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what should i do for lent

For Lent, think in three lanes: give up , take on , and share with others.

1. Start with the basics

Lent is a 40‑day season before Easter focused on prayer, fasting, and helping others. Many Christians choose at least one practice in each of these areas so it actually changes daily life, not just one or two days.

2. “What should I do?” – A simple plan

You can build a Lent plan around three questions:

  1. What is distracting me from God or what truly matters?
  2. Where do I want to grow as a person?
  3. Who around me could use more of my time, kindness, or resources?

Then choose:

  • 1 thing to give up (fasting)
  • 1 thing to add (prayer/inner life)
  • 1 thing to do for others (almsgiving/service)

3. Ideas of what to give up (fasting)

Pick something you’d actually feel, but that’s still realistic for 40 days.

  • Social media limits (e.g., log out except 15–30 min a day, or delete an app until Easter).
  • Streaming/TV cutbacks (no shows after 9 p.m., or only watch on weekends).
  • Sweets, snacks, or a specific favorite food or drink (soda, alcohol, takeout, desserts).
  • Online shopping or impulse purchases; wait 24 hours before buying non‑essentials.
  • Phone-free zones: no phone at meals, in bed, or the first 30 minutes after waking.

A classic approach is also:

  • Fasting more strictly on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and avoiding meat on Fridays if that’s part of your tradition.

4. Things you can add (prayer and inner life)

Instead of only “giving up,” Lent is also about making space for something better.

You could:

  • Read a short Scripture passage daily, especially the Gospels or the readings for the upcoming Sunday.
  • Pray at a set time: morning offering, a night examen, or 10 minutes of quiet prayer each day.
  • Pray a decade of the rosary daily, or a full rosary once or twice a week if that’s your tradition.
  • Do the Stations of the Cross on Fridays, either at a church or with a booklet/online version.
  • Go to a weekday church service or service in your denomination once a week, not just Sundays.
  • Choose one person to pray for every day: a family member, friend, or someone who’s struggling.

A very simple structure:

  • Morning: 2–3 minutes of “God, thank you for…, help me with…” prayer.
  • Midday/evening: read a psalm or Gospel story.
  • Night: one minute to review your day and say thank you and sorry for specific things.

5. Things to do for others (almsgiving and service)

Lent isn’t complete without some concrete love or generosity.

Some ideas:

  • Pick a charity and give a set amount each week, or donate what you save from what you gave up (coffee, snacks, apps, etc.).
  • Declutter: “40 bags in 40 days” – each day fill a small bag with clothes, books, or items to donate.
  • Choose one person who is lonely or stressed and check in each week with a message, call, or visit.
  • Do hidden acts of kindness: leave an encouraging note, pay for someone’s coffee, carry someone’s groceries, or give away your parking ticket if time is left.
  • Volunteer once or twice during Lent with a local shelter, food bank, or community project.

Even if you’re not very religious, you can treat Lent as a focused 40‑day “become kinder and more intentional” challenge.

6. Ideas from current forum-style discussions

In recent online discussions, people share a mix of classic and modern Lenten choices:

  • Giving up or reducing alcohol and asking friends to support them and keep them accountable.
  • Stopping or limiting social media; some even delete Reddit or other apps for the whole season.
  • Cutting back on TV, gaming, or mindless scrolling and replacing that time with prayer or reading.
  • Giving up sweets or snacks to practice self-control and offer it as a small sacrifice.
  • Some people choose not to tell anyone what they’re doing, to keep it more private and focused.

These show that many are trying to use Lent to reset their habits and get serious about things that have quietly taken over too much space in their lives.

7. Putting it together: a sample 40‑day plan

Here’s a simple example you can tweak:

  • Fasting: No desserts or sugary drinks; social media only 20 minutes a day.
  • Prayer: 10 minutes of quiet prayer or Scripture reading daily; Stations of the Cross on Fridays if available in your tradition.
  • Service: Each week, give to a charity and declutter one area of your home to donate useful items.

You can also decide one “reset” rule: if you fail one day, don’t give up; just start again the next day. Lent is about growth, not perfection.

8. Quick HTML table of idea categories

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Category Simple Lent ideas
Give up (fasting) Social media limits, sweets or alcohol, online shopping, screen-free evenings, stricter fasting days.
Add (prayer/inner life) Daily Scripture reading, short set prayer times, rosary or other devotions, Stations of the Cross, extra weekday service.
Do for others (service) Donate saved money, 40 bags in 40 days, regular check-ins with someone lonely, volunteering or small daily kindnesses.

9. Tiny story for inspiration

Imagine Lent as a 40‑day “desert walk.” You leave behind one or two comforts (like extra snacks and scrolling) and in that empty space you start to notice things: a friend who needs a call, a neighbor who appreciates a hello, a part of your heart that’s been on autopilot. Over the weeks, those small daily choices stitch together into a quiet but real change, so that when Easter comes, you’re not just celebrating a date—you’re arriving a little lighter, clearer, and more awake. TL;DR: Pick one thing to give up, one habit of prayer or reflection to add, and one kind of generosity or service to practice for 40 days; keep it realistic but meaningful, and let it gently stretch you.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.