Things to give up for Lent and how to succeed!

At this time I start thinking about what pancakes to make for Shrove Tuesday. Of course the day after is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Although the religious significance of Lent is not as strictly adhered to as it once was many people do use the time to try and change something in their lives.

You could go for a traditional 'giving up' in terms of alcohol, cigarettes or a specific food. Since I don't drink alcohol or smoke I have in the past forgone crisps and biscuits for six weeks. I decided no chocolate or cake was a step too far!

Instead of giving up something you feel is causing a negative presence in your life you could make a positive change to your life. Rather than giving up you could take up a new hobby or interest. You might find this is the right time to spare some time to volunteer at a local group or organisation.

Whatever you decide to do for Lent the only problem that is left is how to stick to it for the whole six weeks. Some people say that Sundays don't count whilst others adhere to the full 46 continuous days. If you are still wondering what to do for Lent or you are worried about sticking to your intentions then have a read of today's guest post.

“With Easter just around the corner, we've got a second chance after our New Year's resolutions to kick those habits to the curb. Lent, which runs from the 1st March right up until Easter Sunday, is a time where people traditionally fight the cravings and give up something which has a negative effect on their lives.

We understand that giving up your vices isn't always as easy as it seems. That's why we've put together a list of both the usual culprits, as well as some unusual alternatives that you could give up for Lent. There's also some handy substitutes to help you to really follow through with it!

Food Miles

If you're interested in leading a greener lifestyle, reducing your food miles is a great alternative to the usual lent suspects. 'Food miles' is the term used to explain how far your food has had to travel from its original source to reach your plate. Your meals today have probably travelled long distances involving lorries and aeroplanes, which all emit emissions, contributing to your carbon footprint.

There's load of ways to reduce your food miles, and once you know how, it's a simple and easy way to go green. Try and buy food which is produced or grown locally, or at least, as close as you can find. If you eat fruit and vegetables which are in season, they won't have travelled as far. You can easily find out what's in season online, so make a habit of checking up regularly!

You can also have fun shopping around at local farmer's markets and farm shops, which have delicious, fresh, local produce which is probably from around the corner. And even better, why not use this as inspiration to start growing your own?

Using your car less

Adults of a working age in the UK spend an average of 9.5 hours a day sitting - which is quite a substantial amount of time to spend sedentary. This leads to unhealthy lifestyles, weight gain and many more problems later in life. So why not be more active and get moving over Lent?

It's hard to move more if you have an office job or work on a computer every day. But the one thing you can change is how you get there in the first place! If your work isn't too far away, walking to work or investing in a bike to cycle will do wonders to your health. Did you know, that by walking just 2.7 miles a day, you will have walked 1000 miles in a year? Instead of hopping in the car to pop to the shop - walk! You'll be amazed how refreshed it makes you feel.

Meat

Vegetarianism is a growing practice for the health conscious. It's widely reported that eating too much red meat can be bad for us, raising our cholesterol and being chock full of harmful hormones which can increase our risk of some nasty diseases.

But giving up meat can be a difficult task, especially when most of us consider meat as a staple part of our diet. Just making the move to eating more ethically sourced white meats can make the world of difference to both you and the environment, and if you're determined to go full veggie - there's loads of tasty alternatives!

The classic meat alternative is tofu, which can be fried up with all sort of tasty herbs and spices. And there's more - think mushrooms, eggplants, lentils, beans, and potatoes. You'll be surprised at how tasty and varied vegetarian food can really be!

Cigarettes

2017 should be the year to finally kick the unhealthiest habit of them all. Not only does smoking seriously harm your health and severely increase your risk of several cancers, but it also affects your ability to taste. Smoking makes the taste buds on your tongue less sensitive - and who wants to be missing out on a world full of tasty food?

If you need some help along the way, making the first switch to an e-cigarette is a step in a much healthier direction. It's widely reported as a key factor in smokers having success with quitting the habit. The difference between e-cigarettes and normal cigarettes is the missing ingredient tobacco - a cancer causing, harmful component. They're overall much less toxic and safer to use, so ditch those cigarettes and buy an e-cig for Lent instead.

Ditching your mobile before bed

Using your mobile phone or tablet before bed could be bad for you. Research into the topic has shown that being exposed to the light given off by phones, laptops, or other gadgets, can prevent us from sleeping.

Starting to use your phone less in the evening could be just what you need for a better night's sleep over Lent. If you find it hard to cut out technology altogether, a good way to minimise damage is to dim the display to the lowest setting, or switching to a good book at least 30 minutes before bed to calm your mind. There's even apps to help you take breaks from your phone, such as 'Time Out', which will help remind you when it's time to switch that screen off for the night.

Now you have no excuse not to ditch your bad habits for Lent! Use our handy tips and tricks over Lent to become an better, healthier, or greener you.”