Productive Muslim Podcast

In the final episode of the Pre-Ramadan Bootcamp, we give you some tips about starting a Ramadan journal that captures your thoughts, feelings, ideas and behaviours as you go through Ramadan this year. The purpose of this journal is to help you document the transformation you're going through each Ramadan and help you prepare for the next Ramadan.

Head over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e25

In this episode, we discuss how social media can affect your productivity in Ramadan. Hence, it is crucial to ‘fast’ from social media during Ramadan so that it doesn’t distract us from the true essence of Ramadan.

Head over to the show notes to find out more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e24

In today’s episode, we discuss some ways of spending your Ramadan weekends productively. For most of us - weekends during Ramadan are opportunities for us to catch up on sleep and take it easy before the work week starts again.And although resting and taking the time to relax is commendable - especially if it'll help you worship Allah better; we should be conscious of not to waste our time during the weekend with too much sleep, or simply lounging in front of the TV.

So what can you do to make your Ramadan weekends productive?What activities can you do with your family, friends, neighbors, community, that would make each Ramadan weekend a fulfilling experience?

Head over to the show notes to find out more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e23

In this episode, we want you to connect with ONE person (either among your family or friends) whom will be your success partner. This partner has one specific role - to ask you each day the 3 main questions (either via a call or message or WhatsApp). Head over to the show notes to find out- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e22

One of the ways to ensure that you lead a productive Ramadan is to imagine what each day of Ramadan would look like hour by hour. In psychology circles, this is called "Developing a Mental Model"; it's what athletes do before a race or pilots do before flying a plane. They imagine all the possibilities of how their race/flight would look like and all the scenarios that might go wrong and what they'll do if things do go wrong.

So how do you practically apply this in Ramadan?

Head over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e21

Today’s episode marks the beginning of the third round of the weekly challenge. As part of your third challenge, we want you to do something slightly different.Instead of ticking a box of 3 challenges every day, we want you to experiment what ONE day of Ramadan would look like for 24 hours for you. 

Head over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e20

In this episode, we offer you some practical tips on how you can re-connect with the Quran from now on and enter Ramadan with the healthy relationship of the Quran. As you follow these tips, reading Quran will not be an annual ritual for you, but a lifelong sustainable habit, insha Allah.

Head over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e19

In today’s episode, we highlight the importance of starting your Ramadan Projects. It’s something that you’ll start and finish during Ramadan that will make your Ramadan memorable.  It could be a spiritual project, e.g. "I will read Juz' Amma with Tafseer" Or a physical project, e.g. "I will not have soft drinks during Ramadan"

Head over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e18

The Prophet (SAW) said, “Jannah is surrounded by hardships and the Hell-Fire is surrounded by desires.” [Muslim]

As you prepare for Ramadan, and perhaps you're worried that things might not be easy during Ramadan especially with the long fasting hours and late nights, remember the above hadeeth and keep it at the top of your mind. Another interpretation of this hadeeth is that getting closer to Jannah won't get easier, but will always be surrounded by hardships and tough choices.

Head over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e17

During  Ramadan, some people over-sleep or under-sleep. To help you have a healthy sleep, we show you how you can manage your sleep better, how your sleep cycles work and how you can calculate the right sleep time, whilst keeping up with your work, spiritual obligations, and other commitments.

Head over to the show notes for more: http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e16

In this episode, we give you a sneak-peak of the Productive Ramadan course, brought to you by the Productive Muslim Academy. Watch the video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA_b6AQ3F3o

Don't forget to review the show notes at http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e15

How do you deal with negative and discouraging people? Do we have a tendency to conform to the people and societal rules even if we're aware that they're not right? Watch this episode and head over to the show notes for more: http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e14

Today’s episode marks the beginning of round two of the weekly challenge. The challenges below are slightly harder than last week's challenge - but if you found last week's challenge to be hard, then we suggest you stick to last week's challenge for a few more days before attempting this week's challenge. 

Head over to the show notes to pick your challenges- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e13

In this episode, we discuss a psychological trait that occurs when you have a little slip or make a small mistake, and the next thing you know your self-control is slipping away. This is called the “What the Hell Effect”. An example of what-the-hell-effect would be you set a goal, e.g. No sugar. And then in the morning, you have a small cookie and you say to yourself "Oops! I didn't mean to eat that cookie. There goes my no sugar diet. Oh well, what the hell! Since I've already blown my diet, I might as well have another cookie!. Uh-oh. Now I've really done it. What the hell! Might as well eat the whole jar!" We also give you some practical tips on how you can stop this effect in Ramadan.

Head over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e12

In today’s episode, we talk about preparing your M.G.D. list which stands for Must Get Done - and it's a list of things that you want to get done before Ramadan to make your Ramadan run smoothly and you're not stressed out about the little things that take away from the spirit of Ramadan. The idea is to think through and anticipate what can be done before Ramadan and get it out of the way so you're not stressed before/during Ramadan with errands/tasks you wished you got done before.

Go over to the show notes for more- http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e11

In this episode, we want to make sure that the bootcamp is what you expected it to be and it's moving in the right direction for you. We're very adaptive at this bootcamp and we want to make sure that we align ourselves to what will help you achieve maximum preparedness for Ramadan - Spiritually, Physically, and Socially.

So go over to the show notes and help us answering the 3 main questions at http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e10

In this episode, we discuss the new science of behavioral economics. You’re more likely to get things done if a) you understand why you're doing it  b) you're more specific/clear about what you want to get done and c) you set clear triggers to remind you to do the new action at certain points in time each day.

Head over to the show notes for more http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e9

In today’s episode, we discuss how you can design your behaviour for laziness. Assuming that you’re a very lazy person and not motivated to change, what can you do to make your behaviour change easier and not very hard.

For example, I want to read more Quran, but I am lazy to recite Quran early in the morning or late in the evening. What if I designed "reciting Quran" for laziness by reciting when I'm doing something idle, e.g. Waiting for my computer to turn on at work OR watching the laundry to finish.

Go over to the show notes for more http://productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e9

In this today’s episode, we discuss the 3 factors that are responsible for changing behavior, as identified by Stanford Professor BJ Fogg, and how these can relate back to Ramadan. The factors for change include:

• An epiphany

• Environment
• Baby steps

Head over to the show notes for more http://productivemuslimpodcast.com

You can subscribe and listen to the podcast through iTunes, Stitcher Radio, your favorite podcast player or our website: http://www.productivemuslimpodcast.com

In this episode, we give you the 3 challenges that you need to keep up for the next week. From the following categories (Spiritual, Physical and Social), pick one challenge from each category and follow it for the next 7 days. Once you’ve selected your 3 challenges, comment and let us know what these are so that we can monitor your progress.

Head over to the show notes, at http://www.productivemuslimpodcast.com/s2e6 to see what these challenges are!

You can subscribe and listen to the podcast through iTunes, Stitcher Radio, your favourite podcast player or our website: http://www.productivemuslimpodcast.com