Non-Negotiables [2024]

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ​

It's 2024 and I am still a bit awkward on introductions so let’s just skip ‘em.

This is an open accountability thread where I plan to record my daily goals' progress. If someone else wants to join in, they are more than welcome to. I only have two rules for my threads. One, no cussing. Two, don't make them about something else, keep it relevant.

I have many things I want to do this year, but each month, I want to focus on 3-4 things that will be absolutely non-negotiable, inshallah. Meaning, they have to be on top of the priority list and preferably, on top of my schedule too meaning I need to try to do them first thing in the morning or at least, during the first part of the day.

For 2024 January, I need to focus on:

1. Studying. I need to cover all my syllabus. I have exams starting on 1st Feb so this won't be a very balanced approach to studying since I have very less days left but before the situation gets even worse, I need to take charge.
2. Read 1/4th of a juz of Quran.
3. Read 20 minutes every day and finish two books, inshallah.
4. Spend 30 minutes on course A.

1 and 4 can be done only 5 days a week while 2 and 3 are every single day essentials. I was going to add waking up early but I know I will be studying a lot and that can mess up my routine so I don't expect myself to have a consistent sleep routine during this month.

That is all for now!

Bismillah.

P.S: The thread name was a term one of my awesome friends on here, IronMan, once used and I really liked it so credit goes to him.

 

10/1/24 Wednesday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 0/1
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide. 1/1
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 0/1
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved by small consistent efforts. 0/1

 

11/1/24 Thursday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 1/2
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide. 2/2
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 0/2
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 1/2

Totally forgot about reading today!

 

12/1/24 Friday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 2/3
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide. 3/3
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 0/3
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 2/3

Didnt feel like reading. Study progress is very slow and the stress is building up.

 

13/1/24 Saturday

On weekends, 1 and 4 are not mandatory but since I have a lot to do in studying and things have piled up, I am supposed to study today too.
1- Yesterday was just so busy, alhamdulillah. I didn't do uni study but I am enrolled in two more courses and their classes are on Saturday so that took up all my time. I won't count that as a 'cross'.
2- I am not doing a quarter juz on some days but mostly, I am. I won't to be more specific in tracking the quantity from now onwards so I will try to do that inshallah.

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 2/3
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide. 4/4
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 0/4
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 2/3

I have 71 modules to cover in uni study. Goal is complete at least 5 today inshallah. I might stay up late.

 

14/1/24 Sunday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 3/4
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide. 5/5
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 0/5
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 2/3

 

15/1/24 Monday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 4/5
3/4 modules done
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide. 6/6
Not really a quarter but still.
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 1/6
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 2/4

My feet are still freezing.

Take care, all.

 

16/1/24 Tuesday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 5/6
One out of five courses complete.
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide. 7/7
Not really a quarter but still.
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 1/7
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 2/5

 

17/1/24 Wednesday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 6/7
One out of five courses complete.
2- Read Quran Quarter Juz: The Furqan is your only true guide.
7/8
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 2/8
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 2/6

10 min break turned into an hour and I was so sleepy that I fell asleep. Didn’t even follow through my night routine, or do Quran, or even turn the lights off. Didnt even take an extra blanket like I normally do and I can feel my body aching cos I curled up too much due to the cold!

Just fell asleep in the same position lol.

Alhamdulillah

I am confident that I will complete course 2 today, inshallah. 10 modules to go.

 

Goal: 10 modules

Alhamdulillah done with another course! Not gonna lie, I rushed through this one and did an average job because I really don't like this subject haha.

For the rest of the studying left to... My goal is to finish everything 5 days before exams so I can prepare well this time. Plus, my exams are in person so that's gonna be challenging and new. Kinda worried about that. It's been a while I gave proper proper exams.

• So, Friday - Sat - Sun, need to complete course 3.
• Mon - Tue, Need to complete course 4. Honestly, slightly unrealistic...
• Wed - Thurs, Complete course 5. Inshallah.

18/1/24 Thursday

1- Studying: If you don't do it today, tomorrow will be worse. 7/8
Two out of five courses complete.
2- Read Quran: The Furqan is your only true guide. 8/9
3- Read 20 min: Even if it's a little bit, just do it. 3/9
4- Course A: Big goals are achieved with small consistent efforts. 2/7

To compensate for missing Quran last night, I did it first thing in the morning. Honestly, loved it more.

Hmm... wondering if it's realistic to expect myself to cover course A lectures during this time... I don't think I can, honestly. Maybe I should leave that a top prioriy in Feb, after uni exams are done. If anything, I should have been doing course T homework which I have neglected all week and that's a course I started in person so it's not self paced, meaning I will be questioned about it very soon lol. And yes, this course is really important to me. Alright. It's decided, there needs to be a change in priorities mentioned in this list keeping in mind the need of time.

Alright, bye.

 

19/1/24 Friday

1- Did I study? 8/9

Did I meet my study goals? 3/4​

2- Did I read Quran? 9/10

Was it 1/4th Juz? 1/1​

3- Did I read at least 20 min? 4/10
4- Did I cover Course T? Starts tomorrow, inshallah.

Testing if I like this format better than the last one... hmm.

 

Goal: 7 modules Alhamdulillah!!!

20/1/24 Saturday

1- Did I study? 9/10
Did I meet my study goals? 4/5
2- Did I read Quran? 10/11
Was it 1/4th Juz? 2/2
3- Did I read at least 20 min? 4/11
4- Did I cover Course T? Starts Monday, inshallah.

So tired. Gonna sleep well. Inshallah.

 

4/8 modules completed this morning. I slept a lot. Not because I needed the rest but the bed was way too warm and cozy AND I was kind of avoiding facing life lol

21/1/24 Sunday

1- Did I study? 9/11
Did I meet my study goals? 4/6
2- Did I read Quran? 11/12
Was it 1/4th Juz? 2/3
3- Did I read at least 20 min? I don't remember! 4/11
4- Did I cover Course T? Starts Monday, inshallah.

 

This probably belongs to my journal but for now, I will just write it here.

I completed the super imp task which required creativity and I enjoyed doing it while jamming to nasheeds. Until the task ended. The extra stress was lifted and a certain nasheed started playing. And I felt it. Strongly and deeply.

It's mostly sadness that my heart has been feeling and I could feel it very very clearly now. It's good, at least I am not feeling a mix of different things. It's more clear.

But I don't know how to console my heart. Except through crying.

No longer in the right frame to study... It's okay. I need to be with myself right now. I need to console my heart somehow.

22/1/24 Monday

1- Did I study? 10/12
Did I meet my study goals? 5/7
2- Did I read Quran? 12/13
Was it 1/4th Juz?
3- Did I read at least 20 min? 4/12
4- Did I cover Course T? 1/1

 

23/1/24 Tuesday

1- Did I study? 11/13
Did I meet my study goals? 6/8
2- Did I read Quran? 13/14
Was it 1/4th Juz? 2/3
3- Did I read at least 20 min? 5/13
4- Did I cover Course T? 2/2

 

I need to write down a short letter to myself that reminds me why I am doing what I am doing... like a pep talk I can read to feel inspired again when I am procrastinating and wasting time.

Did a new study set up to motivate myself. Me likey. Got my cup of coffee and now going to start inshallah. Gonna use the pomodoro technique.

 

Alhamdulillahi rabbil 'alameen.

24/1/24 Wednesday

1- Did I study? 12/14
Did I meet my study goals? 6/9
2- Did I read Quran? 14/15
Was it 1/4th Juz? 2/4 It was 1/4th almost
3- Did I read at least 20 min? 6/14 I honestly don't remember that well
4- Did I cover Course T? 2/3

I am going to read, work on project H, cover course T and then study.

I like these emojis

 

Second and third done as well. Only 4 left and then, I will be done with this course! Inshallah ya rabb.

Done for the day!

25/1/24 Thursday

1- Did I study? 13/15
Did I meet my study goals? 7/10
2- Did I read Quran? 15/16
Was it 1/4th Juz? 3/5 Alhamdulillah
3- Did I read at least 20 min? 7/15 Less reading but a lot of reflecting
4- Did I cover Course T? 2/4

Truly grateful. Allah is Most Merciful. Allah is Most Kind. Allah is Most Loving.

 

26/1/24 Friday

1- Did I study? 14/16
Did I meet my study goals? 8/11 YES I DID course 4 FINISH
2- Did I read Quran? 16/17
Was it 1/4th Juz? 4/6 Alhamdulillah
3- Did I read at least 20 min? 8/16
4- Did I cover Course T? 2/5 Yeah, so, it’s a non-negotiable. Need to figure out a good time for it.

Also, I might not go for my class today. I am really sleepy and tired.

Alhamdulillah ya rabb.