As we approach Ramadan, we may be thinking about the goals we want to achieve. So while our busy lives mean we may not be able to dedicate all of our time to our faith or improving our knowledge as much as we do in Ramadan. We can all keep a little bit of Ramadan alive throughout the year with these helpful tips. Here are some useful ways you can help continue the positives of Ramadan with you now and for the rest of the year.

Make a plan

The first part of keeping the momentum before and during Ramadan is by sitting down, taking out a pen or pencil and writing down some realistic goals for you and your lifestyle.

Aisha narrated, “the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.” (Al Bukhari 6464)

Whether it’s waking up once a month before Fajr to do night prayers or fasting once a week. Write down the goals you want to achieve for the rest of the year that are achievable for you.

Substitute the little things in your life

Instead of listening to music in the car or when travelling on public transport, instead listen to a podcast or lecture. Instead of watching a film for an hour and a half, watch an educational video on YouTube. Instead of reading a fiction book, read the Quran or one of the many Islamic books to help develop your knowledge. These little changes in our habits, can help keep our learning to continue after Ramadan.

Become a volunteer

Charity doesn’t have to end on the last day of Ramadan. Helping those in need helps us reconnect to what’s important in life and reminds us to not take for granted the blessings we do have in life. Volunteering or doing kind acts for those around us is an amazing way to keep the spirit of Ramadan alive. If giving your time is more difficult, you can set up a regular donation to a chosen charity.

Mind your bad habits

Often we focus on good habits during this blessed month, but we have to make sure we also control our bad habits too. Whether it’s aiming to gossip less or not get involved in backbiting. We have to be aware of these habits and Ramadan is a time when we avoid those bad behaviours. However stopping bad habits doesn’t have to end with Ramadan. We can even introduce ways to encourage ourselves not to commit them again.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our everyday lives but with a little bit of planning and changing some of our habits we can help keep some of the positives of Ramadan throughout the year.

Ramadan Mubarak from us, to you.