10 Rituals That Morning People Use To Start Successful Days (by Quynh Nguyen)

The early bird catches the worm. Morning people have the advantage of a head start. However, they do not count their success on the chance of spotting a shooting star at dawn. Instead, they create a routine and stick to it. Here are 10 morning rituals that help morning people succeed.

1. They get up an hour early

It is easier for a morning person than for an evening soul to wake before the crack of dawn. Successful morning people don’t take this ability lightly. They consider it one of their many strengths to be nurtured. And we all know that promoting our strengths is the key to success. When you make waking up early a habit, you will have an extra hour a day, everyday, to do more and achieve more.

2. They do exercise

When morning people work out, they get their circulation going and clear their mind. Their body feels better and their thinking gets clearer. Would you agree that it would be a big push for a day of productivity? Then, pick up your running shoes or a yoga mat and start your blood going. You will be grateful for it later.

3. They go outside to breathe in fresh air

The freshness of the morning air is good for both the body and the mind. One of the first thing a highly achieving person often does in the morning is to step outside. The morning dew reminds her of a new day when she can again start afresh and strike for the best.

4. They list the priorities of the day

Everyday you have a lot of things to do. Finish up a project for the new client. Take your kids to school. Reply to the emails that have been piling up in your inbox. Pick up the dry-cleaning for your wife. And so on. Before digging into any of those many things, a morning person will take a few minutes to pick out a few priorities. Those are the things that you consider most urgent or matter the most.

5. They visualise their steps during the day

An effective way to get things done is to plan ahead. Morning people often map out the whole day way before they start it. What needs to be done? How many steps it involves? Everything can be planned roughly, say, in the shower.

6. They set goals

A day is not only about ticking off task after task. It is about achieving new things and reaching to a higher level. Successful people often take time to set goals in the morning. What do you want to achieve with this project? Where are you going with mentoring that colleague? Ask yourself questions relating to your goals so you stay focused on achievement.

7. They eat a healthy breakfast

Sometimes there is a temptation to just grab whatever is in the fridge for breakfast, or even to rush out without having it. But neither of these are a good idea. Morning people know better. They make a wholesome breakfast which they enjoy peacefully before whatever hectic day unfolds. Healthy food fuels your body properly and helps you maintain focus throughout the day.

8. They make a perfect cup of coffee, and just sit and think

Morning people have the luxury of time to brew a cup of coffee (or tea) perfectly. The drink not only wakes them up but also gives them the chance to sit down and reflect on life. That is the time for you to be thankful for your beautiful kid or your loving partner. Then there are the exciting projects you are taking on and the helpful colleagues you work with. By the cup of coffee, you reconnect with what is important in your life and the reasons why you get out of bed each morning.

9. They greet others with a smile

A happy morning soul often greats everyone including strangers. You open up yourself to others. What is more, an friendly good morning with a big smile is contagious. You are helping both you and others relax into a good day.

10. They clear their desk

They recycle yesterday’s newspaper. They tidy up their files and put things back where they belong. Morning people like to start fresh. It is important for their success to keep their place and their mind uncluttered.
Are you a morning person? What are your personal experiences? How far are you in building these habits? Share your thoughts with us.

3 Essential Things to Achieve Success (Hard Work Is Not One of Them) by Sergi Trivino

 


A common adage is that you need to work harder and suffer more than anyone else if you want to achieve success.
At the most, that’s a half-truth.
From what I have learned from people who have accomplished big things in both their lives and careers, one of their most common “a-ha moments” was when they realized that working hard was not enough to succeed, and that often it was even a waste of time and energy.

How to Overcome Sadness and Be Happy...By Taheerah Alam

How to Overcome Sadness and Be Happy...By Taheerah Alam

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By Taheerah Alam

So should I be thankful for the good clothes I wear or the Gucci bag I carry? Maybe the good food I can eat? Oh wait, what about the opportunity to study at a reputable university or being employed at a good company? Hey, did I mention my caring and wonderful parents or my cool siblings who are my best friends? Hold on, I completely forgot about the blessing of Islam in my life; How Allah guided my heart to His path! AlhamdulilLah (praise be to God).
Tired of counting already?!
No wonder Allah said in the Qur’an that if we were to count the favors of Allah, we will not do justice to even one favor! (14:34)
Yes, we are all struggling with something and I feel ya, my brother/sister in Islam. Maybe it’s been months and you are still looking for a decent job. Maybe you are a single brother/sister struggling to fight off temptations while there seems to be no progress in the ‘marriage’ part of your life and you are tired of searching for that ‘right’ person. Maybe you have been trying for years and still with no success in conceiving a baby. It could be anything. Anything that makes you feel that sense of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. A gap between what you desire to happen and what is happening in reality. And I feel your pain and I will never underestimate it.
But brothers and sisters, I request you all to take concrete steps to change your situation. Do something about it right now! You know how?

Working Within My Circle of Influence...By Khadija Amaan

Working Within My Circle of Influence...By Khadija Amaan

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By Khadija Amaan

I would often find myself worrying about things and draining my energy. Yes, it would lead me to prayers, but also depression. When prayer leads you to depression, it means that you are doing something wrong. Prayer is hope. Prayer is faith. Prayer is uplifting. Prayer is not constant worry.
I learned this after moving to this new city. The first couple of weeks were great, but right after that, my husband would come home upset. We had relocated, thinking that he had found the perfect job. However, in a couple of weeks, we were devastated. He began hating his job. He complained about his boss. He did not like the work. But here we were, and still are, bound by a long-term contract with the company.

With Hardship Comes Ease: Embracing Discomfort... By Ismail Shaikh

With Hardship Comes Ease: Embracing Discomfort... By Ismail Shaikh

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By Ismail Shaikh

I cried after my first interview. It was June of 2011 and I had finally landed an interview after frantically sending out applications to prospective employers. Job-hunting had been a stressful experience as I began to feel increasingly desperate under both family and financial pressure. So when I received a call to interview on short-term notice, I happily obliged.
Without much time to prepare, I went into the interview feeling very anxious. It was a panel interview and for the first time I experienced what it was like to be “grilled” by management. The short of the long of it – it was a poor interview and the program manager scoffed at my level of preparation. I exited that interview feeling relieved it was over but terribly sad, embarrassed, and fruitlessly hopeless. Still, I adhered to interview protocol and sent a thank-you email to management, sincerely explaining to them what had happened.
Allah, the Most Exalted, is the Best of Planners.

The Pursuit of Happiness..By Jinan Bastaki

The Pursuit of Happiness..By Jinan Bastaki

I was recently asked to give a talk entitled, “The Pursuit of Happiness.” I had a lot to say about the topic, and unfortunately was not able to deliver all of it. This topic is really important in general, but especially in this day and age where we find many people suffering from depression/melancholy at some point in their life. What is Happiness?
Most Americans are familiar with the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”—rights enshrined in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. But in order to talk about the pursuit of happiness, we need to know what happiness is.

Emotional demons (source: Suhaibwebb)

Emotional demons

Imagine you’re on a boat out at sea.
You’re alone, except for a pack of scary demons hiding below the deck. As long as you keep floating around on the open sea, they stay below deck and you feel okay—for the most part.  Except for that nagging feeling that there are frightening creatures just out of sight.
When you decide you’ve had enough of floating around and turn the tiller to head toward shore, the demons come rushing up from below, gnashing their teeth and waving their razor-sharp claws at you.
“You have to stay out on the open sea!” they roar at you. “We’re going to slice you up with our razor-sharp claws if you don’t turn away from the shore!”

Seeing the World in a Different Way !!! By: Jinan Bastaki

Seeing the World in a Different Way !!! By: Jinan Bastaki

There are some people who are always able to see the positives in a situation.  Even when they get knocked down, they manage to get right back up again. They are able to do things with a wonderful spirit. The American inventor, Thomas Edison, once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

What makes some people more able to be positive, determined, and in a general state of contentment and happiness than others? There are, of course, many reasons. One major reason is often the way we view the world. According to Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage and Before Happiness, this perception of reality is the precursor to happiness (or lack thereof).

The Only Shelter in the Storm (By:Yasmin Mogahed)

The Only Shelter in the Storm (By:Yasmin Mogahed)

It’s never easy to stand when the storm hits. As soon as it starts raining, lightning shortly follows. Dark clouds replace the sun and all you can see are the waves of an ocean, once calm, surrounding you. No longer able to find your way, you reach out for help.

You begin by calling the coast guard. No reply. You try again to redirect the boat. No use. You look for the lifeboat. It’s gone. You reach for a life jacket. Torn. Finally after you’ve exhausted every means, you turn your face upward.

And ask God.
But there’s something completely unique about this moment. At this instant, you experience something you otherwise could only theorize about: true tawheed. Oneness. See, on shore, you may have called on God. But you called on Him along with so many others. You may have depended on God. But you depended on Him along with so many other handholds. But for this singular moment, everything else is closed. Everything. There is nothing left to call on. Nothing left to depend on. But Him.

And that’s the point.

Put Your Best Face Forward... By:Lobna Mulla

Put Your Best Face Forward

Lobna Mulla

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Think back to the last time you caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror when you were stressed.  Did you look approachable?  What message did you send to others around you with your distressed facial expressions?  What type of reaction did your family or co-workers have when they engaged with you while you were in such a state?  Ever ponder the misunderstandings that may have arisen because your friend or spouse interpreted your frustration as directed towards them?  Let us reflect on the power of the smile not only in the face of adversity, but also during prosperity.

The Power of Remembrance (By: Reehab Ramadan)

The Power of Remembrance (By: Reehab Ramadan)

There is a feeling that comes to the heart, a feeling of unrest. No matter what is done that feeling of unrest doesn’t leave. Sometimes we try and numb it with entertainment or by distracting ourselves, but again it returns. And it is after this constant return of this feeling of unrest that we may finally remember the ayah (verse), “Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!” (Qur’an 13:28)

Falling Apart? 4 Ways to Get Yourself Back Together, By Bobbi Emel

Falling Apart?

Falling Apart? 4 Ways to Get Yourself Back Together

By Bobbi Emel, MFT

There are times in life that shake you to your core. Your world is changed so much that you don’t recognize it or yourself anymore and doubts start to creep in that you’re ever going to recover.
That happened to me eight years ago when my partner, Ruth, died of metastatic breast cancer. Even though I knew she was going to die, even though we had talked about it and prepared for it the best we could, even though we had learned invaluable lessons during her illness, my spirit and heart were completely crushed when she took her last breath.

Shaken worldview

We all have ways that we view our worlds that are ensconced in our minds and based on our experiences. We view the world as safe or unsafe, fair or unfair, hopeful or hopeless, and so on. My world was always safe, predictable, orderly, and full of richness.
Until Ruth died.
I had never lost anyone before so the experience was completely new to me. Suddenly, my long-held worldview was shaken up.

The Power of Words (By: Reehab Ramadan)

The Power of Words (By: Reehab Ramadan)

It had been an exceptionally hard day for me, about 3 years ago. Everything seemed to be out of place and one thing after another was going wrong. I headed over to the University Center to get a bite to eat—maybe food would calm my nerves. At the time, I had been wearing niqab (the face veil), but that was the least of my worries, or so I thought. As I stood in line to get my food, I glanced behind me and noticed a few Muslim brothers. I was about to extend my salaam (greetings of peace) to them when I caught wind of what they were saying. They were talking about ME! ‘Why does she think she can dress that way? Who does she think she is?!’

Remember Me, I Will Remember You (By: Jinan Bastaki)

Remember Me, I Will Remember You (By: Jinan Bastaki)

How to Achieve Tranquility of the Heart

“Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Qur’an, 13:28)

In the last article in this section, we wrap up the things we have to do in our journey to gain tranquility of the heart with the remembrance of Allah.

When we try to figure out why we are so often bothered,  why we feel disturbed internally, or why we feel sad – we need to go back to our hearts. The Prophet ﷺ (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not talk too much without remembering and mentioning Allah, for too much talk without mentioning Allah hardens the heart, and the person farthest from Allah is the one with a hard heart.” (Tirmidhi)

Healing the Hardest of Hearts (By: Aisha Bhoori)

Healing the Hardest of Hearts (By: Aisha Bhoori)

The ambulance was shrieking, and I was the unlucky patient being hurriedly transported to the local hospital. My body lay on a stretcher inside the vehicle, pain shooting through my left arm.

“It looks like a massive heart attack,” I heard one of the paramedics whisper. Not knowing the true severity of my situation, I shut my eyes, desperately praying to Ar-Rahman (The Merciful) to have mercy on His slave.

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I impatiently tugged at the oxygen tubes in my nose, wondering when I would be able to escape from this prison the public decreed was a hospital.  A cardiologist soon strolled into my room, her brown eyes vibrant with empathy as she laid my chart down on the side counter and turned towards me, exclaiming, “As-salaamu `alaykum Aisha.”

Take Back Your Heart (By: Yasmin Mogahed)

Take Back Your Heart (By: Yasmin Mogahed)

 No one likes to fall. And few people would ever choose to drown. But in struggling through the ocean of this life, sometimes it’s so hard not to let the world in. Sometimes the ocean does enter us. The dunya does seep into our hearts.

And like the water that breaks the boat, when dunya enters, it shatters our heart.  It shatters the boat. Recently, I was reminded of what a broken boat looks like,

The Number that Never Changes...By: Omar Zarka (Source: Suhaibwebb)

The Number that Never Changes...By: Omar Zarka

He was right; having a good friend for over fifty years is impressive. I was attending a dinner in which a well-respected scholar and professor was being recognized for his accomplishments. Instead of focusing on himself and his journey, he spent his entire speech thanking the numerous individuals that impacted his life. As he reflected on his experience, he said one of the most rewarding gestures he ever received had been from a former student going out of his way to find the professor’s contact information to contact him and thank him for the time and effort he put into his education. I found it peculiar that after several decades of many accomplishments, friends and family, one of the most rewarding gestures the professor received was a thank you.

It’s true though. Sometimes, after trying so hard and going out of our way to help someone, all it takes is two words—thank you—to start the rush of accomplishment and success. In fact, it happens all the time at work and school when we get a pat-on-the-back for the job-well-done on a project or a paper.

Checkpoints of Faith: Where do you Stand? By Accepted Whispers (Source: Suhaibwebb, By: Yasmin Mogahed)

Checkpoints of Faith: Where do you Stand? By Accepted Whispers (Source: Suhaibwebb, By: Yasmin Mogahed)

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About six months ago, I had just finished praying Fajr (dawn prayer) and decided to recite some Qur’an. Craving attention and appreciation from the right place this time, I remembered reading somewhere that the angels witness morning recitation. I gently flipped through the pages of my Qur’an and started recitation from where I left off but it wasn’t long until I felt my voice crack and eyes blur. I was crying…again! I embraced the Qur’an open and wept silently till the dawn. Exhausted, I carefully placed The Holy Qur’an

Living with Depression and Islam (source: suhaibwebb, author: Anonymous)

Every morning I wake up and wish I hadn’t.
The months, weeks and days pass with me wishing it’ll be the last, and yet there’s no end.
At nighttime I cry faintly into my pillow with tears streaming down my cheeks. I whimper in pain, attempting to suppress the sounds that leave my room; I don’t want my family to hear.
I whisper, “Oh Allah, I don’t want to live anymore. Oh Allah, please, I don’t want to live anymore.”
I feel broken. I feel alone. I feel empty inside. I am in pain and numb at the same time. Perhaps my pain is so much now that I can no longer distinguish it. It is a physical pain—a weight on my chest crushing my existence, crushing my hopes and dreams.
I pray five times a day, I make du`a’ (supplications), I say astaghfirullah (I ask forgiveness from Allah) throughout the day and read as much Qur’an as I can. But it’s hard.