Kids are crying, you can’t find your keys, your oldest child can’t find her jacket, your toddler just lost his sock, you have fifteen minutes to get to a destination that is twenty-five minutes away and you haven’t even left the house yet…sounds familiar, mama?

This could be a typical scenario for any parent as you are about to leave the house with your children, or when you search the house from top to bottom for that important document – it can be such a stressful and hectic situation!

Aside from benefits such as saving time and giving you a clear mind, cleanliness is something that is highly important in our lives as Muslims, as the Prophet Muhammad said:

“Cleanliness is half of faith.” [Sahih Muslim]

This applies to our homes too. It is a place where we spend a lot of time, eat, drink, sleep and worship Allah . Even though our many other tasks may make it difficult to keep the house spotless at all times, having organisation in your home will make it easier to maintain general cleanliness, keep you happy and increase your productivity.

As a mother of three children ranging in age from three to eight years old, I have learned a few tips over the years to help keep the house in order, assist me in staying organized and keep chaotic situations to a minimum, so I keep my house and garden clean and even get a service of Drake Lawn & Pest Control to make sure everything is clean and safe for my children.

Here are my tips:

1. Create a schedule

Create a cleaning and organizational schedule that’s divided into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to keep you on track of what needs to get done within a timely manner. Here’s an example:

Daily: wash dishes, sweep the floor, wipe the kitchen counters

Weekly: vacuum, mop the floor, clean the bathrooms

Monthly: clean out your food pantry and refrigerator

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In addition, if you’re a property owner and your fire alarm system or water-based fire protection system is not functional, then you are required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Florida Statute to implement a fire watch. Seek expert help from professional Fire Watch Services in Miami Springs.

2. Select a productive time slot for daily chores

Once you have a schedule, the next step is to decide on a productive time to actually get things done!

Every household will have a different time period that is appropriate for doing certain tasks. For instance, some families will like to get the cleaning done right after fajr prayer before the kids get up; others may prefer to get their cleaning and organizing done when the kids are in bed during the evening.

Personally, I prefer to get the cleaning done first thing in the morning, right after breakfast, while my husband is still home to watch over the kids.

Choose the time that suits you best; once you start this routine, you will notice that the chores seem to lessen as you maintain the cleanliness.

3. Put seasonal items away

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to find winter gear amidst summer clothes; for example, trying to find your other winter boot in a pile of shoes that consist of runners and sandals; or trying to find your sunglasses in a pile of gloves and hats, and well… you get the point!

So, try and keep the out-of-season items away in the basement or in storage; not only will this keep your wardrobes and cupboards organized, but it will also save you time in that you will have less clutter to find an item when in a hurry. I always find that this is always a good chance for me to have a mini spring clean at the same time.

4. Use boxes in your children’s bedroom

Boxes are a fantastic way to keep things sorted and tidy, as well as instilling good habits in children by encouraging them to put back their things in their allocated boxes. Boxes are great for storing toys, or sorting clothes within wardrobes and closets. Ikea and eBay have great, cheap selections for different sized boxes in a variety of colours.

I used to find myself rummaging through my children’s clothing only to find clothing that no longer fit them. I would then dig back into the clothing pile to try and find something that did still fit them, causing me to waste time and get frustrated. Not to mention, the idea of sorting out their clothing was stressful enough to think about. It was a daunting task I tried to avoid. That’s when I came up with the idea of keeping a box in my children’s closet. As soon as I would notice a clothing item no longer fitting, I would place it into the box. At the end of the month or so, I would have a box of clothes that were too small, ready to store or donate! 

5. Invest in storage pieces

It is always a good idea to invest in storage pieces for your home, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Baskets, boxes and ottomans are fantastic for storing toys and little knick-knacks that you need on a day-to-day basis. Over the door pocket organizers are also good for storing small gadgets and accessories without taking up any floor space, much like how consulting a plumber can help maximize your home’s functionality without encroaching on living areas.

6. Store documents in folders

Folders will aid you in: a) keeping all of your papers together in one place, and b) keeping your sanity!

Designate one folder for receipts, another one for paid bills, another one for artwork your children have done, another one for warranties on appliances, and so forth!

You can then label the folders and put them into a filing cabinet or a book shelf, this way you know where to find what you are looking for when you need it! 

It is also useful to have a small shredder to discard sensitive documents, or an alternative is a camouflage stamp, which covers addresses and names so your personal documents can be recycled safely.

7. Create a place for everything

Make a habit of routinely placing items in their own place: the shoes always go into the boot tray, jackets always get hanged up in the closet or behind the door, car keys always go into a tray by the phone, the unread mail always goes into a pile on the living room table, and so on. When you and your family are consistent about these things, they become habitual, making life easier in the long run.

8. Get the family involved

I know, I know, when the kids do the chores, it takes forever, and when your husband does the cleaning, he just doesn’t do it like you do… but it does get better – I know this from personal experience!

With the kids and husband helping out with the organization and household cleaning, not only are they learning where things go and where to find items within the house, but you foster a sense of ownership and togetherness. This is because it shows that the responsibility for a clean house does not solely belong to the wife or mother, but with the whole family.

Give your husband a gentle nudge by kindly reminding him of how our beloved Prophet Muhammad used to help with chores around the house, as it was narrated:

“Hisham said, “I asked ‘A’isha , ‘What did the Prophet do in his house?’ She replied, ‘He did what one of you would do in his house. He mended sandals and patched garments and sewed.”” [Al-Albani]

Another important habit for the family is to recite “SubhanAllah” and “Alhamdulilah”, thirty-three times each, and “Allahu Akbar” thirty-four times, before sleeping, as the Prophet Muhammad gave this advice to his daughter Fatima and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib , when she asked for a maid to help her with her housework. He said reciting this was better for them than getting a maid. [Sahih al-Bukhari]

In this way, you are actively connecting cleanliness and tidiness with the deen.

9. Don’t stress over it

The truth is that I can give you all the tips in the world with regards to keeping your home organized and clean, but we can’t always expect our homes to be organized and neat, especially if you have children!

So, have realistic expectations and prioritize.

These tips are just to help you out on a daily basis so that cleaning and organizing won’t end up becoming overwhelming for you in the long run.

Now, it’s time for you to share with us your secrets: how do you maintain organisation within your home? Do you have a schedule? Share your tips with us in the comments section below!

The post [The Productive Mommy Series] 9 Tips For A More Organised Home appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was still a university student. I was elated and overjoyed with the news, but I also couldn’t help feeling apprehensive and anxious! I was extremely blessed; Allah had given me this gift to raise and nurture, but on the other hand I had doubts if I could actually handle the responsibilities of being a mother and a university student. How would I balance both roles? Could I continue my education or would I have to put it on hold?

That was about 7 years ago, and I have good news to share: I was able to successfully complete my university degree about two years later. In fact, I had the honour of carrying my little girl in my arms at my graduation ceremony! Alhamdulillah, it was a day I will never forget!

Although motherhood is a defining milestone, it doesn’t have to mean that everything else in life has to be put on hold. Prophet Muhammad said that seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim. To make the best of the knowledge that Allah has bestowed upon us, we should always strive to use our knowledge as a means to please Allah . Allah says:

“…Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees…” [Qur’an: Chapter 58, Verse 11]

In this article, I will be sharing my tips that helped me get through my university studies as a mother with young children. In sha Allah, my advice will show you that education (whether secular or religious) does not have to be abandoned or given up when you have children. Whether you are a mother or mother-to-be who is thinking of becoming or already is a student, these tips are intended to help you find a balance between two important roles.

1. Find reliable childcare

This is the most important tip: make sure your child is in good hands! You must feel comfortable leaving your child in someone else’s care, otherwise the stress over childcare can negatively affect your performance at school. Start looking into childcare options as soon as you can, as some places have a long waiting list. If you are planning to leave your child with a family member, make sure you both are on the same page in terms of how your child should spend his or her day.

2. Enlist the support of people around you

Firstly, you will need the support of a family member that you can count on in the case of unplanned situations or late study nights, whether it is your spouse, a family member or close friend. Something to remember is to make sure that you remind that person of your appreciation for them; in the busyness of classes, studying and exams it can be easy to forget those who are there to make it easy for you.

Secondly, keep in mind that professors can be accommodating to your situation, so tell them at the beginning of your family commitments and keep them informed of certain situations that come up. For instance, my daughter ended up in the emergency room for a night, and I was unable to attend class the next morning, as I came home just hours before class started and I was still trying to calm my baby. I informed my professor of my situation, and he was kind enough to give me an extension for my paper that was due that day. Additionally, having an honest relationship about your situation will help with the next tip.

3. Decide on your preferred class schedule

This may not be as easy if you have already started school, but would be particularly helpful to someone who is considering going back to education after having children. Would it be better for you to attend classes in the morning, so you have the rest of the day to work on your assignments, study and take care of your baby? Or would you prefer having evening classes so that you can spend some time with your child before you go to school? Furthermore, consider how much time you would like to have in between classes; for instance, would it be ideal to have an hour or more between each class, so that you can utilize this time for a quick review session before the next class starts? Or would you like back-to-back classes so it shortens your day and you can get home quicker? Find out what works best for you and your family, and schedule your classes as soon as possible so that you get the times and days you desire.

4. Remain disciplined about your study methods

The vital aspect of being able to study whilst having a family is to have discipline and to know that there will have to be compromise. Studying as a mother can be difficult, so try to make it easier on yourself by following these studying tips:

• Review your notes from class as soon as possible; this way the information learnt is still fresh in your head.
• Read the class notes or the textbook right beforehand, so you know what to expect and so that you can ask your professor any questions that you may have.
• Write down summary notes with key definitions highlighted; these will be handy if you don’t have time to read your full set of notes.
• Eat high-energy foods and engage in quick exercises to keep your brain and body stimulated during study time.
• Listen to your body! If you find yourself so tired that you can barely think straight, then taking a short nap will refresh your mind and brain, so that you can wake up and get back on track effectively.

5. Separate time, don’t mix it

I learned this the hard way, as my biggest mistake was trying to complete my assignments with my baby around…a big no-no! My daughter was able to sense that I was not giving her my full, undivided attention, and as a result, she would get frustrated and start crying. When she wasn’t crying, she was trying to grab my papers and yank the pen out of my hand – we were both getting nowhere! I quickly learned that I needed to pay full attention to her and do my assignments when she was napping or sleeping during the evenings. Another suggestion is to wait until your spouse or a family member is able to take care of the baby, so that you can study in a room separate from your baby, or go to the library where there are less distractions. Moreover, make sure that you are spending quality time with your child when you are free, so that your child is getting enough attention and love from you at some time during the day.

6. Find alternative solutions

As a parent, you will want to find alternative solutions to certain issues that may arise. For example, you may not always be able to make it to group meetings outside of class due to your child being sick; this is why it’s a great idea to find alternative solutions where you can still be at home and caring for your child, but still be a part of the meeting. One way in which this is possible, is to ask your group members to have a conference call through Skype or Google Hangouts. Engaging in a conference call allows you to still participate in group discussions, while being at home attending to your child – it’s a win-win situation!

7. Purify your intention and make dua (as always)

Seeking knowledge is a great blessing from Allah and can be a source of barakah in our lives. Education is a means for us to gain wealth and support our families, but as always, our ultimate goal should be to please Allah . Seeking knowledge, whether spiritual or non-religious, is rewarded, especially if you combine multiple intentions. Lastly, don’t forget to keep making dua that Allah makes this journey easy for you – there will be some ups and downs, some frustrating times and some times where you feel like giving up! In sha Allah with patience and hard work, the fruits of your labour will be seen very soon!

I leave you with a tip that you must remember at all times: don’t let the guilt get to you! There will be days where you will want to be with your baby instead of in the classroom, but know that you are doing this not only for yourself, but for your child as well. Your child should motivate you to complete your studies, and should push you to do your best! Don’t give up, keep going and make sincere dua that Allah makes it easy for you to accomplish your goals.

Are you a mother who is studying or considering going back to education? What are your tips and experiences?

The post [The Productive Mommy Series] Surviving University as a Mother appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Although married couples are not permitted to be intimate to the level which may lead to intercourse while fasting, there are many other ways to express your love for one another during Ramadan.

Allah says in the ayah:

“It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 187]

Therefore, it is important to remember that while sexual activity during the day is strictly prohibited, after Maghrib and until the beginning of Fajr the next morning, resuming sexual relations with your husband is not forbidden. Although you may probably be tired from the long days of fasting and may be getting ready for taraweeh and qiyam-ul-layl during that period, it is worth knowing the boundaries and what is allowed for the month of Ramadan.

In this article, I will be sharing my tips and advice that will allow you to create time for your spouse, help you bond with your husband, and assist in strengthening your iman as a wife during the holy month of Ramadan. Striving for a happy marriage even during the busy days of Ramadan will cement the foundations for a blessed marriage throughout the rest of the year, In sha Allah!

1) Make time for your spouse

You may be asking, how do I even find the time for myself during Ramadan, much less find the time to spend with my husband? Quite frankly, life can be a tornado during Ramadan, especially with young children, where everything is flying in a circle of mess right in front of our eyes. However, what often calms this tornado is ample preparation and the thoughts of what really matters: our final destination, jannah. And how do we achieve jannah? One of the ways a woman will enter Paradise is by pleasing her husband, as the Prophet Muhammad said:

“Whichever woman dies while her husband is pleased with her, then she enters Paradise.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Taking the above into consideration, it is no wonder that the thought of pleasing your husband refocuses your thoughts on the final destination of jannah. Creating time for your husband is a goal every wife should strive for, especially in the holy month of Ramadan, as rewards are innumerably multiplied. Make multiple intentions when you set out to please your husband: to increase your patience with his shortcomings, to control your anger, to be kinder; so you get multiple rewards for each of these intentions, In sha Allah.

2) Eat suhoor and iftar with your husband

One way in which you can spend time with your spouse is by eating suhoor and iftar with him, for this is a beautiful way to connect with one another during Ramadan. Furthermore, these times provide a great opportunity for each of you to discuss your progress in terms of your Ramadan goals and to remind each other that you are both fasting for the sake of Allah . If your husband breaks his fast at the masjid, then try and set a time later in the evening for a light meal to compensate. Even if this is not manageable everyday, try and plan it for two or three evenings a week, and you can even get the children involved in these discussions. The aim is to have a stress-free and calm environment in which to connect emotionally and enjoy each other’s company.

3) Have your husband help out

A great way to show someone you care for them is to help them out during their most stressful times; you will know this firsthand if you are a mother with young children! With that said, there are many ways in which husbands can assist their wives during Ramadan, such as loading the dishwasher, watching the children, or helping to prepare suhoor and iftar. Certainly, having a helping hand is very much appreciated and increases the love between a husband and wife because they are doing something together. Before Ramadan begins, have a healthy discussion with him and suggest tasks he can complete before or after work when fasting starts, reminding him of the great reward attached to helping others, especially during Ramadan.

4) Increase your knowledge as a couple

Another effective way for couples to increase their love for one another during Ramadan is to tune into Islamic lectures together about marriage in Islam, the rights of husbands and wives in Islam, and so forth. Listening to Islamic lectures or reading Islamic material from books can be done together any time throughout the day, and is a great way to not only gain knowledge, but to also spend quality time together. YouTube is an invaluable resource for short, imaan-boosting lectures, so you can ensure you have a few minutes together for precious reminders during Ramadan, which you can discuss later, especially during iftar.

5) Send each other ahadith

Whenever I read tips for healthy marriages, I often see advice about leaving cute “I love you” notes in his lunchbox or on his desk for him to find. During Ramadan, do this by sending each other text messages or e-mails. For instance, send him ahadith about jannah and tell him you are reminding him of the beauty that awaits you, to motivate you both to work hard in this dunya, so that you both may meet each other in jannah one day:

“Kauthar is a river in Paradise whose banks are of gold and its bed is of rubies and pearls. Its soil is more fragrant than musk, its water is sweeter than honey and whiter than snow.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Receiving beautiful ahadith like this during Ramadan will remind you both of the beautiful gifts that you will receive for your sacrifices in this life, In sha Allah.

6) Encourage each other

Encourage each other to read the Qur’an daily, to memorize surahs and duas, and to pray on time during Ramadan. With every soft-spoken word of sincere encouragement comes plentiful reward. And with every word of encouragement exchanged, is a reminder of your love for one another, for only loved ones encourage each other to be the best they can be in this dunya in order to make it to jannah together!

7) Prepare yourself for his return from i’tikaf

If you’re like me, I’m sure you like to get dressed up for those fun Eid celebrations with family. This Ramadan, try and take some time out to glam yourself up a day early, just for your husband, if he has gone for i’tikaf. After 10 days of not seeing you and spending every moment in the worship of Allah , your husband will appreciate that you made an effort just for him. Again, with the intention of pleasing Allah through pleasing your husband, this will ensure enormous reward for you, and guarantee a happy husband!

8) Make dua in secret

Ramadan has countless opportunities for dua to be accepted. So, for truly lasting happiness, make ample dua that Allah blesses your marriage and increases the love and understanding between you and your spouse. Abu Dharr reported that Allah’s Messenger  said:

“There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence) that the Angels do not say: The same be for you too.” [Sahih Muslim]

I know life can get busy, especially during Ramadan, but all of your sincere efforts towards keeping your marriage healthy and alive in Ramadan will be rewarded, In sha Allah. Remind yourself constantly of the reward attached to keeping each other happy, and build the foundations for a happier marriage this Ramadan!

P.S: Benefited from this article? Join our Productive Ramadan Online Course – a simple, practical and complete blueprint for leading a Productive Ramadan inshaAllah!

The post Marital Bliss in Ramadan: 8 Awesome Tips to Keep Your Love Alive appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Assalamu alaikum! In my last article, I introduced my top ten tips on how mommies could translate their skills and share them with the world in the form of a blog. Whether you’re a stay-at-home-mom or a working mommy (or both!), we all have tips and advice to give to others. In this part, I’ll be telling you how working mommies can maximise productivity using these ten simple tips.

The position of a working mommy is certainly not an easy one; in fact, it is one that requires much planning, time-saving tasks, and above all, realistic expectations. We all look for ways to make life easier for ourselves; these tips will not only help you save time, but also assist you with how to utilize your time in an effective manner. Although these suggestions will be particularly useful for the working mommy, I believe every mother can benefit from them to make life more productive:

1. Plan Your Meals Ahead

Buying groceries and preparing meals for a family can be quite time-consuming and sometimes even a bit daunting. However, you can cut down time significantly by planning your meals ahead of time and by making a weekly schedule of your meals, i.e. deciding to have lamb on Mondays, fish on Tuesdays, vegetarian on Wednesdays and so on. Stick to it so you know exactly how much of each you need to buy at the beginning of each week.

Furthermore, do some prep work in the kitchen. Make some food items that can be easily frozen during the weekends or evenings, that you can pull out of the freezer during a busy week. Such items can include frozen meatballs, soups, casseroles – the list is endless! Having pre-cooked meals allows you to focus on your husband, your children and your ibaadah, without having to worry about spending time in the kitchen.

2. Shop Online

To save time and to make clothing shopping more efficient, consider purchasing clothing for the family online. Most online stores allow you to sign up for special offers and coupons to be e-mailed to you, and more and more stores offer free shipping. Shop at the end of the season for the best prices on such items as outerwear and stock up for the whole family two to three times a year (don’t forget to buy a size or two larger for your children!)

Online shopping is also especially useful for grocery shopping as the websites will list products of all prices. This means you will be able to find the cheapest brand online, as these are easy to miss when browsing around the supermarket. Online grocery shopping also allows you to restrict yourself and buy only what you need, as you resist the urge to pick something you may see on offer, but don’t necessarily need.

3. Delegate Tasks

Running a household takes a household! The Prophet Muhammad is the perfect example of how husbands should take an active role in completing the tasks of the home. Let’s have a look at the following examples:

Al-Aswad said, “I asked ‘A’isha , ‘What did the Prophet do when he was with his family?’ She replied, ‘He would do chores for his family, and when it was time for the prayer, he would go out.'” [Al Adab Al Mufrad]

Hisham ibn ‘Urwa said that his father said, “I asked ‘A’isha ‘What did the Prophet do in his house?’ She replied, ‘He mended his sandals and worked as any man works in his house.'” [Al Adab Al Mufrad]

These ahadith clearly show that a man helping his wife in the house is not an unnatural thing. Although a majority of the responsibility falls on the mother, know that a team effort from everyone will make life more manageable. In particular, if both you and your spouse work, then it makes sense to help each other out and share tasks such as cooking and doing the dishes. This teamwork will increase the love between you and make you appreciate each other more. Furthermore, delegate small jobs to your children; children can help make a salad or set the table for instance.

4. Make Prayer A Priority

Whatever your schedule is, make sure prayer is a priority. If the time of prayer has started when you come back from work, then pray first before starting your household chores. Do not delay your salaah because of dinner preparations or helping children with their homework; tiredness may delay you even further and before you know it, prayer time may be over without you even realizing it. Use an adhaan app on your phone to remind you to perform your prayer and make a habit to leave everything you are doing as soon as you hear it. This policy is a fantastic, practical tool for instilling the importance of salaah in your children – if they see mommy drop everything as soon as she hears the adhaan, they will start doing this too.

5. Schedule Time For Yourself

As a working mother, you have to make sure you have time for the housework, prepare meals, be on time for work, run errands, take care of sick children, and go to parent-teacher meetings. In the midst of it all, it is very easy to forget to schedule time for yourself. Make sure you take care of your needs as an individual; after all, a happy mommy is a productive mommy. This includes getting adequate sleep, eating a well-balanced diet, fitting in time for light exercise (like walking) and unwinding with a hobby or simply reading a book. Although this sounds almost impossible considering the schedule of a mommy, if you get into the habit of preparation and effective delegation, it is easier for both mommy and daddy to fit in ‘me time’, both alone and together.

6. Limit Screen Time

Unfortunately, it is all too easy to waste precious minutes and hours watching TV or scrolling on your tablet or phone. It really is crucial to break away from these bad habits and utilize that time wisely, especially for ibaadah. If you’ve got time for 30 minutes of a TV programme, you’ve also got 30 minutes for Qur’an!

7. Find Reliable Childcare

Finding backup childcare in advance is key for every working mother. If you are stuck at work or in traffic and cannot pick up your children from school or daycare, then make sure you have a person you can call to pick up your kids. Enlist the help of a neighbour, family member who lives close by or the mother of another child in school. This is helpful even if you are a work-at-home mom, as it is a good idea to have someone come and watch your children at short notice when you have an overwhelming workload.

8. Stay In Touch With Other Muslim Mommies

Having good companionship is extremely important, and with the right intention, can even become a form of worship for you. The Messenger of Allah said:

“The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.” [Al-Bukhari].

Get to know other Muslimah mommies in your area, so you have someone to talk to when you are stressed. There is no other person who will understand you better than another Muslim mother who has been, or is going through, the same situation. Local mosques sometimes have playgroups where kids also meet other Muslim children to play, while the mothers can catch up with each other over tea, so both the mother and child benefit from good companionship! If your mosque doesn’t currently offer this, try and set one up yourself – they are relatively simple to organise and In sha Allah you will gain immense reward for bringing Muslims together.

9. Make Good Use Of Vacation Time

For working mothers, with balancing career and home life, it is very easy to over-work yourself. Thus, it is essential for you to take a break from your work in an effort to rejuvenate yourself. If you work outside the home, make sure you book your paid vacation time months in advance and utilize that time wisely, especially during school holidays when you can really spend time on your children. If your finances permit, you can take cheap city breaks; often, holidays are thought to mean flying abroad, but I guarantee your home country has so many places to offer, for a fraction of the price. You don’t necessarily have to leave your city, so perhaps you can use that time to do a hobby at home with your children like baking or arts and crafts, or take them to the zoo or park.

10. Set Realistic Goals

Finally, the key to any aspect of productivity is to keep your life simple; aim high, but don’t over-book yourself and realise that sometimes you won’t do a perfect job. But that’s okay! Learn to let go of perfection: your house will not always be clean and you may not always be on time for appointments. You may not be able to attend every school field trip with your children, and you won’t be able to attend every social event with your extended family. You don’t have to feel guilty about these things at all; you have a lot going on and you should give yourself some credit – you’re doing the best you can!

Well, there you have it my sisters! It may take some time to implement these tips, but with a sincere intention and some hard work, I hope my advice will make your life much easier!

How do you balance work and family? Leave your comments below!

The post [The Productive Mommy Series] 10 Tips for the Working Mommy appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

As a mother of three young children, I was surprised to find that each of my children were so very different from one another. With each child came his or her own unique challenges, therefore leading me to constantly try new parenting techniques to overcome these issues. By the time my youngest child was one and half years old, I had gathered up an enormous mental list of all the tips and advice I could share with other mothers that would benefit them through the stages of pregnancy through parenthood. As a result, I decided to take my knowledge and parenting experiences that resided within my mind and transfer them into blog posts for others to learn from.

In the first of my series of articles, I will share my top ten tips on how to be a successful and productive blogger mommy. Look out for my future articles; they’ll be full of tips on how to be a productive mother, whilst balancing all the key duties of Muslimah.

When I first started my blog, I decided to use WordPress as my blog platform, although there are many different platforms to choose from, such as Blogger and Tumblr. Starting a blog is free of cost, and there are countless themes and templates to choose from. Social media is an excellent tool to use in order to spread the word of your posts and attract readers from around the world.

Keep in mind, that the role of a mommy blogger is not an easy one to say the least, for it requires you to work around your children’s schedule and let’s face it, that’s never a breeze! However, with the proper planning and scheduling, it can it possible to balance being both a mommy and a blogger, with all the other roles required of a Muslim woman. Of course, you don’t have to be a mommy to be a blogger – just a productive Muslimah with an idea!

1. Have sincere intention, desire and passion

Intention is everything! You can combine many intentions for maximum reward: for example, have the intention to help others, the intention to better yourself through creative expression, the intention to share beneficial knowledge. If pleasing Allah is our main aim, then we have already succeeded, no matter how many people read your blog.

The second thing you will need to become a mommy blogger is a strong internal desire and passion for writing and sharing your experiences. You must genuinely love to write and want to connect with others; this desire and passion is what will help motivate you  to publish a blog post regularly.

2. Write down your ideas

It is key to write down an idea for a blog post as soon as it comes to mind. Being a mom can mean your thoughts are all over the place, so before you lose a great blog post idea, write it down in a notebook or your phone/tablet, so you don’t forget it. You can also put it on your social media platforms, or ask your friends to also help you online and open their website to post ideas and share along.

3. Set realistic goals

Writing down goals will motivate you to meet them. Consider your situation and be realistic in how many blog posts you are able to publish every month. If you have young children, or children who require special attention, then set a goal for publishing one blog post every week instead of two posts a week. Consistency over quantity!

4. Stay connected with other sisters

Get connected with sisters who follow your blog through social media; Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are great ways to communicate with your followers and a excellent tools for sharing your blog posts. Furthermore, your followers will give you feedback on what posts they would like to see from you, providing you with ideas for future posts.

5. Get the housework done

Try to get the housework done earlier on in the day, this way you have the rest of the day to spend with your family and work on blog posts. The less housework there is, the less stress you will have as a mommy blogger.

6. Create a schedule

Create a schedule that allows you to allocate your time wisely. As a mother, the best time to draft for a blog post is right after you put the kids to bed. Schedule in one hour for all the other things that come with blogging; connecting with your followers on social media, checking e-mail, etc. Moreover, try to find pockets of time within the day for blogging, for instance staying up after Fajr prayer is a great time for productivity, and perhaps after Dhuhr prayer (when the kids are napping) would be an ideal time to edit a blog post.

7. Get inspired

If you feel uninspired and don’t know what to blog about, then take inspiration from your surroundings, from people around you, and gems from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Blog about a pivotal moment in your life, how you’re feeling, what your stance is on an important situation, how motherhood has changed you, what your children have taught you, how your faith has changed since becoming a parent, and so on. Furthermore, get creative and publish your blog posts in different formats. For the days that you don’t have time to write a lengthy and detailed post, try posting a simple visual or a short poem instead.

8. Seek assistance and take a break

As a Muslimah mommy, it is normal to feel overwhelmed from time to time; that’s why it is key to ask your loved ones for help. Ask your spouse or family members to watch the children while you work on a few blog post ideas, or just take a break from everything altogether. Often times, taking a small break refreshes your mind and gives you new ideas and instant motivation to get back on track.

9. Network with other blogging sisters

Get in contact with other mommy bloggers and have them write a guest blog post for your blog. Guest blog posts are great if you are not able to write a blog post yourself in certain situations, i.e your children are sick or you are feeling unwell yourself. Also, don’t be afraid to ask other mommy bloggers for advice and tips, and consider reposting some of their blog posts (always ask for permission first) on your blog.

10. Surround yourself with positivity

Be in the presence of individuals that remind you why you started blogging in the place, people who will encourage you, and tell you you are doing a great job! Make lots of du’a to constantly purify your intention, read good books for inspiration and use the stories of pious women as examples to juggle all the different roles we have as Muslim women.

Now you’re ready to pick a topic, theme and title…blog away and remember to share your first post with me! If you have been motivated to start writing or are already blogging, share your inspirations and links below!

The post [The Productive Mommy Series] How to be a Mommy Blogger appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.