If you’ve started waking up early and
working in those early hours of the day as we recommend at
ProductiveMuslim.com, you’ll find that it’s pretty hard to be consistent
each and every day with this routine. And when you search for the
reasons for this inconsistency, you’ll realise that it’s mainly because
it’s hard to regulate your sleep; one day you sleep well, so you wake up
early and can work hard. Other days, you don’t sleep so well and those
early hours are pretty difficult to maintain.
Sleep, as any other activity we do as
humans, can be optimized by planning well in advance and following a
particular routine each night. You might think: “Dude, I just crash and
sleep”. Well, that’s one way of doing it, but here’s another routine.
Try it out and tell me if sleep doesn’t become a rewarding, spiritual
and fulfilling experience for you after this.
The following sleep routine requires you to prepare for it at least 90 minutes BEFORE you actually sleep. And it’s basically dividing those 90 minutes into 3 parts:
- One third for Your Lord
- One third for Your Self
- One third for Your Sleep
1. One third for Your Lord:
This starts with you making wudhu,
brushing your teeth, putting on nice clothes and perfume and praying
Tahajjud and Witr for Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) (Note: If you prefer
to wake up before Fajr
to pray these night prayers then definitely go with that. However, if
you can’t trust yourself to wake up that early, it’s better that you
pray Tahajjud and Witr Salah BEFORE you sleep). This is my favourite part of the sleep routine and favourite part of the day!
It’s such a calming experience after
going through a long hard day, to stand in front of your Lord, recite
His verses, supplicate to Him and ask Him of whatever you desire in this
world and the Next. Do this for a couple of nights and you wouldn’t
want to give up doing it! In fact, throughout your day, you’ll be
anticipating this moment and looking forward to it!
2. One third for Your Self:
This is where you prepare yourself for
sleep by putting on your pyjamas, getting into bed and reading a good
book for at least 30 minutes. If you’re like me, ideas and thoughts will
keep popping into your head as you read, and you will want to save them
for later. For these, I have a plain notebook and pen/pencil next to me
to scribble anything (and I mean anything) that pops in my head! You’ll
be surprised how many great ideas originate from these 30 minutes.
Alternatively, instead of reading, you
may spend these 30 minutes brainstorming on a plain notebook any
ideas,plans, and projects you have in mind. You don’t have to come up
with the ‘perfect’ idea/solution, but simply brainstorm as much as you
can then literally “sleep on it” (as the saying goes). In the morning,
you’ll be surprised at what your sub-conscious mind brings forth for
you.
3. One third for Your Sleep:
I’ve said that this is a third for your
sleep, but truly this is a third for your Lord to bless your sleep, and
basically this involves going through the duas and verses that one
should recite before sleeping as per the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him). These include reciting Surah Al-Mulk
and Surah Al-Sajdah and other supplications recommended before
sleeping. For me, this last part of the routine is like the cherry on
top of the cake! Nothing fills you with more tranquility than to sleep
having uttered the words of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).
So there you have it, the
ProductiveMuslim routine for Sleep. You may think it’s lengthy, but
there has been no day that I’ve followed it, except that I’ve slept
peacefully and woken up peacefully.
Hope it works well for you and that you have a productive sleep – Sweet dreams!
Click to read more: http://productivemuslim.com/productivemuslim-sleep-routine/#ixzz3Hov6Mzay
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