Wrong Subway

“Arriving at Islington station,” I hear from the loudspeakers.

Realization. I got on the opposite train and arrived at the “West End”. Add 1-hour to the train ride because I was going the wrong direction for 30minutes.

Crap! was my initial reaction, but then it turned into a smile, then a light chuckle as I looked back at the paperback book in my hand; Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly

Obviously, I had to now run out and get over to the other train…

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Flow is about that feeling you get when you’re totally “into” something, and you have almost no sense of your surroundings. Like a NASCAR racer going 200MPH is hyper-focus because one mistake can smash his car, having one of those “super- salahs” (probably during Ramadan) where you’re listening for the meaning of verses, etc. or even when you’re researching online and keep at it for hours without notice.

We’ve all experienced it, but mostly out of fluke rather than consciously putting all our focus in and keeping distractions out.

Dr. Csikszentmihaly (pronounce that name) says, “the mark of a person who is in control of consciousness is the ability to focus attention at will, to be oblivious to distractions, to concentrate as long as it takes to achieve a goal, and not longer. And that person who can do this usually enjoys the normal course of everyday life”

“The ability to focus attention at will” – that’s talking about a skill you can develop, not random moments of inspiration.

Few other factors that come into play, in a nutshell, are: Challenge and Practice. There has to be some challenge in completing the task, it’s not happening while you wash 3 dishes. For the salah example, it’s way different if you’re just going through the motions for Isha by yourself than praying at the masjid and the imam starts reciting a surah you’re currently trying to memorize. As for practice, “It is not enough to know how to do it; one must do it”.

Why it Amused Me

It was very interesting to me that I entered the flow state while reading the book Flow. See there’s a lot of noise and movement on the subway, but I’ve been waiting to finally read this book and tuned it out. I was also practicing to increase my reading speed, trying to break the 400wpm (words per minute) block.

On top of that, the announcements went out for all 14 stops (twice for each one actually), I didn’t realize anything until it felt like my stop (Warden Station, opposite end that train).

In any case, the extra hour did help me finish like a quarter of the book.

Results

I recently visited my notes on the book and put some of it to use.

Mainly, picking out a task that needs focus for at least an hour straight and is interesting enough that clock-checking isn’t needed. It resulted in finally editing and restarting on making videos. (Of course, also writing a blog post after a year…)

Click here to watch on YouTube

Did the part about Flow make sense?

It’s kind of an abstract concept…

Overview: 3 Investments are: Time, Patience, and Life into Life

Invest with Time

It’s paradoxical; you’ll need to put in time (loss) so you can increase the value of time in your future (gain).

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Flyyy

2 Examples:

Walking - progress is linear (it’s in small bits and doesn’t get bigger or anything)

Catapult – Like flying there in 3 days vs walking for 3 months)

The hard part with a catapult is the set up.

For walking, it is easier and within the comfort zone…that’s why it’s the easier choice as well.

BUT here’s the thing, struggles and hardships will ALWAYS exist…when aren’t they there? You can either work hard once and reap the rewards than work hard throughout and reap (lesser and more delayed) rewards

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Here’s what I did recently; it was during assignment times and I still took 2 hrs out to attend an interview. My justification was that it’ll give me a boost and increase motivation to finish the assignments so then I can move on to other stuff…and alhamdulillah it was the smarter decision

Part of my personal game-plan is to continuously feed my mind to keep it ripe n fresh – that’s something any student, professional, home-maker can adapt.

This could mean a bunch of things for you :

• If you’re tired all the time then maybe you’re not tired, you’re just BORED
• Sometimes when the progress in life is next to nothing, read a new book, research something you’re interested in, enroll in a class, spend quality time with important people, help somebody else etc.
• Start hitting the gym or pick up an old sport you used to love to keep physical shape

One way or another, create that zest for life and a love for living - not like an attachment to dunya love, rather excellence towards the akhira.

Invest with Patience

Y’know that interview I mentioned, it was of Lisa Gabriele (Canadian author and executive producer of the show “Dragon’s Den”) held at University of Toronto. One of the points about writing stood out to me, “most aren’t willing to just sit and wait…and then start.”

Sometimes all it takes is a bit of patience and you’ll get yourself through the project, exam, bumps in a relationship, writing an article on time management

Be patient with yourself, and be confident in the fruits of that patience

Here’s an excerpt from Don’t Be Sad by Sh. ‘Aidh al-Qarni: [one of the best books out there. period.]

Those who meet hardship with a strong bearing and a patient countenance are in the minority. Consider this: if you or I will not be patient, then what else is there for us to do?

…Those that achieve greatness have to surmount an ocean of difficulties and hardships before finally achieving success. Know that each time you escape a difficulty you will have to face another. Through this constant conflict, you must arm yourself with patience and a strong trust in Allah

Invest Life into Life

One of the most incredible things is to impact another person’s life through your actions and words.

A challenge of personal development is becoming more than mediocre, setting yourself apart from the masses. But psychologically and socially there’s a downward pull, kinda like gravity of human minds. It’s human nature to want to fit in with the crowd and NOT stand out. A lot of “head games” since we are social beings versus being isolated.

So it becomes challenging because you’re at crossroads with 2 options: get magnetic or get magnet-ed (obviously not a word )

You have to (consciously decide and) pull those around you towards better living (regarding deen, character, education, etc) or you’ll get pulled down…back to mediocrity.

2 Ahadith, sayings of Prophet Muhammad sallAllahu alayhi wasallam, relate to this point:

“Man models himself after his companions; so let each one of you see who he chooses for a companion” (At-Tirmidhi).

“He who calls others to follow the Right Guidance, will have a reward equal to the reward of those who follow him, without diminishing their reward in any way” [Muslim]

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YOUR TURN

Which 1 “hit” you?

Share any ideas on how to apply one of these points, I’d love to know. Comment Below.

Of course, if you don’t have much to say BUT you liked this article, just say“MORE” and I’ll get that your way inshaAllah

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ps. I donno what you thought of the article, but putting this together was refreshing for me. It’s been a while since I sat down to just think, write, and revise.

InshaAllah if the benefit comes across, I’d appreciate you sharing this with just 1 person or doing a FaceBook share so they may benefit.

Jazakallahukhair (May Allah reward you) for reading/commenting/sharing.

• What’s Superbowl gotta do with YOU?
• Learn about “Highs” and “Lows”
• Watch me go Spiderman in my room
• The Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVhT7P0lDfI

T4T: Talk vs Text

<< Watch Previous Video

T4T: Talk vs Text

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Comment - Did you know about ENERGY High & Low?

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T4T

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Watch Original Video: T4T Talk vs. Text

ProductiveMuslim: Website and FaceBook

UntangleYourTime.com – Free Mini-Series

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Lessons:

- Use the good stuff in your phone; ie. calender
- Making it an ajr avenue
- Resource for learning
- How to escape “that” guy from wasting your time?
- The problem this creates…
- my mutant chair

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Abdullah KidShow – new “killer” kid show; check it out + share + enjoy some more   — Made by Leechon Films and EgyptianGumbo

Kalimaat - Board Game by Baba Ali

Edu-tainment Article – 3 Ways for Time Well “Wasted”

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• Enjoy the little puppet and  cat song
• “Edu-tainment”, things that blend education and entertainment
• 2 Resources

If you have questions and comments on Abdullah KidShow or Kalimaat, post em below.

[Read Time >> 45 seconds]

What’s on your computer desktop?

Desktop CleanUp

Few folders and icons or a mess.

I for one usually had a messy computer desktop,that people see and go “woo…”

So here are 3 things that can be done about it:

1 – How do things get there?

• Do you put everything there because you “may” need it someday?
• Is that where all downloaded files go?
• You think it makes you look important

2 – Temporary solution

• Create a folder that just says “Desktop Stuff” so whatever your reasoning is, you can still use it in the folder
• Create a folder saying “NOW” in case your current projects and tasks clog it up

3 – Resolve for good

• Send things to their place from the beginning; when installing, downloading, saving
• Have a separate place for downloaded files, so they skip your desktop
• Delete – Delete – Delete; sometimes I dig deep into my computer and some junk makes me think “what was I thinking?” – so get rid of the junk and think twice before putting more in there.
  

Bonus: On Windows and there’s a way to put icons into the bottom toolbar thingy, so keep the commonly used icons there.

Done

Do you even know what you got done?

• Most of the time I don’t know what happened by the end of the week except with this little resource I started using recently
• You’ll see what hit my head (literally)
• Bit on future plans

Check it out:

In case you know an alternative word, lemme know:

(+ anything else you got out of this)

It’s been way too long – nothing has been posted on this site.

Problem = lack of system = slow or no progress

What happened?

• 2 weeks ago I completed a T4T vid (with the editing help of Mahfooz) but didn’t post it because I wanted to finish the other stuff
• 1 week ago I made a video…but it was on my sister’s computer and then she took her laptop home
• This week I made a video, but o look my laptop is pretty garbage so it can’t “handle” video editing
• Software didn’t install at uni, couldn’t borrow my sister’s for few hours and now I finally figured “Why not use my dad’s work laptop that’s lying in the very next room!”

Now I’m sitting here with two 95% and one 60% completed tasks but nothing to show for. However, now I’m working on bringing them all to 100%…

@Workstation

Solution and my Future Plan

Create systems – a process to follow from start to finish with alternatives set out in case of unanticipated problems. With that done, I know I wouldn’t waste all these days next time it happens.

Another reason why you want to create a system or process of work is to use thinking energy for creative or valuable tasks, not mundane day-to-day work.

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For myself, I try to use the knowledge I share, so in this case I didn’t want to wait until I’m on a laptop with internet to write it…so this article was done on my BlackBerry while waiting in a 20 minute line at the bank last Friday.

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So ya, I’ve got a few videos and announcements over the next few days so stay alert and stay safe.

ps. Anyone (Canadians) get a flashback to the safety cartoons outro “Stay Alert, Stay Safe *dada*” - on GlobalTV during the early morning cartoons

Watch the 1st video of the upgraded Tools for Time Management series: SERIOUS Alarm

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1) Watch it

2) Comment - What’s the best tool to wake YOU up?

3) Subscribe on YouTube

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Check this video from the TED conference; Secrets of Success in 8 Words, 3 minutes…

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