Fatima Altalib Imagine waking up in the morning excited about your day. You have a smile on your face. Energy courses through your veins. A waterfall of passion rushes towards your beating heart. You praise Allah for giving you life once more. You open the windows and breathe in the crisp morning air. Then you head to the bathroom and enjoy the splendour of the cool water washing away the sleepiness from your face. When you stand in the Fajr prayer, your heart bursts with love and gratitude for the One who created you. Your entire being finds comfort as you recite His words, begging Him to guide you, guide us all to the straight path. When you bow down to the Lord of the Worlds, you feel whole. When you say salam and come to the end of your prayer, you feel ready. You are ready to start your day with passion and purpose.
That could be your every morning. All it takes is A LOT of du’a, a sprinkle of gratitude, a couple of good intentions, and a well planned day.
In Part One of this series, we stated that there are two habits that can help us live a more passionate and intentional life. These two habits are:
Habit One: Planning Your Week In Advance Using “The Identity Approach”
Habit Two: Planning Your Day The Night Before Using “The Salah Times Structure”
In our previous productivity article, we discussed Habit One. In this article, we’ll focus on Habit Two: Planning Your Day The Night Before Using “The Salah Times Structure.” In summary, we will cover:
What is Habit Two?
Why Implement Habit Two?
Step 1: Decide Your Sleeping and Waking Up Times
Step 2: Read Through Your Weekly Plan
Step 3: Fajr
Step 4: Dhuhr
Step 5: ‘Asr
Step 6: Maghrib
Step 7: Isha’
Step 8: Evaluate, Adjust and Highlight
Step 9: Avoid Burnout and Sharpen The Saw (Don’t Skip This Step!)
Conclusion
What is Habit Two?
Habit Two is: Planning Your Day The Night Before Using “The Salah Times Structure.” That sure is a mouthful! Let’s break it down to understand it better:
Planning Your Day: Planning your day means laying down the groundwork for your day ahead of time. It means visualizing what you want your day to look like and what you want to achieve in it. Ultimately, Allah is the best of planners and controls the future. However, visualizing your day ahead helps you to make important intentions that you wish to implement throughout your day. Planning also reminds you of essential commitments you have made. Fundamentally, planning your day means giving your day structure, purpose, and direction.
The Night Before: The first rule of this planning approach is to plan your Monday on Sunday evening, to plan your Tuesday on Monday evening, and so on. Making your plan the night before is a vital part of your planning strategy because you want to fall asleep with the intention of committing to your plan the next day (if Allah gives you life). You also want to wake up with your day’s plan in your head. To make the most out of your day, you need a visual map of what you look forward to achieving from the second you wake up.
The Salah Times Structure: The second rule of this planning approach is to schedule your tasks in between the five obligatory prayers: Fajr, Dhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and Isha’. This means salah becomes the structure or skeleton of your day. We’ll talk more about the advantages of this in the next point.
Why Implement Habit Two?
“Successful indeed are the believers: those who humble themselves in prayer....and those who are ˹properly˺ observant of their prayers.” (Surah Al Mu’minoon, 23:1,23:2 and 23:9)
Salah is the practice of the successful. Have you ever reflected on all the reasons why this is?
First and foremost, salah is the second pillar of our deen- Islam. Islam is a way of life. Therefore, salah should become the pillar of our life. It should be the structure that frames our days. When your salah becomes the pillar of your life, it becomes the frequent reminder of your mission, of what you stand for, of what you truly want, and why you’re trying so hard to achieve what you want.
Secondly, working on your khushu’ in salah means working on your mindfulness, your consciousness of Allah, your taqwa. The more khushu’ you have in salah, the higher concentration and focus you’ll have on other tasks.
Thirdly, structuring your day according to the salah times means structuring your day according to your obligatory acts of worship to Allah. It means intending to submit to Him throughout your day. This attracts barakah into your life. Barakah means that you get the most out of your day not only in terms of what you tick off your to-do list but in terms of your health, iman, relationships, sustenance and so on.
Fourthly, structuring your day according to the salah’s is linked very closely to Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) routine which you can read on Productive Muslim by clicking here. Therefore, it is a way to emulate the most successful human to have ever walked this Earth and the most beloved to Allah.
Lastly, planning your day according to the five salahs builds your discipline. Working to pray consistently and on time means working on your discipline. It means working on your self-control and your willpower to see an action through till the end. If you were procrastinating on your tasks, salah helps you get back on track. It’s a pause in your day to remind you of what you’re working for.
Designing your day according to the prayer times can be done in nine simple steps.
Disclaimer Before Starting The Steps: Please note that the examples and suggestions are given as guidelines and not rules of thumb. Everyone has different circumstances and lifestyle preferences. You could be a mother with young children, a newlywed trying to adjust to a new routine, an employee who has to work night shifts or a higher education student who also works full time. Try to read the steps with an open mind and heart. However, be sure to select, adapt and adapt the steps in a manner that suits your personal life goals, values, and situation.
Step 1: Decide Your Sleeping and Waking Up Times
Allah blessed us with a natural internal body clock that regulates our sleeping patterns. In order to maintain this clock, it is important to be consistent in our waking up and sleeping times. Decide what time you want to sleep and what time you want to wake up every morning. Consider factors such as the amount of hours you need to sleep to feel rested, tahajjud time, evening responsibilities, and what time you work best.
Bear in mind that what you do in the morning is filled with barakah. The Prophet (SAW) supplicated:
“Oh Allah, bless my nation in their early morning.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 2236, Al Tirmidhi 1212).
Also, remember that the cloak of the night has been designed for your rest. Allah says:
“And we made your sleep for rest, and made the night as a cover, and made the day for livelihood” (Surah An-Naba, 78:9-11).
There will be exceptions where you are forced to sleep later but try to be as consistent as you can in your sleeping and waking up times- even on the weekends.
Step 2: Read Through Your Weekly Plan
We talked more about weekly plans in Part One. However, to give you a better idea, let me show you an example of a full weekly plan designed according to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Template:
Your weekly plan gives you an overview of all the tasks you have to accomplish in all the different roles of your life, whether it be the role of an employee, a family member, or a volunteer. From the breakdown of your weekly plan, you need to decide when to do what.
PRO TIP: In order to balance my studies, writing career, social life, and other aspirations better, I personally like to give each day of the week a “theme.” For example, on Monday, my theme is my writing career. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are when I mainly focus on my postgraduate studies. Friday's theme is community and I usually use this day to connect with my neighbours, friends, and family. Saturdays are for my other aspirations. Sundays are for planning, organizing, and recreation. I usually leave Sundays with lots of empty slots so I have time for fun and relaxation. My “theme of the day” simply guides me on what I need to prioritise. However, I do often mix and match tasks from other themes. For example, I might still complete writing work on a Friday but my main priority and focus is working towards community development.
Step 3: Fajr
The Fajr or dawn prayer is the start of your day. Ideally, you want to commit to a morning routine that gives you the energy and sharpness you need to pull you through the rest of the day.
For Spiritual Energy: Schedule time after Fajr to read and reflect on the Qur'an or the morning adhkar.
For Mental Energy: Read a few pages of a meaningful book or journal your thoughts. The E-Journal feature on QalbyApp is an excellent way to reflect on your heart.
For Physical Energy: Plan a morning workout, shower, and get a healthy breakfast in before you start your work day.
For Social/ Emotional Energy: Pray Fajr in congregation (jama’ah) and talk to your family or whoever's around you after the prayer about something positive. Better yet, hug your family members to add warmth to your day! (For those far from their families or in isolation due to Covid-19, I’m sending virtual hugs your way).
If you need to go through messages and emails, set a timer so you don’t get carried away with them and miss out on more important tasks. Decide on a time you want to start working/ studying. If you have to go to a physical location for work or studies, your workplace or institute might determine what time you have to be there. Don’t forget to factor in commute time.
My suggestion is to try to get as many “main work” tasks done during this segment of your day- between Fajr and Dhuhr. If you work from home and/or have a family to take care of, you may also want to plan for when you want to cook lunch. Look out for a future article on the topic of time saving tips for meal preparation exclusively at Qalby.
If you have a lunch break between classes or work, you might want to schedule a short nap that is 15 to 30 minutes long to re-energize you for the rest of the day.
Here’s an example of “After Fajr Tasks:”
PRO TIP: leave enough time between each task to be able to complete urgent chores such as washing the dishes after breakfast.
Step 4: Dhuhr
If you work from home or are a homemaker, right before or right after Dhuhr might be the time you bring the family together for a meal. If no one is home at this time of day or if a heavy meal makes you sleepy, you may decide to schedule a light lunch so you can get back to your work, studies or projects. Perhaps use this time to complete as much work as you can as your energy might start to dwindle as the day progresses.
Here’s an example of “After Dhuhr Tasks:”
Pro Tip: Try to take note of the times in your day where you feel sleepy or groggy. Consider planning a short nap or break during those times.
Step 5: ‘Asr
After ‘Asr should be the time when you plan to conclude your work, clear your desk space, have your last messages and calls, commute back home, recite your evening adhkar and get ready for the night ahead. On a day when my workload is slightly less than usual, I like to spend this time walking outside with my family or visiting my next door neighbour. If you choose to go out, try to be indoors before Maghrib. If you eat dinner, you may want to prepare it around this time.
Pro Tip: You can either choose to plan your day on paper (I use this method) or digitally. The example above uses the “Simple and Minimal Daily Productivity Planner” template from Canva.com. The QalbyApp also offers a convenient E-Journal feature where you can record tasks and events.
Step 6: Maghrib
There is usually a very short amount of time between Maghrib and Isha, so don’t schedule too many things during this time. My Qur’an teacher recommends using this time for hifz revision. Some people have dinner or spend time as a family. Others might use this time to organise their space, take a shower, or help their little ones get ready for bed. Whatever you choose to do at this time should be something that de-stresses you after a long day.
Pro Tip: When noting down your Salah times, make sure to keep in mind the time it takes you to prepare for your salah and the time it takes to complete voluntary (sunnah) prayers and supplications. I love how the QalbyApp shows how much time I have left until the next prayer to help me wrap up what I’m doing and get ready before the athan.
Step 7: Isha’
After Isha is the time to calm down. Use this time to get ready for bed, lock up the house, plan for the next day (SO IMPORTANT), and/ or give a quick clean to the kitchen or bedroom. Make sure the alarm is set, greet your family and tell them you love them, put the kids or grandparents to bed, recite Qur’an and adhkar, do your night care skin routine, journal or read a book, etc. Set a time when you stop using technology or stop going onto social media as exposure to electronic screens affects the quality of your sleep.
Here’s an example of “After Isha’ Tasks:”
Pro Tip: There might be exceptions to your general “After Isha’ routine.” When this happens, you need to compromise and adjust accordingly. For example, twice a week, I have online Qur’an lessons from 9 pm to just past 10 pm. This is usually the time I get ready for bed and put my grandfather to bed as well. So on the days when I have my Quran class, I delegate to my sister and ask her to see my grandpa instead. My Qur’an classes also mean that I have to go to bed later than usual. I’m an early riser, so I’ll either plan to take a longer nap the next day or just sacrifice some of my sleep for the sake of my Qur’an goals. Delegation, flexibility and sacrifice are key to keeping up with your daily routine in the long run.
Step 8: Evaluate, Adjust and Highlight
Have your daily plan at hand so you can follow through on it throughout your day. Adjust the timing and tasks whenever something doesn’t go according to the original plan. Once you complete a task, highlight it in a specific colour. For example, blue. At the end of the day, highlight whatever you couldn’t achieve in a different colour. For example, purple. Don’t beat yourself up about what you didn’t manage to complete. Either plan to do it later in the week or cancel the task out completely. Thank Allah for another blessed day.
When you “fall off the wagon” (we are the sons and daughters of Adam and Hawa alayhuma asalam after all so making mistakes is inevitable), forgive yourself, ask for Allah’s forgiveness, gently pick yourself up, ask for help if you have to, renew your intentions, keep calm and CARRY ON. It’s the only way forward.
Step 9: Avoid Burnout By Sharpening The Saw (DON'T SKIP THIS STEP!)
It is not always easy to live a life of purpose and passion. Being the best version of yourself takes effort and ENERGY. If you don’t take care of your energy supply it will run out and you will experience burnout. Once you’re over exhausted, keeping up with planning your week and day will become very tiresome and you most likely won’t maintain these good planning habits. In order to at best, prevent burnout or at worst, recover from burnout, I highly recommend you “sharpen the saw.”
Sharpen the Saw is the 7th Habit in management-expert Stephen Covey’s book: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. We talked a little bit about the book in Part 1. Covey explains that sharpening the saw is a process of self renewal. It’s about “preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have-you” (p. 300). Productivity expert Michael Hyatt promotes a similar concept to Covey. Hyatt states that our hearts are the most important asset we have. Does this ring a bell? The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“Verily in the body is a piece of flesh which, if sound, the entire body is sound, and if corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 52)
In order to protect our hearts, Hyatt recommends following four disciplines:
- The Discipline of Reflection.
This helps give you mental and spiritual strength. For instance, you can journal, reflect on the Qur’an and the creations of Allah, ask yourself important questions, make dhikr and duaa, and so on.
- The Discipline of Rest.
This helps give you physical and spiritual strength. For example, you can get enough hours of sleep, take naps, take breaks between your work, use prayer to rest your soul, etc.
- The Discipline of Recreation.
This helps build your mental, physical, social and emotional strength. For instance, you can plan fun and exciting activities to do on the weekends or in your more flexible time such as leisure reading, painting, hiking, horse riding, hanging out with your friends, etc.
- The Discipline of Relationships.
This helps build your social and emotional strength. For example, you can spend time with family, visit your relatives and neighbours, or volunteer in your community.
Try to include activities under these four disciplines in order to maintain your strength, balance and energy.
Unless you want to experience burnout or stop planning your days entirely, don’t skip this step. Islam is not only a way of life but a BALANCED way of life and it is really important for us to apply that concept. By sharpening the saw and following the four disciplines of the heart, you renew, re-energize and rejuvenate yourself. This will allow you to live your best life consistently and with long-term effectiveness.
Conclusion
I’d like to end this article with a diary entry I wrote five years ago:
“When you wake up in the morning with the desire to be a better person and that intention alone makes you smile, that's when you know that HE is there and that those days of pain when it took every ounce of you to get out of bed were there so that you can appreciate today.”
Appreciate every precious second of your existence. Make salah the pillars of your life. Plan your time. Not everything will go according to schedule. However, by Allah’s will and power, you will start and end your day with passion and purpose.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read our blog. YOU ARE AWESOME! If you found this helpful, don’t forget to follow, comment, like and share this article. At Qalby, we strive to provide quality content to help ignite your heart with the light of Iman. Please support us by downloading our App, signing up on our site and following us on Instagram @qalbyapp.
References:
Covey, S. R. (2013). The seven habits of highly effective people. New York: Simon and Schuster.
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:2236
https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2013/07/29/ummah-blessed-morning/
https://michaelhyatt.com/the-four-disciplines-of-the-heart/
https://www.abuaminaelias.com/forty-hadith-purification-of-the-heart/
https://productivemuslim.com/daily-routine-of-prophet-muhammad/
Templates:
https://www.canva.com/ (Simple and Minimal Daily Productivity Planner)
Covey, S. R. (2013). The seven habits of highly effective people. New York: Simon and Schuster. (Page174).
