The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The feet of a servant will not touch the ground until he asked about his life and how he spent it; his knowledge and how he acted upon it; his wealth and how he acquired it and spent it and his body and how it was used.” [Tirmidhi]

Many of us have been placed on furlough and now have considerable time. Boredom and mental inactivity can cause our brains to age, whereas mental stimulation stimulates new neural connections and help the brain generate new cells. More than avoiding boredom, this is an important opportunity to develop ourselves. 

You should begin by trying to structure your days. Studies show that routine can alleviate conditions such as bipolar disorder, ADHD, and insomnia because we know what to expect from the day which relieves anxiety. The Productive Muslim has free routine planning resources online. 

Here are some suggestions for filling your routine:

• Seek knowledge about Islam. Many Islamic institutes have online classes. You should strongly consider learning more about Islam in a structured manner. Seeking religious knowledge is an extremely rewarding activity.
• Implement dhikr in a structured way. This can include reciting Surahs daily such as Yasin, Mulk and the last three verses of Baqarah. You can also use the Fortress of the Muslim app to build a habit of making dua throughout your day. Additionally, you can engage in morning and evening remembrances [Appendix on a list of these?] 
• Study a course. Seeking knowledge can extend to other domains of learning. Websites such as Khan Academy, MIT Open Courseware, Udemy and others a massive library of courses. You can use this opportunity to learn a new skill, improve your employability, or pursue your curiosities.
• Regular exercise. This is an essential component of living in a health way. See Section ‘3.3 Exercise and fitness’ for more detail.
• Read a book. It is difficult to understate the importance of reading. Reading is helpful in many ways, as a means of learning, relaxing and unwinding. Reading can reduce stress, helps you develop empath for others, prevents memory loss and improves your intelligence.
• Take regular breaks. A brief pause and a change of scenery is good for your mental health, even if it means changing where you are sitting. Consider using the Pomodoro technique; this is working for 25 minutes, then taking a short 5-minute break. After you have gone through 4 ‘pomodoros’, take a longer break of up to 30 minutes.