How to Be a Successful Young Woman

Steps

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   Make short term goals that lead to medium and long term ones and to your life's goal. Take action to set yourself on your pathway to achieve them -- as one leads to another. A life without dreamy goals is like trying to walk to the other side of the country without a map, or realistic road directions. You may need to search long and hard, and grow your plans into finding something(s) that you're passionate about, but it will be worth it for-all-time. It will set your whole life straight. You get to be whomever you want... in your best life!
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   Never sell yourself for any amount or anything! Self respect is the most important thing a woman can have. Be true to yourself and don't let anyone else steer you away from the right path and stop you from achieving your goals.
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   Don't give yourself away except to your life's love: hold out for your better life! This may sound old fashioned -- but it is essential, if you want to fulfill dreams and know your true love -- and not end up in complicated situations that may cost you your life's best dreams -- including your commitment to your true life's love. These days dating seems like a casual activity, but it certainly is not. Settling for a "coin flip" decision, on giving yourself away, could get you into a lot of complicated situations that will ruin your life! If a guy loves you enough -- he will want to spend his entire life with you -- and he wouldn't mind waiting until marriage (that's if he's the right guy for you). If he is willing to wait for "you", it will really show you that he loves you, not just one more temporary, sexual rush. He will have to love you as a person, rather than just appreciating your body. There's a reason for signing up for the long term, totally committed relationship: your whole life can still be ahead of you, not in a cracked rear-view mirror.
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   Respect others in order to gain lifelong respect for yourself. Be kind and generous so that people will be kind towards you.
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   Respect and appreciate your parents. Your parents can be the most important people in your life. Even if you don't always get along with them, be kind to them and always respect them. Just remember, without them you wouldn't be here. Although they are not able to fulfill your wants and dreams, they are still your parents.
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   Be grateful for everything you have. Just remember there are people that are in worse situations. Try not to complain about anything that you can work on; instead take actions to improve each situation as it pops up.
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   Overcome bad situations in life. When something is not going the way you planned, don't worry or throw away your goals: because at some point, everyone has to succeed in, over, around or through rough spots. Life wouldn't seem bright without loads of dark drama. There is no one in this world that lives a life without shadows and problems. New chapters in life can mean re-ordering of professional priorities and making vivid and thrilling changes in one or several ways!
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   Don't waste time. Time is one of those things that you will never get back no matter how hard you work. Do things that will help you in life like learning to swim, playing an instrument or doing basic sewing, giving to/or volunteering in charity work. You'll regret wasting your time and messing around when you look back later.
   
   "I wish I had talent!" usually means you didn't find and develop your opportunities to express yourself, or not for long enough!
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   Do well in school! Being interested in your studies, learning at a meaningful level (not just achieving top grades) is a key to being successful. If you get the higher grades, then not only your parents will be proud of you -- but even strangers will respect you more and take you seriously! If you slack off, you'll regret it once you apply to colleges or apply for career and professional openings after college. Always be learning and staying abreast of market and career changes and re-training as necessary, realizing that sometimes there is a technological sea-change (paradigm shift): there are no more cassette tapes, "dumb-phones", typewriters or buggy whips.
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    Spend time learning about other cultures and religions. Watch the news to increase your multiple intelligences and hone your knowledge about the world. Tolerance, respecting others, is a key of fitting in a diverse school or workplace.
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    Make yourself look the part that you want. This does not mean go on crazy diets and devote your whole life to making yourself look good. Just remember to eat healthy, whole foods; get exercise, and make yourself look more than merely presentable. Self confidence makes every woman beautiful.
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    Discover and embrace your talents and gifts that you were born with. Do not show them off but put them to higher use. If you are good at painting, paint enough to expand on it. If you are good at some form of entertainment, enter talent shows!
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    Make friends. Be welcoming to everyone, and try to help out others when they are struggling or in need of even a momentary friendship (safely befriend travelers in a hard spot, telling them good places to stay, giving a ride to the pharmacy, airport/bus station, to a restaurant district, etc.). If you have many friends, it is obvious that you are a kind and respectable young adult.
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    Embrace your natural beauty. Don't cake on make-up; it is not you... You are yourself, unique. If you can't accept yourself for who you are -- then you won't be respected.
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    Be persistent! You need some talent, but dedicated persistence is above all else. Even though you need refreshing and rest, keep first order priorities first... Don't let anyone bring you down. If one is judging you, as if better than you -- just let them be themselves -- and find your way through that situation, staying on path.
    • If you are a reasonable kind of person, you know that no one can make you feel bad about yourself. There is a saying: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent/approval." Press onward to your higher calling and your goals.

How to Get up Early

Part 1 of 2: Getting Up Early

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   Don't hit the snooze button. If you snooze, then you really lose. Your snooze alarm won't be long enough for you to actually get any more rest, and hitting snooze will only make you fall back into a restless sleep and to waste so much of your precious time. If you have a solid morning routine, it shouldn't be hard for you to hit your alarm once and to get up and start your day. Okay, who are we kidding — of course it'll be hard at first, but you can build your way towards making it easy.^[1]
   • One thing you can do to motivate yourself to not hit the snooze button is to come up with something you're looking forward to doing that you can only accomplish if you have enough time. Maybe you can tell yourself that, if you wake up without hitting snooze, you can watch ten minutes of your favorite morning show, that you can read that article you've been meaning to read, or that you can take a quick refreshing walk around the block. If you tell yourself that you can only do this thing if you get up right away, then you'll be much more motivated to do so.
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   Drink a large glass of cold water. Drinking a refreshing glass of water will start to wake you up and to get your body in order. Stand tall as you're drinking this glass and you'll feel your body and senses slowly come alive. If the water is nice and cold, that can jar you awake even more easily. You can even have a bottle of water waiting for you at your bedside to motivate you to get up early.
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   Splash cold water on your face. This will also help you stay alert and awake as you go about your morning routine. Get those crusties out of your eyes, gently slap your cheeks, and shake your head from side to side as you start to wake yourself up. If you don't feel the effects at first, splash some more water on that beautiful face of yours!
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   Get some fresh air. Step out on your front porch or balcony and get a few lungfuls of fresh air. This will help you feel awake, alert, and ready to start your day. Changing up your environment like this can also motivate you to wake up. If there are people outside, watch them starting their school and work days and know that you're not alone in your struggle to get up early. This can help you feel more connected and more motivated to get up.
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   Have a nutritious breakfast. Having a healthy and nutritious breakfast can give you the energy you need to really wake up your mind and body without weighing you down. Don't eat anything too greasy or fattening, such as a cheese-filled omelet or greasy bacon, and opt for healthier options that can make you stay more alert for longer. Here are some great options you can try:
   • Lean proteins, such as turkey bacon, lean ham, or egg whites
   • Veggies such as kale, celery, or spinach
   • Whole grains such as oatmeal or cereal
   • A small yogurt
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   Have caffeine, but not too much. A cup of coffee or tea can also help you get up early and start your day — some people swear that even the smell of coffee wakes them up! Just one cup of joe can help you feel more alert, but you should avoid having too many cups of coffee throughout your day, or it'll make it harder for you to fall asleep, and to wake up early. If you're a coffee addict, try to work yourself down to just one or two cups a day and avoid having caffeine after noon. This will help you start your day off on the right foot and will keep you from crashing later on in the day.
   • It goes without saying: avoid energy drinks! Though these sugary treats may help you cram for your calculus exam, they'll make your heart race and will make it much harder for you to fall asleep.
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   Take a cold shower. A hot shower may make you more tired, but a nice cold, or only sort of warm shower can help you feel more alert. Though most people like to shower at night, showering in the morning can help you wake up your entire body. Some people like to shower shortly after they wake up, while others like to eat breakfast first. You have to find whatever works for you — and stick to it.
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   Stay alert throughout the day. If you want to be able to go to bed easily and to wake up early, then you have to maintain healthy habits throughout the day. There are many different things you can do to stay alert as you go about your day, but here are a few ideas to make your days easier:
   • Take a power nap if you need one. Napping for just 20 or so minutes can help you feel refreshed. Napping for over an hour or more, however, can actually lead you to be more tired and can make it harder for you to fall asleep at night.
   • Exercise in the earlier part of the day. Exercise will help your body release some of its energy and will help you be ready for bed in the evenings. Just don't exercise after the early evening or your adrenaline will still be pumping and will make it harder for you to go to bed.
   • Spend some time outside. Get some fresh air, be in the sunlight, and don't spend all day cooped up indoors. Doing this will give you some energy during the day, and will help you be ready for sleep when the time comes.
   • Stay hydrated. Drinking at least 10 8 oz. glasses of water throughout the day will keep your energy up and will help you stay healthy.^[2]
   • Eat healthy meals throughout the day. Eat at least three balanced meals that give you protein, fruits and veggies, and carbs, and take the time to have small snacks, such as fruits, nuts, or yogurt throughout your day so your body never feels like it's running on empty. Find a balance between never feeling super hungry or uncomfortably full, and make healthy eating a part of your daily routine.^[3]

Part 2 of 2: Getting Ready for Bed

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   Avoid caffeine. If you want to wake up early, then you have to plan to go to bed early, or at least earlier than you expected to. One thing you have to do to make this happen is to avoid caffeine in the evenings — ideally, you should avoid it after noon. Even if you may be feeling tired, there are other ways to get that extra energy back, and caffeine should only be a last resort. If you want to go to bed and to wake up without a problem, then skip the caffeine in the afternoon and evening the next time you have a craving.^[4]
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   Avoid alcohol at least 2-3 hours before bed. Though a glass of wine or a beer may help you initially pass out after a long day, alcohol actually makes it harder for you to fall into a deep sleep, which is why you can pass out for 8 hours after drinking alcohol and still wake up feeling tired and achy. You can have a glass of wine with dinner, but make sure you don't have anything to drink for at least 2-3 hours before you go to bed, or it'll be harder for you to get to bed, and therefore, harder to get up early.^[5]
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   Eat a filling but healthy meal 2-3 hours before bed. If you eat your dinner late and pass out an hour later, it'll be harder for you to fall asleep because your body will still be digesting the food. Eat a healthy mix of veggies, a protein such as fish or chicken, and healthy carbs, such as brown rice or whole grain pasta. Make sure you get enough food that you don't wake up hungry in the middle of the night, but that you don't eat so much that you feel stuffed and can't fall asleep.
   • Avoid eating foods that are very spicy, heavy, or creamy, or your body will have a harder time digesting them and it'll be even harder for you to fall asleep.
   • While staying hydrated throughout your day is important, you should limit the amount of water you drink after 7 pm, or around 3-4 hours before bed. You don't want to have to keep waking up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
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   Use your bed only for sleep. If you want to make it as easy as possible for yourself to fall asleep, then you should use your bed for sleep and sleep only — and for sex, if you're at that point in your life. If you do work in your bed, watch TV in bed, or even fight with your best friend over the phone in bed, then you'll confuse your bed with a place to be awake instead of a place where you should rest. Make sure not to multitask this vital piece of furniture if you want a restful sleep.
   • You can also read in your bed a little bit before bed. Just make sure that the material is relaxing — or escapist — and that it doesn't cause you stress.
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   Turn off all visual stimuli at least an hour before you go to bed. Though you may think that watching TV or reading celebrity gossip online helps you fall asleep, it may actually be hurting you when it comes time to get some shut eye. You want your mind to feel as calm and relaxed as possible when you get ready to sleep, so you should shut off your phone, television, and computer at least an hour before bed so your body has time to settle into sleep mode.^[6]
   • You can play some light, relaxing music, such as jazz or classical music as you get ready for bed. But don't play any of your favorite pump-up jams, or they will get your mind spinning.
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   Have a relaxing winding-down routine. If you want to be able to easily fall asleep, then you have to find a routine that works for you. Every person is different, but you should play around until you find exactly what it is that makes you fall asleep as easily as possible. This could mean having a cup of chamomile tea, reading some poetry, doing some stretches, or listening to classical music. It can also mean a combination of these things. Maybe you like brushing your hair before bed, or putting on silk pajamas. Find whatever works for you, and do it every night, so your mind knows when you are trying to turn it off.^[7]
   • Though some people love to take a warm bath right before bed, you should only do this if you have a few hours remaining before bed. Taking a warm bath actually turns up your body temperature and will keep it up for a little while, which will make it harder to fall asleep.
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   Go to bed and wake up at the same time every night. This is absolutely crucial if you want to be able to get up early. Though it's important to get between 7-9 hours of sleep a night, it's equally important to go to bed around the same time and to wake up at around the same time every morning so that your body settles into a routine. Find a half-hour window in which you like to go to bed and to wake up and stick to it. You'll be amazed by how much easier it is to wake up early once you stick to it for a while.
   • If you know you have to wake up early and try going to bed three hours earlier that day, it probably won't work. You'll have to gradually build to waking up and going to bed earlier so your body gets used to it. Waking up super early after you usually wake up pretty late will be quite painful, so it's better to ease into it.
   • Some people like to use the weekends to catch up on their sleep. You can definitely get a bit more sleep over the weekend — about an hour or so will be fine — but if you dramatically raise the amount of sleep you get over the weekend, it'll be harder for you to settle back in to your weekday routine when the time comes.
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   Place your alarm clock just out of reach. Place your alarm clock on the other side of your room, on your dresser, or just far enough away that you have to get up to turn it off. If it's so close to you that you can reflexively reach out and turn it off, then there won't be anything stopping you from hitting snooze. You should place it out of your reach, but close enough that you can actually hear it, of course.
   • If you want to really force yourself to get up, you can place a second alarm in a different room. That way, you'll be forced to get up to turn it off, but you won't have to worry about not hearing it.
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   Visualize yourself waking up easily. Before you go to bed, just as you feel yourself drifting off, imagine what your next day will be like. Imagine hearing your alarm and opening your eyes as you reach for it. Imagine smiling, stretching your arms over your head, yawning, and quickly getting yourself up. Picture yourself having a drink of water, going to the bathroom and starting your day nice and early. If you can visualize this happening, then the next morning, it'll be much easier to make this image a reality.
   • As you struggle to get up, remind yourself about how easy it was to get up when you imagined it, and try to make it happen.
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    Get ready for relaxing sleep. Once you've gotten your night-time routine down, all that's left is crawling into bed and closing your eyes. But there are a few small things you should take into account before you do that. Here's what you can do to ensure that your sleep is completely relaxing:
    • Don't do anything stressful in the evenings. Avoid fighting with your spouse, answering work emails, or having a stressful phone conversation. If something stressful can wait until the next day, put it off so you don't go to bed feeling all frazzled.
    • Turn down the temperature. Your body will rest more easily if the temperature is 72 degrees or lower. You can even crack open a window if there's a breeze outside.
    • Say goodbye to your beloved kitty. Though owners love sleeping with their cats, this has been proven to make it harder for them to fall sleep.

How to Become a Better Muslim Male

Steps

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   The action of foremost importance is prayer. See it as an introspective action, and attempt to derive tranquility from it. Concentrate. Rather than offering prayer reluctantly, find peace from it, as a break from your busy life.
   • Make sure that you read the Quran every day no matter how little, but try to read a chapter a day if you have time . This is the speech of Allah, a guidance to you and all that exists. Have a relationship with the Quran. You can even read just a few lines and the translation before you go to sleep.
   • Who are your friends? Are they Muslims? Spending more time with knowledgeable and sincere people is a step in the right direction.
   • Be good to your parents.
   • Do not backbite at all.
   • If you know you're not qualified, then DO NOT preach Islam, but more or so live it. Preaching is only up to the authentic Imams, if you have a question, ask them, but other than that, just follow the requirements and Sunnah as given.
   • Keep your cool, and treat people gently. Anger undoes faith.
   • Remember that modesty is the true nature of Islam according to the authenticated hadith. Avoid wearing tight or flashy clothing, such as skinny jeans. Remember that your awrah (nakedness) is from your navel to your knees, and this area should not be described by the tightness of your clothing. In other words, don't make it difficult for sisters lowering their gaze.
   • Try to keep your indulgent instincts suppressed and find a Halal outlet for your urges. You cannot satisfy your desires anyway. 'If man is given a valley of gold, he will desire another'.
   • Sustain a sport. As well as keeping fit, you gain mental fortitude and willpower.
   • Learn about the limits between men and women in Islam and try it.
   • Do sunnah Rasulullah Shallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam
   • Read the Hikayatus Shahabah and learn their attitude
   • Be clean. Purity is half of faith. Know how to do ghusl and wudu properly.
   • When people ask you about Islam, dispel the media-myths. Clarify how Jesus (peace be upon him) is regarded in Islam. Smile.
   • Never miss a Friday prayer and try to pray at the masjid as much as possible.
   • Try to improve yourself in regards to Islam all the time. Make a goal, write it down and tell a friend.
   • Pray "ربي زدني علما" "rabbi zidni 'ilma" (my Lord increase my knowledge) and other du'as for improvement and guidance. Ask your sheikh to teach you a good du'a for you from the Sunnah.
   • See a good deed? Have a good idea? Do it! Now. Even picking up the trash around the masjid has reward in it.
   • Remember the following hadith, narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

   "Allah the Almighty says: 'I am as My servant thinks I am . I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.' "

   عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

   يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ، ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ، ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُمْ، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ بِشِبْرٍ، تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا، تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي، أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً

   (Hadith Qudsi; Narrated by Bukhari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

How to Wear a Hijab

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   Check out the requirements for hijab on the Internet, or in Muslim magazines. Many Muslim women have put up tutorials for hijab styles, but be aware that a basic requirement of hijab is not to draw attention. You'll learn what hijab styles and products are available when you go looking, and learn what to do with hijabs that require tying, folding, wrapping or pinning.
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   Choose your hijab. Go to a store that sells with Muslim clothing and look at their hijab selection. Some hijabs consist of a single piece of fabric that may be square, oblong, or triangular. These are often wrapped and pinned or tied to hold them in place. Others consist of tubes of fabric that slip over the head, and these come in one-piece and two-piece styles. The tube style is often easier for beginners, as they don't require pinning. Find a hijab that matches your outfit, or in a neutral color. Avoid wearing excessively bold colours and designs that stand out. Hijabs made of natural fibers like silk, or cotton are often more comfortable, as these fabrics "breathe."

Part 2 of 4: Being ready to wear a hijab

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   Start to wear your hijab when you are ready. If you aren't quite ready to wear hijab, you might confuse or offend other Muslims if you wear it inconsistently. So it is best if you begin wearing hijab when you feel ready for a commitment to wear it consistently, but above all wear it for the sake of Allah.
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   Don't feel confined. Don't think that if you wear hijab, people will look down on you. Your friends will still be your friends. If anybody asks you on your decision on wearing a hijab, tell them that you want to become a good Muslim. They actually will start to respect you for what you have done. If they start to comment and criticize your decision to wear hijab, you may have to decide whether you think your relationship can tolerate the difference, or if you need to keep your distance to avoid further conflict. Moreover, you can become a good representative of all Muslims. Show that Muslims care for their image. Some Muslim women choose to take the additional step of covering their face as part of their hijab.

Part 3 of 4: Being fashionable in a hijab

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   Know that you can look smart too! Wear bold tunics, swirling skirts, wide-legged pants and structured long jackets. Many Muslim clothing companies offer beautiful long dresses for casual and formal wear, and chic suits for the office. Hijab isn't a uniform and there's no compulsion to be drab, but avoid being overly ostentatious too.
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   Wear what you like when you are in an all-ladies party. Freedom rules when you attend one! Show off your inner un-hijabi self. Just be absolutely certain that there are no men in the room; put a sign on the door if needed.
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   Get clothing that allows you to be active and modest. If you play team sports, you may need to wear long shirts or pants underneath the team uniform. Get a hijab designed for athletic wear in a color that matches your uniform or a neutral color, as determined by your coach. If you aren't playing team sports, loose jogging pants, a long sleeved t-shirt, and a hijab designed for active wear should serve for most exercise. For swimming, full-coverage swimsuits are available at some Muslim clothing stores. If you follow the Sunnah of riding horses, try to wear a long coat that extends over your jodhpurs.

Part 4 of 4: Putting on a hijab

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   Place a bandana on first. This helps to keep your headscarf in place.
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   Fold the headscarf as you have been shown how to. Place it on your head.
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   Make one part up to your waist, and one part to your belly.
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   Bring the long part up over the short part and wrap it around your head.
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   Pull the short part. This will tighten it as firmly as you like.
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   Pin the wrapped section in place.
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   Leave the shorter part loose. This is used for coverage; pin in place as needed (optional).