Most people treat Lent as a season to step back from everyday comforts and habits, so the things they “give up” tend to fall into a few big buckets: food and drink, screens and entertainment, spending, and unhelpful attitudes or behaviors.

Classic things people give up for Lent

These are the staples you’ll hear again and again:

  • Sweets and desserts – chocolate, candy, pastries, ice cream, and late‑night snacking.
  • Sugary drinks – soda, energy drinks, sweetened coffee drinks, and juice.
  • Alcohol – wine, beer, or all alcoholic drinks for the whole 40 days.
  • Meat or certain foods – meat on Fridays only, all red meat, or specific favorites like fast food and fried foods.
  • Caffeine or coffee – cutting coffee completely, or limiting cups per day, or only brewing at home.

For a lot of people, the point is to feel a real sacrifice but not harm their health, so they choose something they’ll genuinely miss but can realistically avoid for the season.

Modern lifestyle sacrifices

In the last decade, there’s been a big shift toward giving up digital habits and convenience rather than just food.

  • Social media – Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, or limiting them to certain days or hours.
  • Screen time rules – no screens after a certain hour (like 8 p.m.), or no TV/streaming on weekdays.
  • Noise and distraction – background TV, constant music, or endless YouTube/podcasts to create more quiet time.
  • Gaming – cutting out video games or in‑game spending for the season.
  • Online shopping and impulse buying – “no unnecessary purchases,” only buying essentials like food, transport, and medicine.

Some people also add a discipline alongside the “no,” like reading Scripture, journaling, or daily walks and prayer during the time they’d usually scroll or watch TV.

Less obvious (but very real) things people give up

Plenty of Christians and even non‑religious people play with the idea more creatively.

  • Complaining and negativity – deciding not to vent, gossip, or speak badly about others, sometimes writing affirmations instead when they slip.
  • Gossip and unkind talk – deliberately choosing not to talk about others behind their backs, or limiting how much they share their opinions.
  • Self‑criticism – trying to stop harsh inner talk and replace it with more compassionate self‑reflection.
  • Laziness or procrastination – committing to daily exercise, consistent study, or keeping spaces tidy, rather than giving up something physical.

On forums, you’ll also see people joking that they’re “giving up Lent,” “giving up hope,” or “giving up religion,” which reflects how the tradition has entered wider internet humor, not just church circles.

How people choose what to give up

Christians who take Lent seriously usually think about two questions: “What is getting in the way of my relationship with God or others?” and “What would actually stretch my willpower and love?”

Common approaches include:

  1. Pick one strong attachment – the thing you “couldn’t imagine” giving up (coffee, social media, shopping) and fast from it to practice freedom and self‑control.
  1. Pair fasting with a positive habit – for example, no social media after 8 p.m., and use that time for prayer, reading, or calling family.
  1. Focus on others, not just self‑denial – some people cut spending and donate the money saved, volunteer, or intentionally spend more time in service.

In 2026, with so much life happening online and a lot of stress in the news, there’s a noticeable trend toward giving up digital noise and consumer habits, and replacing them with quiet, presence, and generosity.

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