If you observe Lent...

[Bixg]

... what are you giving up (or undertaking)?

I'm giving up social media and having a bit of a cyber detox (gulp!)

[MotherMarysStylist]

I think that's really good.

I was reading that many of us have internal complexes, we might not be aware of, or get anxiety / depression because it's natural to compare yourself to others.

The idea of giving something up is a bit odd as I don't know if there's specific doctrine that says you must give up a vice. Some say chocolate etc.

With the time you gain from not being on social media, maybe join the Bible thread which will hopefully grow and have people discussing the bible passages. I think to fully fulfil the point of giving it up you should dedicate so long to doing something spiritual. So reflection of some sort, Prayer, reading the bible, volunteering. Somewhere where you're doing good.

[Lessstressedhemum]

I will be fasting from frivolous food and drink and spending more time in prayer and bible reading. I also run an annual lenten discussion group at church. I think that I should probably try to give up my sad Outlander habit, as well.

As well as that, I try to do an act of kindness each day, to kind of give something back.

[EddSimcox]

I often do a hotchpotch of taking up and giving up which often is too woolly to stick to properly. This year I'm going to go vegetarian (strict rules to make me just do it), and I'm going to read some bit of the Bible I don't know very well. Suggestions? (currently thinking about Isaiah, or Revelation... but could be anything still...). I will also do as much as I can of #40Acts which is a generosity / random acts of kindness thing.

I'm definitely not going to give up social media!

[Bixg]

I've only recently gone back to Facebook after a few years off it and I find I spend far too much time reading people's updates, judging people's posts at times, and posting too much information myself! I'm constantly checking my 'phone which I used to moan about when others do it.

I'm doing dry Feb and sugar free Feb - so giving up alcohol and certain foods won't really work. I also meditate most days which is what I added in last year and have kept to to an extent - although I plan to use the time I would normally spend on MN and FB reading (including spiritual texts) and in prayer/meditation.

I like a challenge!

[EddSimcox]

Yes, FB and Twitter are terrible time wasters but also for me essential communication tools, and sometimes even the work of God. Yesterday a FB friend posted about his shit morning, which included his charity being turned down for a funding grant, and a van break-in; the point of his post was the random act of kindness of the gas men who put plastic over his busted van windows to keep the rain out; but the outcome of it was a crowdfunded teacher in Nepal. Amazing.

I do try very hard to keep my hands off my phone when I'm in company but I know I don't always suceed!

[purpleangel17]

I am going to give up alcohol for Lent and give the money I would have spent (not much but better than nothing) to charity. I don't drink a lot but I know I will find it a challenge not to drink for that long. A week or two, easy - 40 days, not so much. I also intend to meditate/pray daily and try to do three good deeds a day.

[Lisette40]

I've discovered that the nuns who taught me have opened a school for girls in south Sudan so I'm going to fundraise for them.

I'm going to try to tackle my anxiety by concentrating on all the good in the world and on developing my gifts to add to this. I will probably give up sweet things and alcohol. I'm on medicinal hot whiskey at the moment though due to this virus I have

[ProfessorSprout]

I gave up social media last year too (except LinkedIn as I need it for work).. quite enjoyed not having to go on at the time, but welcomed it back with open arms at the end of Lent!

I was contemplating giving up social media again but I do love it - it actually helps me. I love seeing what people are up to, and how they've filled their weekends etc. I suppose I'm not one of these people that turns their noses up at people sharing what they're doing - I like it. I can't call my FB friends instead of seeing their social media updates, because that would be 250 friends I'd have to call every week! I also get comfort from the christian facebook groups I'm in too and I manage the Facebook church page.

This year may be tough to do social media again.

I've recently stopped eating meat. I may extend that to dairy for lent but I'm a little scared that I'll fail straight away.

[SingaSong12]

I'm thinking about giving up MN as I spend a lot of time on here. It seems innocent enough and I do try to help people with things I know.
I don't know if it would be better to cut back rather than stop altogether.
OTOH I might look at the bible study - I didn't know there was one.

[Bixg]

Singasong I thought about excluding MN throughout Lent too, but I'm just going to avoid FB, twitter, Instagram and online newspapers. I will cut down on MN reading though. There are so many sad stories on this site and a lot of people who are lost and who find it difficult to make positive choices for themselves. Maybe pray for people on MN and send out positive vibes for them?

[CraftyGin]

I will be doing my perennial abstinence of wine and the money saved will go to a church building project.

[BikeRunSki]

Sugar

I’m not even religious, it’s just habitual after a Catholic upbringing.
I also think a bit of light penance from time to time doesn’t you any harm if you are resonabky well off, well fed etc.

[Fekko]

I gave up chocolate last year for a month for charity and it wasn’t pretty.

[gryffen]

Well I'm.pregnant so alcohol and chocolate are off books anyway so for this lent probably giving up Irn Bru- not easy I'm Scottish.

Daily walks in pollok park should help and visiting family in Falkland and Culross should help too.
(OUTLANDER FANS UNITE!)

God you did good in Scotland!

[drspouse]

I'm going vegan, and continuing my essential spending only till Easter.
Thankfully for DH sanity, Lent doesn't include Sundays.

[Bixg]

BikeRunSki I'm similar - Catholicism still has a hold on me even though I don't go to mass anymore.

BTW - I gave up sugar in tea and coffee for Lent when I was 16 and never went back to it (except when I'm really upset - then I'll have a sweet tea)

[WiggyPig]

Giving up alcohol. It's a depressingly big deal contemplating it, which is the best reason to stop.

[Camomila]

Leaving things till the last minute! I'm going to try and use time more productively.
As a favour to DH I am going to try and be better at having dinner ready when he gets home (he usually gets in then has to cook)

[HeresLookingatEuclid]

I am giving up sweet food and attending a Lent course at church.
I am attending a Taize service which looks interesting.

[diamantegal]

I'm giving up alcohol at home. I would give up wine altogether, but I know I've got various work events planned where it will be hard to be on soft drinks. And like WiggyPig, not drinking at home is going to be more difficult than it should, so I'm happy that this will need serious will power.

On the plus side, I decided to give up Diet Coke at, Christine and have barely touched it since, to the extent it no longer appeals. So I know I can do it, I just need the willpower for that first weeks.

[53rdWay]

Coffee. I really like coffee and drink far too much of it anyway.

[PeanuttyButter]

I’m giving up chocolate and sweet things. Just eating plainly and not snacking and trying to go to the chapel st work at lunch time for prayer or reading. I would really like to attend the holy communion service on Wednesday lunchtime but as I work in the NHS break times etc are on a grab them whilst you can basis!

[PeanuttyButter]

@53rdway I tried coffee one year. Had to stop after a week or so because it was in the middle of my PhD and I was doing microdissection and without coffee I couldn’t stop shaking haha

[53rdWay]

I think coffee’s an actual medical necessity mid-PhD!

[Becca19962014]

I'm not giving anything up. I stopped doing so years ago when I realised instead of helping me spiritually it actually did the opposite. I try and be more aware if certain things like Internet use.

Instead I add extra to my day so this lent I'm reading "The Art of Lent" and "pilgrims progress" along with a 40 day study guide and going to church each day during the week to literally sit and speak to God. So far I've managed it all, I struggle massively with going to church (caused by illness in services) so going to speak to God there is actually the most challenging part.