5 things to give up for lent and ways to replace them

Struggling with the idea of lent? Not knowing what to give up and if you’ll stick to it? We have lined up 5 things to give up for lent this February and ways of replacing them and being able to stick the 40 days out!

GIVE UP - Social media – Social Media is taking over our lives as much as we’d like to say it isn’t, it really is. It changes the way we communicate with each other and how we view life because we are so used to seeing what is on a screen in front of us and believing that it’s the truth. A social media detox this lent is a good way to show everyone that your life doesn’t revolve around social media.

REPLACEMENT - Interaction – Interacting with people, having parties, gatherings or going out and being sociable rather than talking to each other over a screen. This is much more beneficial for your wellbeing by getting out and not being glued to a screen inside. We don’t realise how much we miss when we are stuck to our phones. You'll probably come out of it being a happier, calmer and more productive person!

GIVE UP - Chocolate – We are all guilty of having chocolate now and again or overindulging a little too much and some would say it’s a perfect item to give up for lent because a sneaky bit of chocolate now and again can make a huge difference in diets and health so being without it for 40 days may stray you away from wanting it regularly.

REPLACEMENT– Fruit – Try fruit as an alternative to chocolate. We know it’s quite not the same as a delicious bar of creamy chocolate but it’s much better. So many positives come out of having fruit instead of chocolate such as less calories, a healthier lifestyle and the price of fruit is much more inexpensive than chocolate and sweets. It’s only 40 days, 6 weeks to give it up for, you never know you may prefer it!

GIVE UP- Alcohol – The biggest retirement for lent, because many of us are guilty of being a casual or social drinker, is alchohol. Many people do Dry January and feel much better after doing it. Alcohol is damaging to your body as well as society and the amount of accidents that happen due to people being drunk is uncountable. Stay safe and give it up this lent and hopefully become more of an ocassional drinker after!

REPLACEMENT - Non- alcoholic drinks – Swap your alcohol for a non-alcoholic drink for 6 weeks and go for soft drinks when out for a meal or try and stay in those few weekends instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on alcohol. There’s nothing to say you can’t go out just switch up your choice of drinks for something non-alcoholic instead to remember your nights out and to be safer.

GIVE UP - Smoking – Smoking is so harmful to your own body, other people and the air. You’re putting yourself and others at risk by doing this past time. It’s also so expensive to smoke and your money is being drained by a small stick filled with tobacco which is damaging to you! Maybe its time for a change in lifestyle this lent and uyou never know you may stick to it and eventually be able to quit!

REPLACEMENT - Vape, mints or chewing gums – Perhaps try vaping, which Is an alternative to smoking just not as harmful and a little bit better for the environment and everyone else. Plus, they are much cheaper than a pack of cigarettes. Or you could try chewing gums or mints that when you feel like smoking which you put in and they can prevent you craving it as much giving you a healthier lifestyle.

GIVE UP - Takeaways – On the weekends, we are all guilty of a takeaway or two because we can’t be bothered to cook as it’s an unwritten rule of it being the 'weekend’. We all do it. When really, they are twice as expensive to have and most of the time, they aren’t the healthiest of options because we all enjoy a bit of fatty food now and again, we wouldn’t be human else!

REPLACEMENT- Home cooked meals – Way healthier and cheaper options. Save your money and cook home cooked meals instead! Many supermarkets nowadays are so cheap, even for a ready meal or microwave meals, yes they still aren't the healithiest of options but they are certainly less damamging to your bank account! Plus a home cooked meal can be anything you want doesn't neccessarily have to be healthy.