Last Updated on February 24, 2020 by HodgePodgeDays
Each year, during Lent many Christians choose to give things up for 40 days. Lent is traditionally a time of abstinence and many people give up chocolate, or wine, or bread even. Some people choose to take up something, such as doing an act of kindness, or giving a small amount to charity each day.
Over the years, following a feast of pancakes, I have variously given up chocolate, crisps and alcohol. I have done acts of kindness each day. This year I’ve been a bit stumped about what to do. I’m peri-menopausal now so the thought of giving up wine or chocolate for 6 weeks is a step too far for me.
My life feels too stressful right now to give up anything, or commit to doing something for six whole weeks, but last night I had an idea. Why don’t I just give up something or take up something each week during lent, committing to not eating chocolate for one week is doable, giving to charity daily for one week is affordable. The idea of doing six weeks’ worth of one week mini-Lenten promises is very manageable indeed.
I’ve not fully hammered out my plan for Lent. I’m finicky at the best of times, so I thought if I put a list together of suggestions for myself, then I can pick and choose what I fancy doing from one week to the next. Here are 40 ideas for things to do for Lent.
40 things to do for Lent
1. Give up chocolate
2. Give up crisps
3. Give up alcohol
4. Give to charity each day
5. Give up TV/Netflix
6. Have a digital detox
7. Pray each day
8. Meditate each day
9. Do an act of kindness every day
10. Phone a friend or family member each day
11. No shopping/buying new things
12. Decluttering
13. Read more
14. Volunteer
15. Do a beach clean, or street clean, or a litter pick in a park
16. Find ways to reduce your plastic consumption
17. Use public transport instead of driving
18. Stop buying coffee on the go
19. Donate to your local food bank
20. Give up meat
21. Compliment other people
22. Walk every day
23. Give up swearing
24. Give up takeaways
25. Eat a family dinner at the table each night
26. Give up cake
27. Give up fizzy drinks
28. Give up sugar
29. Give up binge watching
30. Give up negativity
31. Turn lights and appliances off when not in use
32. Give up shopping online
33. Give yourself time for yourself
34. Make a point of doing self-care every day, whatever that looks like
35. Read the Bible, or a spiritual text of your choosing
36. Give up guilt – you’re doing the best you can do
37. Take up contentment – be happy, or happier with what you’ve got already in your life
38. Give up gossip
39. Give up smoking or vaping
40. Give up taking selfies/pictures of your dinner
What are you giving up or taking up for Lent? Please comment below and let me know!
I’ve given up pizza a few times and crisps a lot, as they are my “chocolate”
This year with everything that’s going on I know it’s not achievable so instead I am working on an area that needs doing and I’m going to sort/tidy/clear a bit each day, the better I feel the bigger the job so that I can still do something when I have a bad day as I’ll just make it small
I’ve never been religious, but I think it does us good to push ourselves and with a set time frame you are more likely to complete it