Preparing for Ramadan: A Practical Guide, is in fact, practical, but also a little extra. It’s a nice long list of stuff to do if you’re really wanting to be prepared for Ramadan in every way possible.
Does that mean you have to do everything on the list? No! But it could help you and maybe even encourage you to start prepping now and get excited for Ramadan!
And yes, I’ll have a prepping for Eid checklist too. So make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get everything delivered to your inbox! Just scroll to the top of the website, it’s at the very top of every page.
Preparing for Ramadan: A Practical Guide
Two Months Before Ramadan
This is for the people getting ready right now. Who are already thinking about Ramadan because they like to be early, or you just don’t want to get behind.
Buy Ramadan decor
- Head to my Where to Buy Ramadan & Eid Decor Online 2020 Guide for a list of Muslim-owned companies who sell beautiful items for you home, tableware and Eid gifts
- Even if you don’t buy now at least you have an idea of what you’ll be getting soon & how to decorate
Plan out crafts
- Pinterest is a great place to start to look for Ramadan crafts, here’s my Pinterest Ramadan board if you want to follow along
- I’ll also be releasing a ton of crafts throughout the coming months, so make sure to check back here on the blog and my IG
Start cleaning out the freezer
- Start eating the items you have in the freezer to make room for prepped sides or entire meals to make your Ramadan easier
One Month Before Ramadan
Before you settled into my one month before list and freak out. Know that I like to get a ton of stuff done before Ramadan because I can have some really slow days, especially the first week, when adjusting to fasting. And I’d like to concentrate on praying and being more mindful during Ramadan.
So it makes sense to me to get as much stuff done a month before so I feel at calmer and enjoy Ramadan.
Create a couple of Ramadan decor DIYs for Ramadan
- Again, Pinterest is your friend
- And yes, I’ll be releasing a ton of Ramadan decor DIYs throughout the coming months, so make sure to check back here on the blog and my IG
Prep the freezer with food
- Prep suhoor meals
- Prep breakfast meals for the kids: check out my breakfast recipe roundup
- Freeze a few dinners: head to my vegetarian round-up dinners & the chicken roundup dinners
- Freeze some dessert options: like chocolate chip cookie dough (not cooked) or any of my dessert recipes
- Stay tuned for my Ramadan Food Guide, April 22 – it’s a list of folks who make delicious food you can order from, so you can take a little off your plate
Find printables and activities for the kids
- Again, Pinterest is your friend, here’s my Ramadan board with a few ideas
- I’ll also be releasing a couple of printables throughout the coming months, so make sure to check back on the blog and my IG
Finish buying your Ramadan decor
- Head to my Where to Buy Ramadan & Eid Decor Online 2020 Guide for a list of Muslim-owned companies
Iftar meals
- Determine if you’ll be hosting one
- If so, schedule what day you’ll be hosting your iftar, and send save-the-dates to friends
- You know it takes forever to sync everything up with your husband, family and friends
Eid gift ideas
- Start listening and asking the kids what they’d like, make a list if that’s your thing
- Start a gift idea thread on WhatsApp with family so you know that your nieces and nephews would like
- Start finding stuff on sale, it’s never to early to save money
- Head to my last year’s Eid gift guide for inspiration
- Stay tuned for this years 2020 Eid gift guide, coming out in May
Grab some Ramadan/Eid PJs
- I’ll be honest, I love getting PJs for my kids for Ramadan and there are a ton out there now, the two I know for sure are:
Get the kids excited about Ramadan & educate them
- Books are a great resource, I’ll try to compile a list soon
- Start talking to them about Ramadan and what it means
- Come up with your own personal family traditions, that they contribute to, to really get everyone involved and excited
- Get them involved in all this prep work
- Do a few craft with them
Find charities
- To volunteer with
- To donate to
- Start a message thread with friends and family, it helps you become accountable and typically when you’re with a crowd, you’ll get it done
Prep goodie bags
- For your neighbors
- For your co-workers
- For the kid’s school
- Again, Pinterest is a great resource
Figure out how to increase your knowledge during Ramadan
- There are a ton of plans out there you can follow to help you read the entire Qu’ran during Ramadan
- If that too much, start small and look for plans that fit your life right now
Request Eid days off
- Submit days off to your work
- Your spouses work
- School days off
Two Weeks Before Ramadan
Decorate the house
- Head to, you guessed it, my Ramadan Pinterest board for ideas
- Click over to my ideas post on decorating the fireplace three different ways
Deep clean the house
- Do it while you have some energy
- Do all those extras that help your house stay clean throughout Ramadan with minimal effort afterwards, like: go under all the furniture, deep clean the bathrooms and kitchen too
Get the tableware ready
- If you’re hosting, or just like to do something special for your family, make sure you have your tableware all ready for Ramadan, a list of folks selling tableware can be found at: Where to Buy Ramadan & Eid Decor Online 2020 Guide
- Head to all my ladies brunches for more ideas and a list of tableware products
- Think about Ramadan parties
- Think about Eid parties
- If you’re into non alcoholic drinks, check out my bar cart styling post for ideas
Plan your iftar
- Make sure you have a date set
- Send out reminders for the date to friends & family
- Get your tableware
- Figure what you’ll be serving, or if it’s a potluck
- Grab, or make favor boxes, if you’d like
- Buy to go boxes so people go home with some food
Finish crafts & DIYS
- I’ll list them here, once I’ve published them all
Continue getting the kids excited
- Make a kids decorated Ramadan nook
- Grab some good Ramadan & Eid books
- Make a sadaqqa jar
- Get an advent calendar
- Stuff advent calendar with items or paper with encouraging words in them
Have meals for the kids
- For the little kids who don’t fast
- Make sure you have an easy list of ideas for their breakfast and lunch so you don’t have to think much
- Prep food for them
Food prep
- Stock the pantry items from the grocery store
- Prep suhoor meals
- Prep breakfast meals for the kids: check out my breakfast recipe roundup
- Learn a few new side dishes like my mother-in-laws: Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce or Macaroni and Labne
- Freeze a few entire dinners: head to my vegetarian round-up dinners & the chicken roundup dinners
- Freeze some dessert options: like chocolate chip cookie dough or any of my dessert recipes
Confirm where you’re eating the first night of Ramadan
- If it’s a tradition for you, make sure it’s all planned out
Eliminate caffeine 1-2 weeks before
- Slowly stop your morning coffee/tea now so you can take an aspirin and get through the detox
- That way by the time Ramadan comes around, you won’t have withdraws or headaches
Make sweets a few days before
- Make some brownies, sugar cookies, or anything of traditional sweets you have the first night of Ramadan
- Grab some Ramadan themed cookie cutters to make everything more festive
Relax
Now it’s time to get excited and feel good in knowing you did as much as you can ahead of time so you can take it easy during Ramadan. I hope you enjoyed: Preparing for Ramadan: A Practical Guide!
