Productive Muslim Survey report 2012

Productive Ramadan Survey

1. [WHAT’S YOUR PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGE?]



TOWARDS A PRODUCTIVE UMMAH!

WWW.PRODUCTIVEMUSLIM.COM WWW.PRODUCTIVERAMADAN.COM















The ProductiveMuslim Team would like to thank the entire ProductiveMuslim community for
their participation in this survey. Special thanks to Aatikah Sharafat, Nouran Shalaby, Rushda
Thahir, and Zainab El-Kheshen for helping the team compile the results for the survey.

1433H/
2012G





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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 1

2.0 THEMATIC PRESENTATION ................................................................................................................ 2

3.0 TAKE-AWAYS: CONTENT REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS ........................................................................ 30
3.1 ProductiveMuslim.com Content.................................................................................................... 30
3.2 ProductiveRamadan.com Content ................................................................................................ 31
3.3 Suggested Forms of Content ......................................................................................................... 32
3.4 Requests for Offline Seminars ....................................................................................................... 32

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1.0 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
This document presents a summary and graphic presentation of the Productive Muslim survey
conducted in April 2012. A total of 2,815 respondents participated in the survey; however, only 2,305
completed the entire survey. The objective of this survey was to gauge the challenges to people’s
productivity both in general and during Ramadan in particular, so that Productive Muslim could better
serve their needs.
Succinctly put, the survey shows that the factors posing the greatest challenges to the respondents’
productivity are:
a) Not being organized (i.e., time management, prioritization, planning and following through),
b) Not being motivated, and
c) Not being self-disciplined.
Factors wasting most of their time include the Internet and the Environment. The Environment,
however, is also re-framed by respondents as being more time-consuming than wasting. (See Question
4, page 9 for further explanation.)
Of all three areas of productivity, respondents feel a greater need to improve their Spiritual Productivity,
whether during Ramadan or otherwise. Lastly, they expressed the critical need to attain the ‘elusive
balance’ among all areas of productivity.

DOCUMENT CONTENTS
What follows is a thematic presentation of the respondents’ answers to 19 questions. The thematic
presentation entails a graphic display of their answers in charts and tables as well as more detailed
descriptions of their answers where applicable. This is followed by the main take-aways of this survey: a
summarized outline of content requests and suggestions by the respondents. Learning from the
experience of this survey, a few notes to keep in mind for future surveys are also specified.

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2.0 THEMATIC PRESENTATION

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Q1. HOW DO YOU DEFINE PRODUCTIVITY?
1




DESCRIPTION OF CONCEPTS

 Working efficiently & effectively and maintaining a balance (42%): wise utilization of time, working with perfection/ihsan, achieving the
most in the least time, being aware of goals, and maintaining a work/school/family balance
 Spending time benefitting Dunya & Akhirah/pleasing Creator/doing good (24%): being an active Muslim, making a difference, avoiding
time-wasters, contributing to society, creating value for myself or others, progressing steadily, inspiring others, and living an enhanced way
of life
 Achieving goals/tasks on time (20%): completing the day’s to-do list or achieving all goals in a timely manner
 Being active (6.5%): Being energetic, motivated, passionate, focused, responsible, and effective
 Ability to discipline & improve oneself (4%): Becoming organized, consistent; Gaining knowledge & acting upon it
 Working hard/Sincerely/Exercising maximum potential (4%)
 No idea (0.2%)

1
Total count of answers may be greater than total participants (i.e., 2,815) because of multiple factors/reasons stated by respondents.

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Q2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING AFFECTS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY THE MOST?
a. Lack of time b. Not being organized c. Not being motivated d. Feeling tired e. Other
p. 1/2

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Q2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING AFFECTS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY THE MOST?
a. Lack of time b. Not being organized c. Not being motivated d. Feeling tired e. Other
p. 2/2

DESCRIPTION OF FACTORS
 Not being organized (30%): Factors stated in “Other” that were classified under this category include poor time management;
underestimating the time required for tasks or spending too much time on one; and poor planning.
 Not being motivated (27%): Includes general lack of motivation; Not being interested in the job/quickly losing interest
 Lack of time (13%): Explained as due to being stuck in traffic, commuting, or traveling in some cases; or in others, having too much to do or
feeling too overwhelmed by all that needs to be done – resulting in a paralyzing state; Other factors demanding time & resources entail: (a)
family, friends, house chores, guests, and unforeseen interruptions, (b) trying to please everyone around, and (c) undergoing significant
change/transition in life.
 Feeling tired (20%): Factors stated in “Other” that were classified under this category include feeling sleepy and/or lacking it.
 Other (10%): Further reasons stated in “Other” included the following themes:
 Procrastination (3%): Laziness and knowingly wasting time/spending it idly (e.g., watching too much TV, sleeping a lot)
 Distractions/Lack of concentration (2%): Some noted family as a distraction while others noted them as demanding their time.
However, majority of distractions entailed TV, social media, Internet, daydreaming, waswasah from shaitan, and the nafs.
 Emotional/Psychological issues (1%): Worry, fear of failure/criticism, pessimism, low self-esteem, guilt, depression; Personal/life
issues, low Eman, expectations people have of them; Not being able to manage their mood
 Lack of self-discipline (1%): Lacking persistence and determination, overeating, and missing salah or sinning in general
 Not being able to prioritize and follow through (1%): Not knowing where and how to start, and taking a bigger bite than one can
chew
 Miscellaneous (2%): Constitutes factors that were each stated by 0.5% or less of participants:
• Lack of supportive company (0.5%): having an un-encouraging or even opposing company; one with different aims/ways of
life (e.g., non-Muslims); “bad company” in general
• Lack of clear goals & maintaining focus on them (0.4%)
• Poor health (0.4%)
• Lack of supportive environment (0.3%): lacking finance or opportunities due to a limiting environment
• Lack of experience, knowledge, or mentorship (0.1%)
• Perfectionist/High standards (0.1%)
• Not knowing my skills (0.1%)
COMMENT(S)
 Many participants acknowledged how all factors have a causal relationship with one or more of the others, e.g.: Not being organized=>
wastes time => lack of time => little/no accomplishment => demotivated and sapped of energy => eventually 'tired‘ or demoralized.

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Q3. WHY DOES THAT FACTOR AFFECT YOUR PRODUCTIVITY THE MOST? p. 1/2




DESCRIPTION OF REASONS
Note:
1. Some themes repeat under different categories, depending on the perspective from which the participant explained it affecting
productivity
2. Given the way the results were displayed, direct connection of their answer in this question could not be made to their answer in
Question 2. As such, indicators from their explanations in answers to this question were used to create main themes.
 Consumes/Wastes my time & energy (41%):
• Poor time, organization & priority management; Poor planning; Working inefficiently; Spend more time thinking about task than actually
working on it
• Taking a bigger bite than one can chew
• My task is dependent on team's output
• Daily 'routine‘ is volatile
• Perfectionism
• Other factors (family, friends, work, etc.) consuming my time & resources; Unforeseen interruptions; Commuting/Traveling
• Distractions: Thoughts, Daydreaming, Internet, Social media, TV, etc., and Political situation in homeland
• Sleeping too much

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Q3. WHY DOES THAT FACTOR AFFECT YOUR PRODUCTIVITY THE MOST? p. 2/2

 Makes me underachieve (18%): I accomplish less than I need/want to
• Too much to do, too little time/multi-tasking
• Feeling overwhelmed or worrying about being able to complete everything
• Lack of self-discipline: Includes sinning (e.g., missing salah, pornography addiction)
• Lack of motivation: in general; not interested in the job; bound to lag behind schedule & get demotivated
• Distractions/lack of concentration; waswasah
 Makes me ineffective, apathetic, or inert (12%):
• Emotional/Psychological issues: Depression; Anxiety; Stress; Frustration; Low self-esteem/self-confidence; Feeling of emptiness; Mood
swings; all of the above make me apathetic.
• Lack of healthy lifestyle: Bad sleeping habits/too little sleep; bad eating habits; lack of exercise
• Demotivated, I slack. Work piles up and then I fear starting it, making me inert.
• Lacking motivation puts me down and/or feel tired, making me ineffective.
• Too confused about what to do and between right/wrong, halal/haram
• Lack of goal/vision to commit to or forgetting it; Lack of willpower/drive, so I lose focus and become ineffective
• Being inactive, I become inert
 Makes me procrastinate (12%):
• Overwhelmed with too much and not knowing where to start, I postpone
• Laziness
 Makes me give up, lose hope, or digress (8%):
• Lack of surroundings that are conducive to productivity; Lack of mentorship; Lack of encouragement
• Demoralized
• Fear of failure/poor results
• Too much to do I give up
• Pessimistic about/dislike purpose of task at hand, I digress
 Limits my abilities (7%):
• Illness; Lacking energy; Fatigue
• Poor memory; age
• Lack of supportive environment (i.e., facilities, finance, & opportunity constraints)
• Feeling worn out due to fasting, lack of sleep due to night prayers, or after exhaustive day
• Lack of sufficient information/experience; Not knowing my skills
 Makes me sleepy/tired (1%): I always begin feeling sleepy when beginning to work; My bed begins to look welcoming
 Don’t know (1%): I’ve no idea why it affects my productivity; wish to find out

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Q4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WASTES YOUR TIME THE MOST DURING THE DAY?
a. Internet (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) b. TV c. Environment (Friend, family, traffic, etc.) d. Sleep e. Other
p. 1/2





DESCRIPTION OF FACTORS
 Internet (40%): Blogging; reading news/informative websites, Youtube; Cellphone (i.e., texting, apps, chatting, etc.) is also included here
 Environment* (26%): Unforeseen interruptions, ad hoc issues; Frequent traveling; Household chores/responsibilities
 Sleep (15%)
 TV (8%)
 Other (11%):
• I don’t waste time: Long day at work/school/Too much to do* (5%): Includes engaging in voluntary/social/dawah activities
• Being disorganized/inefficient (1%): Trying to do too much together; Lack of planning/priority management; Lack of work-family
balance

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Q4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WASTES YOUR TIME THE MOST DURING THE DAY?
a. Internet (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) b. TV c. Environment (Friend, family, traffic, etc.) d. Sleep e. Other
p. 2/2

• Being distraction-prone/Daydreaming (1%): Lack of routine or concentration
• Procrastination/Idling (1%)
• Emotional/Psychological issues (1%): Apathy, worry, brooding, depression, stress, fear, lack of confidence, criticism, mood swings,
pessimism
• Interests (0.6%): Novels, games, music, sports, news, overeating
• None of the above* (0.5%)
• Fatigue/relaxing after school/work (0.5%)
• Lack of motivation (0.3%)
• Poor health (0.1%)
• No idea (0.1%)

COMMENT(S)
* Not wasting time but consuming it:
 Many of the respondents expressed that the Environment factor is not so much a ‘waste’ of time as it is consumption, explaining that
environmental factors such as household/family responsibilities cannot be forsaken and are not a waste. There are, however, also those
who expressed that family demands took much time and cannot be declined. As such, the Environment factor in this survey cannot be
considered to intend sole wastage of time. Similar explanation was provided in answers to other questions with the Environment factor.
 Also, some respondents stated they do not waste time, while others added that it is rather consumed by having to spend long days at
work or school and in other engagements.
 Lastly, some respondents wrote “None of the above” (i.e., Environment, Internet, TV, & Sleep) in the “Other” field; this could perhaps
indicate that they also do not waste time.

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Q5. HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF WAYS TO TACKLE THESE TIME-WASTERS? IF YES, WHAT DID YOU DO? IF NO, WHY DIDN’T YOU TRY? p. 1/2

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Q5. HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF WAYS TO TACKLE THESE TIME-WASTERS? IF YES, WHAT DID YOU DO? IF NOT, WHY DIDN’T YOU TRY? p. 2/2

DESCRIPTION OF ANSWERS

 Yes (75%):
• Try to let go/do something productive (34%): Try to let go by avoiding it, going cold turkey, or reducing its use; Try do something
productive at the same time of letting go, reverse the time-waster into utility (e.g., reading beneficial information on Internet), join the
company of productive people, read a book, etc.
• Try to organize, prioritize & self-discipline (34%): Organize: Build a plan/schedule; Prioritize: Leave my job; Move closer to
work/supportive environment; Self-discipline: Focus; Limit/distance myself from the time-waster (e.g., Internet/Facebook)
• Try to manage my sleep/wake up early (11%): Sleeping early; Setting several alarms; Caffeine, chewing gum, pills
• Try seclusion/reducing time spent with friends/family (6%): Seclude myself in a library/university/in my room; Explain to family/friends
I cannot spend time with them; Schedule meetings with friends rather than meeting spontaneously
• Engage in spiritual Ibadah (5%): Praying; Reciting/learning Qur’an; Being God-conscious; Making dua
• Read/listen to material on self-development/Islam (5%)
• Trying to get my own car/avoid rush hour or utilize it (2%): Utilize: By reading or listening to lectures, books, etc.; Using it to catch up
with friends on the phone; Avoid: By taking a different route or moving closer to work
• Try to manage my diet/improve health/exercise (2%)

 No (25%):
• Too hard to let go/Feel it's out of my control (33%): Too hard to let go: Too addicted; get anxiety attacks if I let go, the need for sleep
overwhelms my mind; That is the only of entertainment source for me; Out of my control: My life is too volatile; Need 8-hour sleep, lack
of it affects my health; Pregnancy/health challenges; Always held back by my belief that family comes first/I should always be there for
my parents/friends; Traffic; Travel frequently; I work slow; Financial constraints.
• Lack of motivation (13%)
• Don’t know where/how to start (12%)
• Laziness/Guilty pleasure (10%)
• Lack of time/Too tired after work/school (9%)
• The time-waster is also important to me/productive for me (6%): I use Internet for studies/work, Facebook for school
discussions/gaining knowledge or it is important for me to stay in touch with friends; I sleep to be energetic; TV in Ramadan helps me
deal with fatigue/hunger
• Easily distracted from plan (3%)
• I don’t waste time (1%)
• Remain in denial (1%): Tell myself I’m using the ‘time-waster’ for good reason or try to justify it some other way

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Q6. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS THE HARDEST PRODUCTIVITY KILLER FOR YOU TO DEFEAT?
a. Procrastination b. Multi-tasking c. Unable to say ‘no’ d. Lack of planning e. Other





DESCRIPTION OF FACTORS

 Procrastination (48%): Includes laziness
 Lack of planning (20%): Includes lack of prioritization
 Unable to say ‘no’ (14%)
 Multi-tasking (14%)
 Other (4%):
• Unable to adhere to/execute plan/Inefficiency (0.8%): Difficult to
stick to routine because of monotony; Have trouble adhering to plan
• Being distraction-prone/Lack of self-discipline (0.7%): Includes idling
• Environment/Too much to do (0.7%): Work; Commitments to
family/others; Unforeseen interruptions; Undergoing major change
(e.g., new revert); Lack of time
• Lack of motivation (0.7%): Lacking sustained motivation,
willpower/determination
• Emotional/Psychological issues (0.3%): Fear of failure,
stress, low self-confidence, low Eman, nervousness,
brooding
• Lack of resources/support (0.3%): Lack of know-how/skill,
Lack of supportive environment
• Feeling tired/Not in the mood (0.2%): Lack of energy or
sleep
• Sleep (0.2%): Too much
• Poor health (0.2%)
• None, I’m organized (0.1%)

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Q7. IN PRODUCTIVEMUSLIM.COM, WE DEFINE THREE AREAS WE NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE IN; WHICH OF THESE 3 AREAS DO YOU NEED TO
IMPROVE YOURSELF IN?
a. Personal productivity (improving your sleep, nutrition, fitness and focus)
b. Social productivity (volunteering and helping others)
c. Spiritual productivity (improving your Eman and faith so you stay positive and active)






COMMENT(S)

Both in this question and question 16 (re: the area to improve in during Ramadan), Spiritual Productivity is the area most respondents desire to
improve themselves in, indicating a recognition of this area as the core basis for holistic productivity.

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Q8. WHICH ROLE BELOW IS THE MOST CHALLENGING FOR YOU TO FULFILL?
a. Father/Mother b. Daughter/Son c. Employee d. Team Leader/Manager/Boss e. Student f. Other





DESCRIPTION OF ROLES
 Student (29%)
 Father/Mother (19%)
 Daughter/Son (18%): Includes being granddaughter/son
 Team Leader/Manager/Boss (13%)
 Employee (11%): Includes freelancer and entrepreneur
 Other (10%):
• Spouse (4%)
• Being a good Muslim/person (2%): Slave to Allah; Fulfilling my
own rights/true to myself as individual; Citizen of the world

• Sibling (1%)
• Friend (1%)
• Active community member (0.5%): Social worker, Da'ee,
Activist, Volunteer, Charitable Muslim brother/sister, Reformer
• None (0.4%)
• Relative/Family member (0.3%): Taking care of family;
Keeping in touch with kin
• Daughter-/Sister-/Brother-/Son-in-law (0.2%)
• Mother-in-law (0.07%)
• Team member (0.03%)

COMMENT(S)
 Recurring point mentioned: Challenge is to maintain balance among all roles rather than a particular one being a challenge

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Q9. HOW DO YOU PREFER TO LEARN ABOUT PRODUCTIVITY OR SELF-DEVELOPMENT?
a. Reading articles on Internet b. Reading books c. Attending live seminars d. Watching videos/webinars
e. Trying out new techniques/gadgets/tools f. Other



DESCRIPTION OF MODES

 Reading articles on Internet (24%): Includes ProM's series of emails and tips
 Watching videos/webinars (24%)
 Trying out new techniques/gadgets/tools (19%)
 Attending live seminars (16%)
 Reading books (15%)
 Other (2%):
• Mentorship/Being in productive company (1%): Personal, one-on-one coaching; Buddy system/productivity circle; Role
models/examples to learn from and live by; Motivational experts to consult and learn from
• Audio resources (0.2%)
• From Quran & Sunnah (0.2%): Studying/reciting them; Learning tips on productivity from them
• Learn by doing (0.1%): Personally practicing what I've learned; Cultivating self-motivation by using new techniques ProM develops; Self-
introspection


COMMENT(S)
Many mention preference for short, precise articles and tips.

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Q10. NAME ONE PRODUCTIVITY TOPIC YOU'D LIKE US TO TACKLE ON PRODUCTIVEMUSLIM.COM. p. 1/2





DESCRIPTION OF TOPICS

 Productivity in all 3 spheres & balancing them (23%):
 Personal Productivity: Maintaining it, staying productive in isolation; Increasing knowledge; Being productive at work/school; When to
use which productivity technique; Productivity in different roles: student, businessperson, etc.; Balancing personal productivity with
spiritual/social needs; How to use social media for one's benefit; How to socialize and managing it
 Social Productivity: Giving to community; Volunteering; Charity
 Spiritual Productivity: Strengthening Eman; Reading more Quran (despite being tired to increase Eman); Success in world & Hereafter;
How to remain connected with Quran & Hadith; Fearing Allah; Increasing Islamic knowledge; Waking up for Qiyam; Retaining habits
developed during Ramadan; Repentance; Seerah; Dealings with man; Abstaining from Haram (e.g., slandering & backbiting; dealing with
porn addiction; steering clear of all sexual messages through media; dealing with addictions: sex, drugs, masturbation; dealing with
being single & lonely)

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Q10. NAME ONE PRODUCTIVITY TOPIC YOU'D LIKE US TO TACKLE ON PRODUCTIVEMUSLIM.COM. p. 2/2

 Being Active (21%):
• Sleep: Getting good sleep, and waking up for Qiyam
• Nutrition, Health, & Fitness: how to adhere to a diet, keep fit and healthy
• Motivation: Being self-motivated & sustaining it; Thinking positively and fighting all mental setbacks (procrastination, stress, self-
criticism, etc.) & negative surroundings; Gaining self-control
• Developing good habits (i.e., sleeping, eating, etc.)
 Time Management (17%): Being conscious of time, avoid wasting it, and getting things done on time
 Leadership (14%):
• Setting goals & achieving them
• Developing self-confidence, organizational skills, prioritization skills, successful habits
• Planning/Career planning
 Kids & family (8%)
• How to encourage kids to study, adopt good sleeping habits, be productive; How to raise them
• Articles for kids and youth and their roles in society
• How to encourage spouses/family/community to be Islamically productive
• Being a productive father/mother/family member
• Dealing with non-Muslim siblings
 Juggling multiple roles/goals (6%): Working mother; Studying for college and Deen; Being personally and socially productive; Spirituality and
family responsibilities; Multi-tasking; Work-family balance
 Staying focused (5%)
 Studying & acquiring knowledge (4%): How to be a productive student, acquire Islamic knowledge, learn Arabic
 Being consistent (3%): Following through goals
 Examples of Productive People (1%): Whether real life or from Prophet (SAW) or Companions

COMMENT(S)

Most frequently recurring request was: how to attain a balance among all areas of productivity and maintain it

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Q11. WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO BEING PRODUCTIVE? p. 1/2




DESCRIPTION OF CHALLENGES

 Lack of self-discipline (20%): Inconsistency; Lacking control over anger, patience; Lack of concentration & focus; Desires & temptations,
giving into nafs and sins (e.g., porn, backbiting, etc.)
 Time management & organization (20%): Wasting time; Spending too much time on a particular task; Improper planning or lack of;
Disorganized;
 Procrastination/Laziness (17%)
 Lack of motivation, support & opportunity (10%): Lack of internal or external motivation; boredom, lack of interest in the task; Lack of
direction, feeling lost; Lack of supportive company; Lack of opportunities; Lack of freedom (e.g., due to parental control)
 Emotional/Psychological issues (10%): Fear, anxiety, depression, tiredness, tension, stress; Lack of self-confidence, doubts, inferiority
complex
 Environment (6%): Family, spouse, kids; Friends; Environment in which you work/live
 Sleep/Health issues (5%): Controlling number of hours of sleep; Difficulty sleeping; Lack of energy; Illnesses

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Q11. WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO BEING PRODUCTIVE? p. 2/2

 Balancing multiple roles (4%): Working & parenting; multi-tasking
 Lack of time (3%): Too much to do
 Lack of resources (2%): Lack of books, finance; Lack of creativity, socializing skills, or other skills; Lack of Islamic knowledge
 Entertainment (2%): Internet (Facebook, etc.); TV; Other forms of entertainment
 Lack of Eman (1%): Weak Eman, losing faith quickly
 Changing lifestyle (0.3%): Difficult to leave established routine, too comfortable in it; Difficult to adapt to new situations and lifestyles

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Q12. WHAT WOULD YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THESE CHALLENGES AND YOU WERE SUPER PRODUCTIVE?




DESCRIPTION OF SPHERES

 I’d be excelling personally (52%):
• Attitude/Self: Cheerful, Happy, Motivated, Energetic & Positive; Healthy; Well-groomed
• Organization: Efficient, Sorted, Organized, Focused; Disciplined – not wasting time on Internet/TV
• Career: Punctual, Efficient, Balanced & Successful
• Studies: Attaining higher education and good grades

 I’d be excelling spiritually (41%): Attaining Islamic education; Become a scholar; Develop Khushoo’ in worship; Closer to Allah; More
conscious of and striving for Aakhirah

 I’d be excelling socially (7%): I’d be an active volunteer, da’ee, community member, or coach

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Q13. IF THERE'S ONE THING WE CAN DO IN PRODUCTIVEMUSLIM.COM TO HELP YOU BE PRODUCTIVE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?




DESCRIPTION OF TOPICS

 Give us tips/Share more with us (29%):
• Resources: Share more resources; Advise on books to read; Conduct more seminars; Develop games & quizzes; Share audio books; Send
us tips by SMS
• Topics: Examples from the Prophet (SAW) & Companions; For reverts; Stories; Fitness & health; Starting a business; Dealing with
addictions (e.g., drugs, porn, etc.)
• Activities: Provide a social community; Engage us in volunteering (for ProM and otherwise);
 Teach us life management & productivity (21%):
• Development: Help us develop skills: memory, planning, speed-reading; and spirituality
• Services: Conduct more workshops on the topic; Offer life coaching, career advising
• Tools: Develop more tools for us to be practically productive
 Motivate us (21%): Motivate us to be study and be productive mothers; Avoid laziness; Develop self-confidence and emotional intelligence;
Produce more motivational videos
 Teach us time management (14%): Teach us to prioritize and how to develop productive schedules
 Strengthen my Eman (10%): Help strengthen my Eman teach me duas; Teach me to be Islamically productive; Remind me of my Deen;
Continue doing Da'wah
 Help us be consistent & focused (5%)

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Q14. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING AFFECTS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY THE MOST DURING RAMADAN?
a. Lack of time b. Wasting time (TV, Internet, Socializing) c. Not being motivated d. Lack of focus
e. Feeling tired/hungry/sleepy f. Other




DESCRIPTION OF REASONS

 Feeling tired/hungry/sleepy (41%): Includes headaches and illnesses
 Lack of focus (19%)
 Lack of time (17%): Includes long day at work/school; Traffic; Family commitments/responsibilities; Household chores – particularly
kitchen work
 Wasting time (TV, Internet, Socializing) (11%): Includes laziness, procrastination, and reading story books
 Not being motivated (10%): Includes being spiritually low, depressed; Motivation waning over the month; Addictions/bad habits
 I’m more productive in Ramadan (0.7%)
 Being disorganized or unprepared/uninformed (0.7%): Lack of planning before Ramadan & execution; Lack of time management;
Lacking knowledge/not knowing what to do; Challenge creating a balance between helping family & my spirituality time
 Lack of supportive environment (0.4%): Iftar invitations from family one can't decline; Surroundings treating Ramadan as ‘sleep & feast’,
no community spirit; Dealing with difficult/grumpy people
 None* (0.4%)

COMMENT(S)
*Again, “None” here could indicate that they enjoy a Productive Ramadan.

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Q15. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WASTES YOUR TIME THE MOST DURING RAMADAN?
a. Internet (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) b. TV c. Environment (Friends, family, traffic, etc.) d. Sleep f. Other





DESCRIPTION OF FACTORS

 Environment (37%): Includes household chores, Iftar invitations,
unforeseen interruptions, traveling, and socializing
 Sleep (31%): Includes difficulty waking up for Qiyam
 Internet (18%): Not Facebook/Twitter, but spending too much
time listening to Islamic lectures and checking emails
 TV (6%)
 Other (8%):
• I don’t waste time: Long day at work/school/Too much to do
(5%): Either use time productively in Ramadan or long, busy
day consumes my time
• Fatigue/lack of sleep (1%): Generally being tired due to
hunger or tiredness after work
• None of the above (0.5%)
• Procrastination/Idling (0.4%)
• Being disorganized (0.4%): Lack of planning/preparation
generally and for Ramadan; Lack of prioritization
• Interests (0.2%): Reading novels/books and playing video
games
• Being distraction-prone/Daydreaming (0.2%): Lacking focus,
dithering
• Lack of motivation (0.2%): Includes due to being alone
• No idea (0.1%)

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Q16. IN PRODUCTIVERAMADAN.COM, WE DEFINE THREE AREAS WE NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE IN DURING RAMADAN; WHICH OF THESE 3
AREAS DO YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF IN?
a. Spiritual productivity (improving your Eman and faith so you stay positive and active)
b. Personal productivity (improving your sleep, nutrition, fitness and focus)
c. Social productivity (volunteering and helping others)






COMMENT(S)

Both in this question and question 7 (re: the area to improve in, generally), Spiritual Productivity is the area most respondents desire to improve
themselves in, indicating a recognition of this area as the core basis for holistic productivity.

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Q17. WHAT WOULD YOUR RAMADAN LOOK LIKE IF YOU WERE SUPER PRODUCTIVE?




DESCRIPTION OF AREAS

 I’d manage myself much better (48%): I’d be able to control my nafs; Be stress free; Meet work and family goals; Lose weight; Feel less
sleepy, tired, and hungry; Watch less TV; Wake up early

 I’d do more Ibadah (40%): I’d understand the Quran with translation and tafsir and memorize it; Learn many supplications and do a lot of
dhikr; Regularly attend Tarweeh and Qiyam

 I’d volunteer (8%): I’d be active in charity and da’wah work

 I’d help my family (5%): I’d help around at Iftar; Help strengthen their Eman; Socialize/Spend more time with them

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Q18) HOW DO YOU PREFER TO IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY OR SELF-DEVELOPMENT SKILLS DURING RAMADAN?
a. Read Productivity articles/books b. Attend online Productivity course
c. Attend offline seminars/workshops in your city/country d. Watching online videos/webinars e. Other
p. 1/2





DESCRIPTION OF MODES

 Read Productivity articles/books (32%): Includes e-books, downloadable self-study courses, posters/comics
 Watching online videos/webinars (30%): Request that webinars have reminders before they start: 1hr, 30min, 10min
 Attend online Productivity course (18%): Request that it be recorded to be viewed later, with Q&A, and have written material &
assignments
 Attend offline seminars/workshops in your city/country (17%)

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Q18) HOW DO YOU PREFER TO IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY OR SELF-DEVELOPMENT SKILLS DURING RAMADAN?
a. Read Productivity articles/books b. Attend online Productivity course
c. Attend offline seminars/workshops in your city/country d. Watching online videos/webinars e. Other
p. 2/2

 Other (4%):
• Engage in Ibadah/acquire knowledge (1%): Read/understand/implement Quran; Do I'tikaf; Supplication, dhikr and fikr; Attend
Taraweeh; Learn Arabic; Listen to Islamic talks; Attend halaqat at home or local masjid
• Having a productivity circle/supportive friends (0.5%): Engage in weekly group discussions/activities; Volunteering
• Plan & follow through (0.4%): Fulfill my to-do list; Isolate myself from everyone/thing and focus on my plan
• Prepare before Ramadan (0.3%): I prefer to prepare before Ramadan
• Podcasts/Audio content (0.3%)
• Techniques/Apps (0.3%): New techniques; Quran tracker; Track my performance on mobile app; Heart wheel journal; Printable &
modifiable schedule for Ramadan; Productivity games
• Small doses of info/tips (0.2%)
• Anything free (0.1%)
• Live expert opinion/Coaching (0.1%)
• Anything that puts me into action/takes little time from my Ramadan (0.1%)

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Q19. IF THERE'S ONE THING WE COULD DO IN PRODUCTIVERAMADAN.COM TO HELP YOU BE PRODUCTIVE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? p. 1/2




DESCRIPTION OF TOPICS

 Daily productive practical advice & motivation (41%):
• Tips/Arrangements for Local volunteering activities to get involved in
• How to calculate zakat
• How to increase social productivity, discipline myself
• For all roles: mothers, students, sisters (during menses), etc.; Family-focused productivity
• Guidance on how I can teach my kids about Ramadan, ProM Kids/ProR for Kids; Motivating family to be productive
• Encourage those who don't fast (or at least all of Ramadan) to fast
• Examples, examples, examples: through seerah, stories of Sahabah, and testimonials of ProM benefitting its followers
• Reminders on virtues of the month and different acts within the month especially Qiyam; Daily duas/ahadith; sincerity

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Q19. IF THERE'S ONE THING WE COULD DO IN PRODUCTIVERAMADAN.COM TO HELP YOU BE PRODUCTIVE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? p. 2/2

 Organization, Goal-setting, & Execution (20%):
• Tools for Quran reading plan, daily planner, Ramadan worksheet, Ramadan wheelplanner, pre-Ramadan plan, Dhikr reminder
• Help me be more organized
• Help in scheduling for working mothers; those working night shifts
• Time management
• Setting goals for each day
• Create a method for ProM to check our progress and pressure us
 Courses/Videos/Articles, etc. (17%): Request for more free material and comments to keep up the good work!
 Maintaining Eman & Focus (11%):
• Spiritual productivity
• Praying sincerely at night; Reciting, memorizing, studying, & completing Quran
• Abstaining from sin (gossiping, lying, backbiting, porn addiction, bad thoughts); fighting nafs
• Eman-boosting sessions
• Observing salah & maintaining concentration
• Daily tafseer; review of the Quran
 Overcoming common challenges in Ramadan (7%)
• Laziness/Procrastination; Tackling mid-Ramadan slump
• Sleepiness, hunger, fatigue (both actual & psychological), stress, anger; Being productive despite the heat
• Wasting time
• How to attend night prayers & be fresh, waking up for/staying up after Fajr
• Balance spirituality & social interaction; dealing with family distractions/challenges (in-laws, etc.)
• Fasting in a non-Muslim environment
 Maintaining health & fitness during the month (3%): Nutritional advice; How and when to exercise
 Do dua for us (1%)
 Maintaining spirit and good habits after Ramadan (1%)

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3.0 TAKE-AWAYS: CONTENT REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS
Below is a summarized, collated presentation of content-related requests by respondents and
suggestions formulated based on these requests.
3.1 PRODUCTIVEMUSLIM.COM CONTENT
SPECIFIC REQUESTS
 Add Arabic ayah with English in articles
 Develop a ProM version of Alexander technique of breathing; it would help us health-wise and
to be more eloquent
 Customize advice and tips in articles based on different countries/cultures/time zones (Perhaps
having writers from various cultures/countries/time zones to write articles addressing their
peculiar circumstances, e.g., coping through long days of fasting in the West)
 Categorize website content (articles/videos/charts, etc.) based on topic
 Present an article in one whole, not in parts
 Articles are a little superficial, offering only an introduction into a topic – need to be more
intensive

TOPICS
 Personal Productivity:
• Maintaining productivity, staying productive in isolation
• Cultivating self-motivation and sustaining it
• How to tackle emotional/psychological issues: apathy, fear (usually of failure & others’
expectations), anxiety, guilt, stress, brooding, depression, lack of self-confidence,
pessimism, mood swings
• How to develop leadership skills: organization, planning, efficiency & effectiveness,
maintaining focus, self-discipline, time management, and setting goals and achieving them
• Acquiring knowledge
• Being productive at work/school
• When to use which productivity technique
• Productivity in different roles: student, mother, businessperson, etc.
• How to use social media for one's benefit
• How to socialize and managing it
 Social Productivity: Giving to community; Volunteering; Charity
 Spiritual Productivity
2
:
• Strengthening Eman: Studying/Memorizing Quran; Remaining connected with Quran and
Hadith
• Success in world & Hereafter
• How to increase Islamic knowledge
• Waking up for Qiyam
• Seerah

2
Everything mentioned in Spiritual Productivity has also been requested by respondents for
ProductiveRamadan.com.

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• Dealing with others according to Islam
• Repentance
• Abstaining from Haram (e.g., slandering & backbiting; dealing with porn addiction; steering
clear of all sexual messages through media; dealing with addictions: sex, drugs,
masturbation; dealing with being single & lonely)
 Attaining a balance among all areas of productivity in general, and work/school/family in
specific, and juggling multiple roles
 Kids & Family:
• How to encourage kids to study, adopt good sleeping habits, be productive; How to raise
them
• Articles for kids and youth and their roles in society
• How to encourage spouses/family/community to be Islamically productive
• Being a productive father/mother/family member
• Dealing with non-Muslim siblings
 Examples, examples, examples: Teach us through examples of the Prophet (SAW), Companions,
productive people, and testimonials of those who have benefitted from ProM
 How to make efficient and effective use of time for those who lack it, have many
commitments

DIVERSIFY PROM SITE
 Add segment to ProM for new Muslims, provide Quran, Arabic, Tajweed, & Islamic learning
resources
 Start ProductiveKids.com

TRANSLATIONS
 Translate to Arabic, French, and Bahasa

APPS
 A more customizable version of iTaskinator: Each user builds his/her own schedule according to
their particular context; Advises on best time to sleep, study, do house chores, etc.; Shares daily
ayat, ahadith, wisdom; Reminds for prayers
 Develop a ProM app that shares spiritual reminders and motivational quotes on a daily basis.
 Develop Productivity games

3.2 PRODUCTIVERAMADAN.COM CONTENT
GENERAL
 Pre-Ramadan course
 Online competitions/quizzes
 Online Quran learning classes
 Lectures from Shuyukh

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TOPICS
 Preparing for Ramadan
 Examples of Productivity through life of the Prophet (SAW) and stories of the Companions
 Retaining habits developed during Ramadan
 Balancing responsibilities (work/school/family), spirituality, and socialization
 How to tackle fatigue, hunger, and sleepiness during Ramadan
 How to tackle the mid-Ramadan slump
 How to wake up for Qiyam and be fresh for work/school; Tackling sleep, work/school, and
Ibadah
 How to persuade surroundings (family, community) to be productive in Ramadan
 Fasting among non-Muslims

3.3 SUGGESTED FORMS OF CONTENT

 Videos (animations, lectures)
 Emails, Articles, Comics, Doodles, Books
 Audios
 Free/discounted webinars/courses
 Offline seminars/workshops
 Daily tips/advice via SMS – point being to increase frequency of contact; keep in constant touch
 Q&A page (Perhaps a ‘Dear Abu Productive’ page)
 DIY Kits
 Personal (one-on-one) Coaching; Motivational experts to consult; Mentors; Role models
 Support Group/Buddy system
 ProM Camps/Retreats; Forming physical groups/teams and giving them tasks to work on
 Discussion Forum on ProM website on which people can interact, establish buddies/partners,
and work together; Social network for productive Muslims around the world
 Productivity-evolving tracker on the website for each person to assess their performance
 Model ProM in a manner similar to Tedx: Physical ProM communities in various locations with
ProM ambassadors


3.4 REQUESTS FOR OFFLINE SEMINARS
Abu Productive is wanted on charges of Productive behavior to serve sentences (read: conduct
seminars) in:

 Toronto
 Masjid Al Kareem of Providence,
Rhode Island
 Jordan
 Egypt
 Indonesia
 Caribbean
 Pakistan
 Bangladesh
 Dubai
 Singapore
 Netherlands