How Spiritual Practice Helped Me Break Addiction and Stop Procrastinating - As-Salaam-Alaikum
As-Salaam-Alaikum. TL;DR: I used to think spirituality was only for ascetics, but it actually saved me. By committing about 1–1.5 hours a day to mindful movement and meditation, I beat addiction and procrastination, got my mental clarity back, and became much more productive. Here’s what happened. I always assumed spirituality was for people who left normal life behind - saints in remote places, detached from family and duties. I thought it meant running away. I was wrong. When things fell apart in my life, I couldn’t study, I was foggy-minded, and I slipped into different addictions to cope. I had big responsibilities, but my compulsive thoughts wouldn’t let me get anything done. Time just vanished. What changed was that I chose a practical spiritual route. I learned spirituality isn’t about escape. It’s about fulfilling your duties with patience and building emotional strength. When I began doing gentle physical practice and daily silent reflection, I noticed a pause between impulse and action. That little gap stopped many compulsive behaviors. In about six months, the depressive cycles faded and my procrastination mostly disappeared. I got stronger willpower and more physical energy. I needed less sleep because I felt naturally active during the day. I also started to see how my past actions led to repeating patterns, which helped me break them. Spiritual practice is for anyone who wants to leave the cycle of suffering. It’s about conscious living - taking charge of your situation instead of being led by it. It helps you pass through hardships with steadiness and turn difficult moments into chances for growth. I really think everyone can benefit from some form of mindful movement and daily reflection, even if it’s short. It’s not only about fitness - it’s about long-term inner change. Spending just an hour or so a day on these habits will, insha’Allah, pay off in greater focus and productivity in whatever work we do. “True wellbeing comes from turning inward.” JazakAllahu khairan for reading.