Effective Time Management for Muslimah

Sandra Iman Pertek, 14th July 2011, Ayesha Community School

Waste/Abuse time

Waste/Abuse your life

Value Time Value Life

Identify yourself with below descriptions by sitting in the right place

No timeBusyI never complete my daily tasksI think I could do moreI waste my time“I wish I had more time everyday”

Enough timeAvailableI am in control of my timeI do right things“I am happy how I deal with

my time”

On the left On the right

“The Hour will not take place before time shrinks. One year will be like a month, one

month will be like a week, a week will be like a day, and a day will be like an hour; and an

hour will be like a burning flame.”(Ibn Ahmad Hanbal, Musnad)

Time gets closer, and the day and the night approach one another. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah

al-Qurtubi, p. 374, no. 681)

A warning for everyone

The time is only getting shorter so we need to learn how to manage ourselves to cope with it

Allah (SWT.) gives us enough time, He knows best what is

best for us…

What is our life like?

We are nothingWe are born (our life’s exam starts)

We growWe are teenagers

We growWe have a family

We grow OldWe die.

And as any other exam, our life’s exam has a limited time…

Why are we here?

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. Qur'an (51:56-58).

And serve thy Lord until there come unto thee the Hour that is certain (i.e., death). Qur'an (15:98-99)

Where are you going?

Do you know what you want achieve in this life? Are you

planning it?

What are we going to talk about today?

TIME + MANAGEMENT

IN MUSLIM CONTEXT

AGENDA1. The importance of

time.2. Worth effort deeds.3. Time management

techniques.4. Practice!– Setting up the goals– Time planning.

EFFECTIVE

The importance of time

Time is a gift from the Creator and its proper use will determine our outcome for eternity

X years

Life as a gift from the Creator

Y months

Z days

W hoursU minutes

Gift = X years + Y months + Z days + W hours + U minutes

We are reminded that life in this world is nothing but temporary...

"There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good." (Bukhari 8/421)

Before we could lose this blessing we need to rush to do good.

Day of JudgementNarrated Abdullah Bin Mas`ud Allah's Messenger

(PBUH) said:

"A man shall be asked concerning five things on the day of resurrection: - concerning his life, how he spent it; - concerning his youth, - how he grew old; - concerning his wealth, whence he acquired it, and

in what way he spent it; - and what was it that he did with the knowledge

that he had."

Do good deeds before any obstacles arise

The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), used to call on Muslims to take the initiative to do good deeds before any obstacles arise. For instance, he said, "Lose no time to do good deeds before you are caught up by one of seven calamities awaiting you: a starvation which may impair your wisdom; a prosperity which may mislead you; an ailment which may damage your health; an old age which may harm your senses; a sudden death; the Dajjal (Antichrist); or Doomsday, which is indeed the hardest and most bitter." (at-Tirmidhi, al-Baihaqi)

Related by Ibn-Abbas; the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, "Grab five things before five others: your youth before your decrepitude, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your leisure before your work, and your life before your death." [al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak]

Another reminder…

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. Qur'an (103:1-3)

We must be prompt in doing good deeds, which will increase our faith and subsequently enable us to gain Allah's pleasure and mercy.

Have we been spending our time wisely to serve Allah (SWT.) and deserve for Jennah?

To be successful in this life’s exam, we have to manage our time wisely by making plans for righteous deeds that please Allah the Almighty.

Take a minute and write down in your handouts:What does time mean to me and why is it so important?

Task 1.What are beneficial things that we should prompt to do?

Brainstorm and stick your list to the ‘beneficial time use board’.

Time: 8 min for preparation + 2 min for group presentation

Develop your connection with Allah (SWT.)

–Morning routine– Sleep routine (night and witr prayer)– Focus in Salaat in the age of distraction

Start your day early

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhe wa sallam) always demanded that work should start early in the morning.

Aisha reported a Hadith with a similar meaning; the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, " Rise early to earn your living and do your affairs, for it brings about blessing and success." [at-Tabarani]

Fatima, the Prophet's daughter, said that when he saw her still lying in bed one morning, he told her, "My daughter, get up and witness your Lord's bounty, and do not be among the indifferent; Allah distributes daily bread between the break of dawn and sunrise." [al-Baihaqi]

Volunteer

Pray on time

www.1000gooddeeds.com

More ideas!

Take a minute and write down in your handouts: How can I use my time, what deeds can I do, in a way that

will bring me eternal benefits?

So we all got some hints about effective Muslimah’s deeds…

Now, as we know what we should do let’s look at how we can manage ourselves better to have time to do what really

matters.

Time management techniques

Time TrapsNon-Productive Activities to Avoid

Brainstorming

Take a minute and write down in your handouts: What are my time traps?

(time wasters)

Planning Your Days Ahead

The Peak Performance Curve

• When are you most focused and attentive?• When are you most creative?• When do you feel like lounging and doing nothing?• When are you exhausted and ready for sleep?

Peak Performance Curve

Working days:

7am 10am 12pm 3pm 6pm 9pm 12am 2am

10am 12pm 3pm 6pm 9pm 12am 2am7am

Weeknds:

Everyone has an individual Peak Performance Curve.

Take advantage of the times you are most productive by understanding your peak performance times and planning your day accordingly.

Task 2. Your Peak Performance Curve Based on your answers, draw your Peak

erformance curve. Time: 3 minIt’s normal that when your lifestyle changes, so does the curve.

My Peak Performance Curve at school:

7am 10am12pm 3pm 6pm 9pm 12am 2am

10am12pm 3pm 6pm 9pm 12am 2am7am

My Peak Performance Curve on weekends:

TIME MANAGEMENT MATRIX

PRIORITZE!

HomeworksOther deadlinesCrisesPressing problems

PreventionReletionship BuildingPlaning

Social mediaPhone calls, chatsPopular activities

EmailsTime wastersPlesant activities

DO IT NOW! Plan it !

Delegate ! Forget it!

Task 3.Categorize activities in the matrix according to your sense of importance

(pay attention to Muslim context)

Time: 4 min + 2 for checking

• Science coursework due on 17th July• Visiting cousins• Chatting on FB• Praying my Salaat on time• Cleaning your room• Submitting application to school club due on 15th July• Dentist’s appointment• Learning Sura Al-Kawthar• Watching cartoons• Sister’s costume for

final assembly tomorrow

• Add activity of your own choice

DO IT NOW!Science CourseworkPraying my SalaatSchool club applicationLearning Sura Al-Khawtar

Plan it ! Visiting cousins Clean your room

Delegate !Dentist’s appointmentCostume for Assembly your sister

Forget it! Chatting on FB Watching cartoons

Solution

+ Activity of your own choice* Optional, according to one’s priorities and values

• Learn when to say NO• Use your waiting time• Skip unimportant, irrelevant information

(social media, emails etc.)• Concentrate on your task • Don’t procrastinate, just do it now and enjoy

your peace of mind

Practice!

Setting up the goals Habitator Time planning – Calendar, Taskinator.

Family

Education

Health

Community

Religion

Friends

Setting up the goalsWhere are you now?

Extra task

1. How much time are you committing to listed areas of life? (scale 1-6, where 1 stands for little and 6 for very much).

2. Mark these points on the line of every life’s area.

3. Joint the points and look at the shape of your diagram. Is it balanced? What are the areas that you need to pay more attention on?

Family

Education

HealthCommunity

Religion

Example of not balanced person

Family

Education

HealthCommunity

Religion

Example of balanced person

Family

Education

HealthCommunity

Religion

Setting up the goals6 months 1 year

Islam

Personal

Family

Community

Ummah

ExampleSetting up the goals

6 months 1 year

Islam Learn 4 long Suras Learn 30% of the Quran

Personal Don’t get angry with others

Easily interact with everyone with love and compassion

Family Strengthen relations with close family members

Strengthen relations with far family members

Community Volunteer at least 1 hour a week in community work

Volunteer at least 2 hours a week in community work

Ummah Be nice and talk to neighbours about Islam

Prepare a blog about Islam to my peers

Task 4.Setting up the goals

Time: 7 min

6 months 1 year

Islam

Personal

Family

Community

Ummah

*DO IT IN A SMART WAY!

Recognize your true goal!

SMART

SpecificMeasurebleAmbitiousRealisticTime framed

Task 5.Habitator

Time:

Have a look atTaskinator, Calendar

How can you use these tools to improve your time management habits?

Work on them individually at home to develop the right habits.

Remember

• Forth daily planning (prior night or early morning)

• Prioritize!• Focus on our task• Cut back time wasters, analyze your time• Run weekly and monthly review! Ask someone

to track you• Every time has its own task that suits it…

How do I make my 24 hours of the day into the worship?

Ask yourself

The Last Day will not be established until… time will pass quickly.

(Sahih Bukhari)

Questions ?

Every question count and is a good one!

Jazzakum Allah KhairMay Allah help us to make the best

use of our time…Ameen