your face and causing yourself heartburn. Instead consider alternatives. How’s about baked samosas? Seekh kebabs cooked under the grill? Small changes that your body will be thankful for. A lot of starters can be purchased ready made too; so if you are pushed for time don’t fret. Just plan simple meals and consider purchasing in samosas and other time consuming items.

If you do have freezer space why not plan your Sehri (breakfasts) too? I have an ebook coming soon (FREE!) on the kindle with some recipes for things like burritos. Again we want to save time and be more productive during this blessed month and beyond. Don’t create extra work for yourself; try and work cleverly by planning.

13) Is there revert sisters/brothers at your Masjid/in your community?

Reach out to them over Ramadan. Maybe you can send them some food? Or invite them over if Iftar isn’t that late. For a lot of reverts Ramadan and Eid are both very lonely times. Spread the love of Islam and reach out to those who will appreciate it. Remember the joy of Ramadan is for all the Ummah; remember those who may not be as blessed right now as you.

14) Do more for charity. Maybe you can schedule time to declutter the children’s toys and give them away? If your children are old enough get them involved in the process. Maybe you didn’t get the chance to declutter the wardrobes before Ramadan. As a family you can declutter wardrobes and give clothes to the various appeals currently underway. Create a habit of decluttering by scheduling another session in 6 months time. You won’t get rid of as much but it’s a positive habit and encourages your children to also give in an affordable way too. Every little helps and you are doing a good deed. Why not give your time to charity? Visit  the elderly? Do a bit of cooking for them? A little goes a long way. Allah never ever ignores a good deed regardless of the size.

15) Remember that Ramadan is a guest and will leave with the dawn of Eid-ul-Fitr. For a lot of folks Eid celebrations are somewhat murky. I’m talking to those of you that are hiring cars, driving around Wimmy Road (Manchester folk you know where this is) going out late at night, partying, living it up and then call it all Eid celebrations. Or booking to see the latest Bollywood film (this makes my skin crawl….). Eid is about family, loved ones and what your religion has given you. The blessings. Why on earth do you feel the desire to go back to a life that is the opposite of all the effort you put in over the last month?

Celebrate Eid in a clean fashion. Old fashioned maybe; but Islamically. See family and friends. Give gifts if you can afford to. Visit the elderly in your community (both Muslim and non-Muslim). Give to charity. Visit a hospital or hospice; ask if they need volunteers and create time to be a better person now that Ramadan has left and you feel more in tune with faith and detoxed from your old bad habits such as wasting time. Do something that your soul will reward you for. Forget this life; it’s only temporary; think about your eternal journey and how getting the most out of this blessed month could potentially give you the zest for life you’ve been searching for.

So what are your top tips for a productive Ramadan? Leave your tips below!