10 things to give up for Lent... and how to get through it

Photo shows - Father Ted, when he tried to give up smoking for Lent

After you’ve gobbled down more pancakes than your system can take today, it’s payback time.

Lent begins tomorrow, Wednesday, February 26.

As is the great Irish Catholic tradition, we’re urged to give something up, and particularly something we like – for seven weeks.

So while Rick Astley’s hit song, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, is playing in the background, we’ve compiled a list of things you might consider giving up. Some are old staples, some are novel.

Feel free to add to our list because we’re certain there are some odd ones out there that never get a mention.

1. Alcohol

Definitely one of the toughest ones.

Some people already have a head start by going through ‘Dry January’ and with that bit of experience behind them, may feel that abstinence throughout Lent is attainable.

2. Cigarettes

Okay, I’ve never smoked but I believe this one is probably the most difficult on the list.

Could you go without your ciggies for the next seven weeks? Every year at this time, the HSE provides a free quit smoking service to help people get off the dreaded fags. Smokers can free call 1800 201 203 or visit www.QUIT.ie for stop smoking tips and resources. Go on, you can do it.

3. Sweet things

This is a particular vice of mine and I’ve never even attempted to go off the stuff for Lent, or at any other time of year for that matter.

Cakes, biscuits, chocolates, crisps, desserts – there are just too many of them out there.

How are you supposed to enjoy your morning coffee when a chocolate muffin is staring at you through the glass counter while you queue for your cappuccino?

4. Coffee

And speaking of coffee… Americano, latte, cappuccino, frappuccino, macchiato, expresso – what’s your coffee of choice?

The proliferation of coffee shops in Mullingar has been extraordinary.

Who would have thought that pubs would be closing to be replaced by the coffee shops?

Could you stay away from your favourite one for seven weeks?

5. Social Media

After cigarettes, this has got to be the most difficult, hasn’t it?

Could you give up looking at your smartphone for seven weeks?

Of course, you couldn’t. You’d want to be in a coma to stand any chance.

Seven days? Still impossible.

Seven hours? Seven minutes?

Okay, the last one might be possible.

Plenty of time to squeeze in posting a few clips of one-legged cats playing the piano and a Galway farmer singing the ‘Fields of Athenry’ in Chinese.

6. Watching TV in bed

Not a good habit if you want to get a good night’s sleep and be refreshed to face the challenges of the next day.

There are people so addicted to TV that they have to bring it to bed with them.

Are you one of them? If so, could you go without the ‘Horror’ channel feeding your nightmares, or some late-night political debate where angry people shout over each other while you try to nod off?

7. Lie-ons

Your days off work are precious.

How do you spend them, though? Are you one of those people who lie in till 11 or midday on a Saturday or Sunday morning (or both) in a bid to recover from the week’s exertions.

It has been said that lying in bed too late is not good for you and you should try to get into a regular sleep pattern.

If you’re in the ‘extensive lie-on’ category, could you forego this luxury during Lent?

8. Driving short distances

Let’s be honest: we’re nearly all guilty of this.

The shopping centre is across the road; the school is around the corner; and your best friend lives in the next estate.

Still, by force of habit, we rev up the car which gets all excited because it thinks it’s going on a long journey.

Cringingly, the engine is switched off around 90 seconds later.

Let’s all do our bit for the environment this Lent and ban ourselves from driving short distances.

Everyone’s a winner on this one and the Green Party will love us!

9. Celebrity gossip

‘Love Island’ is now over which is a terrible disappointment, it has to be said.

What do we do now for our celebrity fix? Why do we care so much about other people’s lives? Could you give up listening to, reading about, or commenting on celebrity gossip for Lent?

Fair enough, of course, if it’s a breaking news story about ‘Love Island’ being held on the Aran Islands next year; Meghan Markle spotted shopping with Queen Elizabeth in Harrods; or Kim Kardashian vowing to close down all her social media accounts.

10. Bread

Okay, I concede that a lot of people don’t eat bread and this won’t affect them.

Also, of course, it’s important for nutrition, which is an undeniable fact.

However, during the ‘Beast from the East’ in 2018, we shockingly learned that it was bread and not alcohol that was the most important thing in an Irish person’s survival kit.

Who could ever forget the run on bread during that major weather event. If you’re a bread-loving person, could you go without until Easter Sunday?