Every one of us has habits we'd like to leave behind and good habits we'd love to develop. Through sincere effort, tawbah and His help, we can change.
Many people begin to notice real change after 21–30 days of consistent effort. While every person is different, consistency over several weeks is often enough to weaken old habits and establish new ones.
Here are some tips to assist.
1️⃣ Make a sincere intention
Change for the sake of Allah alone. Every action begins with a sincere intention.
2️⃣ Choose ONE habit
Don't try to change everything at once. Focus on one habit for the next 21–30 days. Once it becomes easier, move on to the next one.
3️⃣ Admit the problem
We cannot fix what we refuse to acknowledge. Be honest with yourself without losing hope in Allah Ta'ala's mercy.
4️⃣ Know your triggers
Ask yourself:
- What causes this habit?
- When does it usually happen?
- Who am I with?
- What emotions lead to it?
Once you know the triggers, you can avoid or manage them.
5️⃣ Make a practical plan
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
For example:
- Want to wake for Fajr? Sleep earlier and put your alarm across the room.
- Want to read Qur'an daily? Leave your mushaf where you'll see it.
- Want to stop wasting time? Remove unnecessary apps from your phone.
6️⃣ Replace bad habits with good ones
Simply stopping a habit leaves an empty space. Fill that space with something beneficial.
Examples:
* Social media → Qur'an or an Islamic lecture.
* Gossip → Dhikr.
* Smoking → Walking or exercise.
* Anger → Silence, wudhu and seeking refuge with Allah.
7️⃣ Change your environment
Our surroundings shape our behaviour.
Choose friends who remind you of Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ compared good company to a perfume seller and bad company to a blacksmith. (Bukhari & Muslim)
8️⃣ Train your willpower
Self-control becomes stronger the more you practise it. Every time you resist temptation, you strengthen your ability to resist the next one.
Just as muscles become stronger with exercise, so does your willpower.
9️⃣ Strengthen your body and soul
Healthy habits make self-control easier.
- Sleep well.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat moderately.
- Perform your salah on time.
- Read Qur'an daily.
- Make dhikr often.
🔟 See yourself as the person you want to become
Don't keep saying:
"I always fail."
Instead say:
"With Allah's help, I am becoming the person Allah wants me to be."
1️⃣1️⃣ Reward progress
Celebrate milestones in halal ways. More importantly, remember that the greatest reward is Allah's pleasure and Jannah.
1️⃣2️⃣ Tell someone you trust
Having an accountability partner can greatly increase your chances of success.
1️⃣3️⃣ Don't let one mistake become many
If you slip once, don't think you've failed. Keep trying.
Make tawbah immediately and continue.
Shaytan loves convincing us that one mistake means we should give up.
Don't listen to him.
1️⃣4️⃣ Allah loves those who repent so we should keep trying and never give up hope.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If you did not commit sins, Allah would replace you with people who would commit sins and seek His forgiveness, and He would forgive them." (Muslim)
Never despair of Allah's mercy.
1️⃣5️⃣ Remember death and the Hereafter
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Remember often the destroyer of pleasures (death)." (Tirmidhi)
Thinking about standing before Allah helps us resist temporary temptations.
1️⃣6️⃣ Prepare for setbacks
Expect difficult days.
If you relapse:
- Make tawbah immediately.
- Learn what caused it.
- Remove the trigger.
- Start again the same day.
Never wait until "Monday" or "next month."
1️⃣7️⃣ Make du'a constantly
Real change comes from Allah Ta'ala
Ask Him before, during and after every effort.
Allah says:
"Whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect." (Qur'an 65:2–3)
🌿 Remember
* Start with small goals.
* Be consistent rather than perfect.
* Replace bad habits with good ones.
* Good friends make good habits easier.
* Every day is another chance to improve.
* If you fall, repent and keep going.
* Never underestimate the power of small deeds done consistently.
May Allah Ta'ala purify our hearts, help us leave every habit that displeases Him, bless us with habits that bring us closer to Him, forgive our sins and make us among the people of Jannah. Ameen.