40 Ideas For Lent
The Lent season is upon us again and with it comes a time of reflection. As we go through these 40 days and 40 nights to get to Easter, it might be difficult to think of something to “give up” or “pledge to do.” So, to help you think of ideas, here are 40 things you can do during the next 40 days that can help get you through Lent.
20 things to give up
- Give up meat- the good old standby is still an option
- Get rid of a bad habit. Nail biting, smoking, constant soda drinking, whatever your bad habit is, now is a good excuse to work on it. On average it takes about 96 days to really break a habit, but the 40 days and 40 nights of Lent is a good excuse to start.
- Give up cuss words. We all know it would probably help on some level if our kids didn’t hear us say bad words, so might as well try and give it up.
- Sugary sweets
- Give up electronics in bed. That means no looking at the phone or tablet once you climb into bed.
- Alcohol
- Social media- this can create such freedom that nowadays we don’t realize until we force ourselves to disconnect
- Buying/Spending- I think it goes without saying that your basic groceries are excluded from your buying/spending.
- Give up T.V.
- No complaining!
- Plastic straws
- Plastic bags
- No yelling- at the kids, at the husband, at the dog or cat etc.
- Gossip
- Snooze button
- Working overtime
- Being lazy
- Worry
- Make-up: let your own beautiful face shine through!
- Nagging: especially your significant others and kids
20 Things to do
- Clock at least 15 minutes of exercise each day. A quick run, or walk around the block should do it.
- Write a letter each day to someone who has impacted your life in a positive way and send them the letter.
- Do a small random act of kindness each day. Examples could be taking your neighbor cookies, or paying for someone else’s coffee at Starbucks.
- Have homemade meals instead of any eating out.
- Say a prayer every day. This would also be a nice family Lenten promise.
- Only drink water.
- Declutter your home by finding things to donate each day. This could be a great way to get kids to get rid of their unplayed with toys. One toy a day, and you will get rid of 40 toys by the end!
- Volunteer. This might sound hard to do unless on the weekends, but it could be as simple as volunteering to send more tissues to your child’s classroom, or volunteering to bring snacks for your child’s baseball team after a game. There are lots of ways to volunteer!
- Make your own coffee at home instead of buying it at a chain. Think of the money you will save!
- Pray the Rosary daily.
- Go to church every weekend…like you’re supposed to!
- Go Vegan. (Or Try Whole30)
- Read to your kids each night.
- Take up a new hobby (like knitting, or teaching yourself an instrument) and work on it every day/night
- Call a friend or family member each day and have an actual conversation, not just texting
- Read the Bible daily
- 40 days of home organization. Work on it a bit each day.
- Say three nice things to each member of your immediate family daily. Three compliments per kid, and significant other.
- Ask for forgiveness from someone you may have wronged. You might have to reach out to people for this one.
- Leave a post-it note with a positive message on it wherever you go to inspire others.
