A few months ago, I had a very busy schedule, working on a big project with a colleague of mine and coming home to resume the tedious job of nurturing my household.
I was always striving to achieve a new goal and meet the excessive expectations I had of myself at the expense of being the well-rounded woman I was supposed to be.
In the process, I neglected myself. Days rolled in and out, and in no time, I began to feel inadequate, looking at my reflection in the mirror and disliking what I saw.
I resented everything around me. and my discomfort continued to grow.
Then finally, I paused. It took me quite some time to figure out what was wrong, and in the end, I realized that I wasn’t taking care of myself.
This, and not the things around me, was what needed to be fixed.
Self-Care Is a Fundamental Aspect of Being a Muslim
This is not just to boost productivity and a positive life; is also a way of showing gratitude to Allah (SWT) for the precious gift of health and wellness.
So many of us get too engrossed in the hurly – burly of life; neglecting ourselves in the process.
However, it won’t be long before we’re battered from exhaustion and we begin to operate in a mental fog, which makes it difficult to forge ahead even in the daily activities that consume our time.
How then, do we as Muslims set ourselves up for well-rounded success in this life and the next by practicing self-care?
The secret lies in looking into the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) to implement tiny self-care habits into our daily lives.
Here are a few tips to ensure proper care of ourselves:
1. The Body
• Eat in moderation. Narrow your food choices by picking a few healthy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners and rotating them for the week.
• Drink an extra glass of water or add an extra portion of fruit or veggies to each meal. Include super foods from the sunnah like dates, raw honey, watermelon, yoghurt, cucumbers, and whatever you have in your diet.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are a few morsels to keep his back straight. But if he must fill it, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.” (Tirmidhi)
• Get active by taking walks at intervals or going up and down the stairs instead of taking the lift. You can also schedule at least 10 minutes every morning for light exercise.
The Prophet(PBUH) used to keep fit by racing, riding horses and playing archery. He said:
“Teach your children swimming, archery and horse riding.” (Sahih Muslim)
• Give your body a treat by picking wardrobe items that feel great on your skin.
• Spend at least ten minutes in the sun, especially if you’re in a cold climate.
• Squeeze out time at least once a week to pamper yourself by going to a spa or having a massage.
• Stay a bit longer in the bath tub, or under the shower, then breathe, relax, and feel refreshed.
• Take quick naps at least for ten to twenty minutes every day. This will reduce your sleep debt and get you ready to take on more tasks.
The Prophet (PBUH) encouraged us to take short naps—qailulah—between the hours of dhuhr and asr.
2. The Mind
• Make out some time for meditation and reflection. Unplug yourself from the world for at least one hour.
• Switch off your cell phones and go somewhere quiet; probably a designated place for an uninterrupted “me” time.
• Be still. Sit close to nature, perhaps somewhere green, and be quiet for a short time.
• Tune in to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations while breathing and reflecting on your immediate environment.
•The Prophet (PBUH) used to spend time alone for meditation in the cave of Hira and it was on one of these occasions that he received the first revelation from Allah ﷻ.
•Do a mini de-clutter every now and then by recycling three things from your closet that you don’t really love or wear.
• You can also fix a small provoking situation at home that’s been nagging you. It could be a leaking sink, a light bulb that’s gone out or a broken door handle.
The post Self-Care – Have You Tried the Sunnah Way? appeared first on About Islam.
source https://aboutislam.net/family-life/self-development/self-care-the-sunnah-way/
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