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Top Seven Time Management Tips

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Recently, I posted a series of Time Management tips on my Facebook page. I decided to put them together as one post here so everybody can benefit from them inshā’Allāh. So without any further introduction, here are seven time management tips that I try to live by and which make life very productive for me, alḥamdulillāh.

 Tip #1: Work in small chunks

Don’t try to get something done in one sitting, especially if it takes a lot of time. Split it up into smaller chunks so that it is done by the deadline without affecting your other tasks.

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Example 1: You have an assignment due on 15 May. Split up your work into one hour daily chunks of research, drafting, writing, referencing and editing so that it is done on time without seeming like a burden.

Example 2: If you have a 200 page book to read, split it up into 20 pages a day so that it is done in 10 days without affecting your other tasks and responsibilities.

 Tip #2: Discipline is Key!

To be successful in anything in both worlds, self-discipline is necessary. This applies to time management as well. One needs to be very strict on oneself to stick to times, stick to schedules and not get distracted from priorities.

Alḥamdulillāh, Islam teaches us self-discipline through our daily prayers, especially trying to pray with khushū‘, as well as through Ḥajj, fasting and other aspects of our religion. We need to take the discipline we learn from this and apply it to other areas of our life including time management.

It takes discipline to make schedules, checklists, etc. and even more discipline to stick to these schedules. It takes discipline to ignore distractions and avoid unnecessary phone conversations. This is a habit all Muslims need to develop.

 Tip #3: Eliminate Time Wasters!

For people who don’t constantly monitor their days, a lot of time is wasted in useless activities (lughw as the Qur’an refers to it). A simple step to avoiding time wasters is to keep a log for a few days of everything you do in a day. You will be surprised at how much time is wasted in useless activities that do not benefit you in this world or the next.

By cutting down our time wasters to just the necessary means of relaxation and fun, we can free up a few more hours in the day for other beneficial projects.

Common time wasters to look out for include:

1. Wasting too much time on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or browsing non-beneficial websites

2. Talking on the phone for hours (this can also lead to sins like backbiting)

3. Television and Video Games

4. Oversleeping

By cutting down the above to just the necessary amount you need to function properly in a day (6-8 hours sleep, 2-3 hours of fun), we are able to free time for things which matter.

“Successful are the believers…those who stay away from lughw (things which waste time)” (Surah Mu’minoon 23:1 & 3)

 Tip #4: Make a schedule

I prefer a weekly schedule to a daily one as it gives you more time to schedule more things and allows for planning in advance.

Stephen Covey says about weekly schedules, “Organizing on a weekly basis provides much greater balance and context than daily planning…Business, education and many other facets of society operate within the framework of the week, designating certain days for focused investment and others for relaxation or inspiration.” (7 Habits of Highly Effective People, p. 161)

A weekly schedule should have the days of the week on the x-axis and the hours of the day split into half an hour segments on the y-axis. It should include all the hours of the day and certain hours must be designated for sleep, family time, Ṣalāh, etc.

Such a schedule helps one to plan ahead for the week and will prevent a person from oversleeping, wasting time, etc.

Also note that the schedule should be flexible enough to be adjustable for sudden emergencies, so I recommend leaving one hour a day open for any adjustments.

You can read more about making a weekly timetable and how to prioritize it in the chapter “Habit 3 – Put first things first” in Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.

 Tip #5: Plan your day around Ṣalāh

Some Muslims make the mistake of trying to fit Ṣalāh into their daily schedule and complain that they can’t find the time to pray.
The mistake is two-fold:

1. Trying to find time, instead of making time

2. Fitting Ṣalāh into your schedule, instead of planning your schedule around Ṣalāh

As Muslims, Ṣalāh should be our highest priority in the day and as such, when making our timetable/schedule, the first thing we need to fill in are the Ṣalāh times so that nothing else clashes with it. In fact, fill in the Ṣalāh times in RED and BOLD writing so that you know that those times are off-limits to anything else.

Do that and you will never find yourself in a position in which you don’t have time to pray, bi idhnillah.

Tip #6: Learn to say No!

Think about what are the biggest time wasters. Usually, it has something to do with excessive socializing. Whether it’s long phone class, instant messaging, social networks or hanging out. Much of our day goes in useless discussions.

The only way to avoid this is to learn to decline such offers…politely of course. :)

I’m not saying don’t phone people or visit them but if a phone call is going on too long and is cutting into your work time, there is nothing wrong with excusing yourself and saying you need to get back to work. Do this often and people will get the message and will only contact you when necessary or when they know you have time to chat.

Declining offers for long chats and useless conversations not only will help you stick to a schedule and accomplish more but will protect you from sins like backbiting and gossip as well.

Tip #7: Beneficial Hobbies

We all have that time of the day and that day of the week (and that month of the year sometimes) in which we are tired, don’t want to do any work and just want to have fun. There is nothing wrong with this as long as the means of fun is halal and you do not go into excess.

However, even better is if we establish hobbies which are both productive and fun! This could be a physical sport, reading, watching beneficial videos, playing educational or puzzle solving games, the list of beneficial hobbies can go on and on.

Inshā’Allāh if we establish beneficial hobbies, then even our fun time becomes productive and is not wasted!

So these are my seven time management tips. Feel free to share your own in the comments section so that we can all benefit.

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Shaykh Ismail Kamdar is the Books PO at Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. He is also the founder of Islamic Self Help and Izzah Academy. He completed the Alimiyyah Program in 2006, and a BA in Islamic Studies in 2014, specializing in Fiqh, Tafsir, and History. He is the author of over a dozen books in the fields of Islamic Studies and personal development.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Hira Adnan

    June 1, 2012 at 7:26 AM

    Masha Allah very beneficial
    JazakaAllah

  2. Syed Muqsith

    June 1, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    Jazakallah….concise and beneficial.

    • ISSHU

      June 2, 2012 at 9:29 AM

      yes, thanks for sending me this mail. that’s what i call “PERFECT HALAWAT”– GIFTED FROM 1 BRO TO ANOTHER.

  3. alia

    June 1, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    great tips

  4. Safia Farole

    June 1, 2012 at 7:06 PM

    Very beneficial. Jazakallahi Khair.

  5. ibadi

    June 2, 2012 at 9:27 AM

    Yes, even at workplace, one must stay put if one has some leisure time.
    because excessive socializing leads to backbiting and unnecessary gossip.

  6. Aziza

    June 6, 2012 at 5:19 PM

    Very nice, JazakAllah Khair!

  7. Hawaa

    June 10, 2012 at 10:32 AM

    Jazaka Allah Khair. that was very helpful.

  8. rosh

    June 13, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    so good thnx bro to help me

  9. Taha Fatima

    July 1, 2012 at 12:19 AM

    MASHA ALLAH very nice post barak allahu feekum…

  10. Firdaus

    July 1, 2012 at 8:00 AM

    Very beneficial tips loved them Jazakallah Khair

  11. misbah

    July 8, 2012 at 3:21 AM

    thank u so much teacher ismail, may Allah reward u

  12. Iftikhar

    January 31, 2013 at 9:01 AM

    Masha Allah.. very beneficial

    For the readers.. My article can also be beneficial “Time-Table: Climbing up the first ladder to success”
    http://www.passionatewriters.org/2011/12/time-table-climbing-up-first-ladder-to.html

  13. Asma Miller

    February 1, 2013 at 9:30 AM

    Masha’Allah. A very beneficial article. Allah bless you and raise your ranks in paradise. Ameen.

  14. Nighat Saghir

    February 2, 2013 at 10:11 PM

    Mashallah very beneficial and precise tips. Thanks for sharing. May Allah reward you.

    • Ghousia

      August 16, 2013 at 2:03 PM

      Thanks for wonderful message.Insha Allah I will follow from now.

  15. Muna Bushra

    September 14, 2013 at 5:18 AM

    Very interesting & useful article which can be read often.

  16. Imran Mohammed

    March 11, 2014 at 2:51 PM

    jazakallah khair for the tips, It is extremely important that as Muslims we use our time productively and don’t waste it on useless things. May Allah (Azzawajal) grant us jannatul firdaus, Ameen.

  17. Pingback: Piece of Mind » Tips for Time Management in Islam

  18. Ayesha saddique

    September 13, 2014 at 6:34 AM

    The tips that you are given are really beneficial for all Muslims for managing the time because the Muslims women have greater responsibilities as compared to women from other religion. Muslim women’s can easily manage their time with these beneficial and precise tips.
    You can also read my article (http://learnquran.over-blog.com/2014/09/tips-for-muslim-women-for-managing-the-schedule-in-an-appropriate-way.html) of managing the work schedule for Muslim women in a appropriate way and get more information about how smartly a Muslim women manage time in a more precise and appropriate way.

  19. adebiyi jimoh

    May 14, 2015 at 12:24 PM

    jazakum llahu kharan

  20. MOHAMMED AJMAL P.S.

    June 16, 2015 at 8:27 AM

    Alhamdulillah. Sir thanks. May Allah will bless you

  21. MOHAMMED AJMAL P.S.

    June 16, 2015 at 8:29 AM

    Alhamdulillah. Sir thanks. May Allah high your position in the heaven.

  22. Abdulmumin

    November 30, 2017 at 6:43 AM

    In Sha Allah very educative,may Allah gave us understanding

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