Here we are, almost halfway through the blessed month of Ramadan, subhanAllah! While we should be grateful that there is still another half of Ramadan left, full of opportunities to do even more, many of us are feeling a bit down at this time of the month: disappointed in what we haven't been able to accomplish so far, worried that the end of the month will be here before we know it, and lacking motivation or stamina to do more right now.

We go through these emotions every year: we start the month so strong and all of a sudden we just see the days go by and we become sad at the idea that Ramadan is almost over and that, this year again, we won't accomplish our Ramadan goals. The good news is: it doesn't have to be this way! Here are a few tips to get back on track insha'Allah.

1. It's okay to feel like you're not doing enough…

…as long as it doesn't discourage you from striving even more. For the believer, it's a completely healthy thing to think that we could be doing more, that we haven't done enough. Even competing with others in good deeds is something that is part of our deen, as long as we nurture those feelings and act upon them in a positive way.

Make sure to push away negative feelings and replace them with positive ones:

• Envy/jealousy: feeling like others are doing better than you and it frustrates you? Say "Masha'Allah" and let them be your source of inspiration and motivation: what are they doing that you could do as well? Giving charity, making extra prayer, volunteering, showing good character? And make sure to thank Allah SWT for surrounding you with good examples.
• Disappointment: feeling disappointed in yourself? Ask for Allah's SWT forgiveness and help so that you can find ways to do more. Also remember that anything can be worship if you set the intention to do it for the sake of Allah SWT alone! For instance: instead of reluctantly doing the dishes and feeling like you're the only one taking care of house chores, have the intention to do those things to please Allah SWT and make your house a clean place during this blessed month! It's also okay to ask the other household members to help with the chores, but ask nicely and let them do things their way :)
• Lack of motivation: feeling like it's already too late because you haven't started Ramadan right? It's never too late alhamdulillah! Keep on reading 👇

2. The importance of the middle 10 days

It's easy to lose sight of the importance of the middle 10 days of Ramadan because we are over our initial "emaan rush" of the first 10 days, maybe exhausted, and in a waiting mood for the last 10 days to search for Laylat ul-Qadr, and then celebrate Eid. But the middle 10 days are just as important because they are part of the blessed month of Ramadan an represent as many opportunities to seek Allah's SWT forgiveness and do good deeds as the first 10 or last 10 days! 

Allah SWT has made the whole month of Ramadan a blessed and special time of year for Muslims, not just the first 10 and/or the last 10 days of it. So do your best not to neglect this time of the month, or think that you can relax now and do less so that you can do more in the last 10 days, you will lose the precious momentum of these middle 10 days.

3. How do you spend your days during Ramadan?

Some studies conducted in Muslim countries in previous years have shown a huge increase in TV and online video streaming viewership during the month of Ramadan. This is most likely the case for Muslim homes in non-Muslim countries as well. Let's give the benefit of the doubt and assume that there is a spike in interest in Islamic lectures and Quran recitation videos during this time of year.

Check yourself and be honest: how much time are you spending scrolling through social media posts, binge watching the latest shows, or watching the news for three hours straight before iftar?

It's not too late to make a few changes to your daily routine! Ask Allah SWT for His help and try this out:

• Whenever you feel like checking your social media, make dhikr and dua instead.
• Whenever you feel like watching another episode of that show, pick up the Quran and read instead, even if it's a translation.
• Whenever you feel yourself reaching out for that remote again, consider enrolling in a Quran class to keep you busy everyday at that time and increase your understanding of the Book of Allah SWT!

If you feel like you can't do this on your own, ask a close friend to become your Ramadan buddy to check on you and help you be accountable.

4. Make a plan for the remainder of Ramadan

If you didn't make a plan prior to the start of Ramadan, or if you had one but haven't been able to keep up, it's not too late: just make a new one from now!

Making a plan increases your chances of success. Of course, outcomes are always with Allah SWT, and all we can do is put in our best effort insha'Allah. But it's difficult to put in efforts in something that hasn't been planned, especially over such a long timeframe.

Not sure where to start? Check out our FREE Ramadan Planner for some prompts! Start with "My Ramadan Goals" and "My State of Emaan Before Ramadan" pages at the beginning, then go directly to the day you are starting on insha'Allah.

5. Think "less but consistent"

Sometimes all we need is to be more realistic with what we can and cannot achieve during Ramadan, especially when we have other obligations that we can't push to the side for a whole month (work, studies, taking care of children especially when they are young, taking care of elderly parents, etc.). We start the month with a boost of emaan alhamdulillah, but we use it all up and by day 10 we are completely burnt out, and can't even get up for suhoor anymore. Sometimes we even miss fajr, may Allah SWT forgive us.

Instead of pouring all of our energy and emaan all at once, let's think about small deeds that we can do more consistently and while still keeping enough energy to fulfill our other duties. Remember that it's better to fulfill our obligations (this includes praying our obligatory prayers on time, continue to be a good employee at work or a good student in school, taking care of our family properly etc.) and do less extra good deeds, than do many/big extra good deeds and fail at our obligations.

• Make dhikr while doing the house chores, 
• Automate daily payments to charities you want to support (it can be a small amount of money, whatever you can afford), 
• Listen to a lecture about the Quran while cooking, 
• Read or recite the Quran while nursing your baby...

And the list can go on and on! You get the point! We all know the hadith, right?

Abu Huraira (may Allah SWT be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few." (Sunan Ibn Mājah 4240)

6. Focus on what you can do now

This is really important because our mind easily gets stuck on what we have - or haven't - done in the past, what we have missed out on, and what the consequences might be in the short and longer term. At the end of the day though, we cannot change what is behind us, and we have no power over the future, so let's focus on the present.

Do ask for Allah's SWT forgiveness for the wrong you have done, or for what you have not done while you should have, have hope that He SWT will grant it to you, and ask for His help moving forward. Then focus on what you can do in the present moment and on your worship plan for the rest of the blessed month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is such a special time of year alhamdulillah! There is so much barakah (blessing) in it and so much we can gain from it, but we need to put in our best effort to make the most of it. Yes, the devils are chained and the gates of Hell are closed, but our nafs (our ego, our own self) is still here, wide awake, so don't let it loose: put it to work in ways that are pleasing to Allah SWT so that you may earn the best of rewards in this Holy month insha'Allah.

May Allah SWT allow us all to reap the countless benefits and rewards of this blessed month and accept all our acts of worship, ameen!