This post is all about what to give up for lent.
Are you a Catholic or another liturgical-calendar following Christian? You may be on the search of what to do for lent 2023. Whether you have been thinking about lent since the end of Christmas, or you just searched when does lent start (by the way: Ash Wednesday this year is February 22nd), we’re here to provide you with a few ideas to get those wheels turning.
If this is the first time you are participating in lent, you may be wondering the giving up for lent meaning. A great resource I found on the spiritual history of lent comes from the Catholic Education Resource Center.
Throughout Christian history, there has been some preparation for Easter. Lent is 40 days long, which also holds much spiritual significance (examples like Moses fasting before receiving the Ten Commandments, as well as Jesus fasting and praying before starting his public missionary). Overall, Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to prepare our hearts for the season of Easter. One important thing to note about lent is that you don’t just have to give something up. Instead of giving up something for lent you may also add something that will aid your relationship with God. In this list, I have included a variety of ideas both adding to your life and subtracting. That way, you can determine what makes the most sense for your life and spirituality.
So, onto the challenging parts!
What to Give Up for Lent
1. Unnecessary Spending
Tried doing a no buy year but ultimately failed? What about giving up your fun shopping for 40 days? Only buy the necessary items and stick to a budget to focus less on your stuff and more on God.
2. Sweet Treats
One of the most common common things to give up for lent is chocolate and other sweets. Maybe you do indulge a bit much with these things. If it isn’t much of an issue I recommend skipping this one.
3. Try a shortened Exodus 90 or Fiat 90 (or the like)
If you haven’t heard of these programs, essentially Exodus 90 and its other female-centric counterparts is a program with prescribed prayer and fasting. The 90 in the name refers to its extended length, as it goes beyond the typical 40 days. However, you could adapt these programs to do a 40 day fast of your own. Exodus 90 is not for the faint of heart, though. This retreat requires cold showers and limits computer use. Yikes! I have done Fiat 90 (basically a mild Exodus 90 for women) myself, and would recommend easing into it week by week, however you may be a little more hardcore.
4. Complaining
Y’all… this one would be a challenge for my pregnant self. However, it could be a really great reality check for many people. Any time you catch yourself complaining, reword it and say how you are grateful.
5. Music in the Car
Alternatively, you could also only listen to Christian music like CCM or Gregorian Chant.
6. Music in the Gym
Anyone else want to subject themselves to the background music at Planet Fitness as a penance?
7. Leave a Pebble in Your Shoe
Please don’t put anything that might actually harm you, put a small annoyance may be just what you need on your road to sainthood.
8. Mirrors
A little too concerned with how you look? Tired of constant insecurity or vanity? Maybe removing a mirror is what you need for a little body positivity this lent.
9. Pillows
My neck! Consider sleeping on a bare mattress when looking for things to give up for lent.
10. Small Appliances
Does your instant pot make your life oh-so-much easier? Maybe taking things a little slow would help you grow spiritually this lent.
11. Movies
You could also only watch Christian movies or positive movies. Maybe include The Passion on Good Friday. Watching The Chosen may also be a great activity for Lent.
12. The “Heroic Minute”
A practice by a saint in the Catholic Church St. Josemaria Escriva, this involves waking up at a fixed time and not giving a moment to be lazy. Pretty difficult in February if you’re in a colder climate. I highly recommend using a sunlight alarm clock, by the way.
14. Alcohol
Be like the pregnant writer of this post and go booze-free this lent. Being sober curious is a new trend anyway.
15. Social Media
Another one of the most common things to give up for lent is social media. Rightly so, as so many of us are practically addicted to this new technology. You may realize how much free time you truly have after ditching TikTok or Instagram Reels for a period of time.
16. Donate 40 Things for 40 Days
Want to become a minimalist? Maybe this is your chance to make some change! Again with the theme of detachment from worldly goods, getting rid of some things little by little may be a great fit for you. Marie Kondo mode– on.
17. Meat and or Dairy
Many of our Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians might eye roll over this one. As it is a common practice to have seasons of fasting from both meat and dairy in other Christian traditions. Of course, Roman Catholics are bound to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent as well as Ash Wednesday. Thankfully there are plenty of vegan recipes out there to enjoy nowadays.
What to Add for Lent
1. Rosary
The mysteries of the Rosary are extremely fruitful for many. If do not have a routine for a daily rosary, consider starting one. Alternatively, you could pray a decade of the Rosary for the first 20 days of lent, and complete the entire 5 decades daily for the final days of lent. Be warned that you may find yourself searching “mystery of the rosary today” every time you look. Guilty. I just can’t remember the order sometimes!
2. Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the Hours is the daily prayer of the church. You can find the Liturgy of the Hours on the USCCB website, and also on apps like iBreviary. My husband and I often pray the night prayer together before bed. It can be a great way to implement a more scheduled routine of prayer into your day.
3. Daily Mass
One of the most impactful things you could do during Lent is receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist an extra day out of the week. See if a parish near you offers Daily Mass at a time that works with your schedule.
4. Volunteer in a Ministry
This can also qualify under giving up something for lent (as you are sacrificing your time) but volunteering can be a great opportunity to serve the community. Look and see what your parish offers as well as non-profits in the area.
5. Write Notes to Loved Ones
Perk up someone’s day and write a kind note every day during lent. I recommend writing these people down beforehand, that way you aren’t rushed and can write more genuinely.
6. Consider Tithing and/or Donating More to Charity
Practice detachment from your money and donate to your home parish or to worthy causes in the area. Your donation could make a great impact on someone!
I hope that your Lenten season is fruitful and you find a way of implementing prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Please know that I am praying for you and I kindly ask that you pray for me as well. Let me know, if you are willing, what you plan to do for Lent 2023. What to give up for lent may be a premeditated and prayed over concept, or you may be reading this on Ash Wednesday. Regardless, I hope this benefits you!
