Personal Development

Ramadan is usually a time when we strive to change our habits, heal from hurt, or set new goals. It is the perfect time to turn our focus inwards and think about what we want to improve about ourselves.

• Find ways to turn your attention inwards and nourish yourself.
• Try this 30 Day challenge for self-improvement during this month.
• Watch this video to understand the science of behavior change. Greater knowledge will increase the likelihood of success in reaching your goals.
• If you are planning to break bad habits, this video highlights how bad habits are formed, maintained, and eventually reformed.
• As you think about good habits to start in Ramadan, bolstered your success by setting SMART goals.

• Use these goal-setting tips to increase the likelihood of success. Be comprehensive in your goal setting.
• Track your Ramadan goals and your reflections using the Ramadan Legacy app.
• Consider including goals to improve your marriage, family, or parenting skills.
• For women, pregnancy, menstrual cycles or young children can sometimes derail from your goals – be compassionate with yourself, understand your reality, and focus on what you CAN do!
• Reduce your mental load when thinking about your goals for this month.

Structure Your Day

Many schools and workplaces have opened up, so the spare time we have for ourselves may be limited compared to the last two years. Making a schedule can help you ensure that your spiritual, physical, emotional, and social needs are being met each day. There will be days when it is hard to follow the schedule, so be gentle with yourself and allow those days to happen.

• Start your day with a post-Fajr group that recites morning du’a and surahs over the phone.
• Designate times to recite your favorite dhikr and du’a.
• Start a gratitude journal and write 3 things you are grateful for each day. Then supplicate and thank Allah for these blessings.
• Set a time to hear the recitation of the Quran using headphones or playing it while working or driving to work.
• Plan to listen to a weekly lecture/talk. Set it up on your TV for the whole family to watch together. Check out this list of organizations that host programs in Ramadan.
• Pick a day each week to call a family member, neighbor, or elderly person.
• If you have children, refer to the Bonding with Family section of the toolkit to create a schedule with them.