Need help getting back into prayer, please dua
Assalamu alaikum - please no judgment. I grew up in a pretty non-traditional Muslim home. We lived mostly around Christians and my parents didn’t really teach us much about our deen. As I got older I started learning more and tried to practice - dressing more modestly, praying, fasting, etc. Then I moved away for my master’s. My days were 10+ hours in the lab and I’d come home wiped out, and for reasons I still don’t fully understand I gradually stopped praying regularly. Alhamdulillah I’m married now and doing my PhD. My husband, alhamdulillah, has been practicing since he was young. I genuinely want to improve for him and for myself. Still, whenever I decide “now’s the time,” I somehow don’t end up praying. I know we’re supposed to get up and pray because tomorrow isn’t promised, but excuses pop up - I’m too busy with the lab, what if I miss a prayer later, what if God won’t accept a prayer after I’ve been away… Could anyone share practical tips to help me find motivation and stick to praying consistently? Also, every time I begin praying again my husband wants to pray together. I do appreciate that he’s trying to help me learn, but when we pray together he often corrects me or tries to have me add different surahs so I can memorize them. I know he means well, but it feels a bit overwhelming while I’m trying to ease back in slowly. Is it okay if I try to get back into the habit on my own pace without him leading every step? Any advice, dua, or personal experiences would be really appreciated.