Lent Practices 2021

Wow! It’s already Ash Wednesday! Have you considered what you plan on giving up for the next 40 days? Or, on the contrary, what practices to add to your life? Look no further! The following list has been put together for your benefit! If you want to seek—and find—detachment from the world so that your love for God can grow, try to implement these ideas into your life for the next 40 days, or even your life!

1. If you find yourself using your phone too frequently, try changing the display to black and white. It sounds simple, but once you change it, you’ll immediately miss the colors of your phone.
2. If you listen to a lot of music, don’t allow yourself to skip songs. That’s right, if you don’t like it, you’re stuck listening to it for the whole duration of it—it won’t be that bad! Bonus: if you’re feeling super ambitious, cut out the music altogether.
3. Too attached to social media? Great, quit using all of it for the duration and lent, and come up with a plan to use it only when necessary once lent ends. And if that seems like too much, then, challenge yourself to scroll slower than you once used to!
4. A great challenge, for the next 40 days, do not snooze! When the alarm sounds, jump out of bed—immediately.
5. Complain much? Consciously stop and ask yourself why it is that you’re complaining. Are you acting entitled? Or is your complaint valid? Whatever the case, surrender to it God, smile, and continue as if that never happened.
6. Fast from harsh judgments against yourself. If it’s a sin to be too kind to yourself, then it follows that being too harsh is also sin. There’s no need to beat yourself up!
7. For an hour a day—or however long you’re able to—be quiet: don’t play any music, don’t call anyone, don’t play anything, simply enjoy silence.
8. On average, you should be getting about 7-9 hours of sleep. Fast from sleep deprivation and make it a point to sleep for 7-9 hours everyday. Bonus: keep track of your mood the following day—maybe you’ll want to sleep more in the future!
9. Do an act of charity in secret. Whether it’s washing the dishes, cleaning the restroom, or folding your roommate’s laundry, do it without telling them. Bonus: when someone asks you what you gave up for lent, don’t tell them everything you’re doing, keep some in secret.
10. Having a clean and organized room is objectively better than a messy room. For the next 40 days, try to keep your room organized and your bed made. Your future self will be very grateful. 
11. If you find your prayer life lacking, make it a goal to pray a Holy Hour. However, don’t start there! Work your way to it! Perhaps your first 10 days you pray for 15 minutes, the next 10 for 30 minutes, and so forth…
12. Trying to grow your devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Momma Mary)? I recommend you read: Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre (it will blow your mind).

All of these things said, remember that the spirit of lent is not perfection, but willingness and intentionality. It’s not about being perfect but about trying. If you mess up on any day, then great, start again the next day. As your Lenten journey continues, remind yourself of the most important thing: Jesus decided to take that Cross because of His love for you. He thought you were worth it (and I agree). It doesn’t matter if I know you, I know God and He’s perfect. So, if you exist, it was for a purpose and for a reason; so you matter.