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what to give up for lent

For Lent, choose something that’s genuinely hard for you to give up, but that also opens space for God, others, and your own growth.

Quick Scoop

Lent (from Ash Wednesday to Easter) is traditionally about three things: prayer , fasting (giving something up), and almsgiving (generosity). The goal is not self-punishment, but conversion of heart and habits.

Classic “give up” ideas

These are popular because they’re concrete and easy to track:

  • Chocolate, sweets, desserts, or sugar in general.
  • Soda, alcohol, or all non‑water drinks.
  • Meat (just Fridays, or all of Lent), or going vegetarian/vegan.
  • Takeaway / fast food / eating out; cook simple meals and give the savings to charity.
  • Snacks between meals; keep to three simple meals a day.

Digital and media fasts

Because so much of life is online, many modern Lenten sacrifices focus on tech:

  • Social media (or just your most time‑draining app).
  • Doomscrolling and constant news checking; set fixed times only.
  • Streaming shows, YouTube, or gaming during certain hours or days.
  • Wearing headphones in public so you’re more present to people around you.
  • Online shopping or impulse buying; no unnecessary purchases for 40 days.

Lifestyle and comfort sacrifices

These touch daily habits and comfort:

  • Fancy coffees or takeout drinks; drink simple coffee or water and donate what you save.
  • Uber, driving short distances, or delivery apps; walk or bike when possible.
  • Pre‑cut or pre‑prepped foods and convenience meals; cook from scratch.
  • Turn the thermostat down a bit and offer up the discomfort (and carbon footprint drop)..
  • Partial fasts like no condiments, no sweets after dinner, or lukewarm showers.

Character and heart habits

Some of the most powerful Lenten “fasts” are from attitudes rather than objects:

  • Complaining and negativity; practice gratitude or one daily “thank you” prayer instead.
  • Gossip; refuse to speak negatively about others and choose only words that build up.
  • Impatience (especially in traffic, queues, or at home); pause and say a short prayer.
  • Defensiveness; practice listening instead of justifying yourself in every disagreement.
  • Being careless with service workers; deliberately treat every worker with respect and thanks.

“Give up” and “take up” together

Many guides now suggest pairing a sacrifice with a positive habit so Lent isn’t just about loss, but about growth.

You could, for example:

  • Give up eating out and take up donating the saved money weekly to a charity or parish.
  • Give up social media and take up 10–15 minutes of daily prayer, Scripture, or spiritual reading.
  • Give up online shopping and take up decluttering one drawer or bag a day to donate.
  • Give up complaining and take up writing one thing you’re grateful for each night.

A simple way to choose

A quick discernment checklist:

  1. Pick something you’ll actually feel (not too easy, not impossible) so it stretches you.
  1. Make sure it’s sustainable for 40 days, with Sunday as a “feast day” if your tradition allows.
  1. Connect it to prayer (when you miss it, turn that desire into a prayer) and, if you can, to generosity.

If you tell me a bit about your current habits (e.g., “I’m on TikTok 3 hours a day” or “I buy coffee out daily”), I can suggest a tailored Lent plan with one thing to give up and one thing to take on. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.