[Fathom Zero]

From searching "Camel"

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-the-Most-out-of-Ramadhan

How to Make the Most out of Ramadhan

It doesn't matter if you're a city slicker with a high stress job and a long commute or a stay at home mum with a menagerie of kids to manage, you can get into Ramadhan mode and reap the benefits of this month too!
Steps

1. (Pre Ramadhan) Shape up your soul: Prepare yourself spiritually by fasting on Mondays, Thursdays and the 13th, 14th, 15th of the lunar calendar in Shaa'baan. Wake up earlier than usual (even half an hour before Fajr will do) and pray. Read the Qur'an after Fajr even if it's only for 10-15 minutes. Stock up on interesting Islamic lectures that you can listen to during the day or on your way to work. If you're cooking or waiting in a line or have some free time, do thikr.
2. Detox your body: Stifle the urge to munch snacks at odd moments or when you're bored. Drink lots of water, and avoid endless cups of coffee and tea. Start with a complex carbohydrate breakfast that releases energy slowly and allows you to stay energised through the day. Have a light meal at the end of day with lots of fruit, vegetables, live culture yogurt and salad.
3. Free your mind: Get rid of all those erototoxins that are generated by watching music videos or listening to music and the anxiety hormones produced by watching the news on TV. Wean yourself off TV, read an interesting Islamic book instead.
4. Tie your camel: Do what it takes to keep you organised in Ramadhan. Shop for groceries in advance, prepare large batches of food and freeze them, chop vegetables and store them in airtight containers.
5. (During Ramadhan) Wake up to eat the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and stay up to read a portion of the Qur'an before and after Fajr.
6. Try and get a little shut-eye in the day -- even a half hour nap will leave you feeling refreshed.
7. Be nice. A major aspect of Ramadhan is being charitable to others and controlling oneself...bite your tongue, count to 10 if you're having a hard day. If someone's out to give you a bad time, tell them you're fasting.
8. Give generously. It doesn't matter if it's a smile to a co-worker or a hundred pounds to a homeless derelict, it's the season to give sadaqah (not to mention the Prophet's Sunnah).
9. Don't overeat at iftaar. Start with dates and something liquid (water, juice, milk, shorbaa, a smoothie) and eat sparingly of the spread. Save your main meal for later in the night. If you're cooking iftaar, bake and broil instead of frying.
10. Drink up! To combat dehydration, drink lots of water between iftaar and suhoor -- try having at least two glasses of water at a go. Keep off fizzy drinks and opt for herbal teas or unsweetened juices.
11. Attend and organise community iftaars and taraweeh. Don't forget to invite people who tend to get overlooked. Focus on 'connecting' with others in the community and discovering common ground, instead of 'networking'.
12. Save some 'Just Me and You' time with Allah. It's easy to get overwhelmed by life and forget that this month is essentially about renewing one's personal connection with God. The Qur'an says (the translation of which means): "When you are free from your affairs, then turn to your Lord." Wake up in the night and pray as much as is easy for you. Stay in seclusion (i'tikaaf) if you can for a part of the month, even if it's only a weekend.
13. Seek the Night of Power. There is a night in Ramadhan that is considered better than a 1000 months, by virtue of the blessings that descend in it. Seek the Night of Power in the last ten days of the month.
14. Make arrangements to give Zakaat al-Fitr on time (before the 'Eid prayer).
15. (Post-Ramadhan)Ramadhan presents a great opportunity to regulate our lives. The best benefit that can be derived from Ramadhan is to carry the lessons learned from it -- moderation and discipline -- to the year that follows.
16. If you're among the group of people who are exempted from fasting -- persons traveling and the ill whose illness can be made worse by fasting; menstruating women and women with post-partum bleeding; pregnant and nursing women; people who are not capable of fasting, either due to old age or incurable diseases -- there's still something to be gained. Feeding the poor on the days one is unable to fast is a highly recommended act.


Tips

* Shop for groceries in bulk and prepare food that won't spoil on keeping in large batches and freeze.
* Invite people over for iftaar on weekends.
* To avoid heartburn, line your stomach with a bland, alkaline food before starting on fried, spicy stuff.


Warnings

* Ramadhan comes around just once every year ...who knows if we'll be around next year to make all our resolutions come true? Seize the day!