It’s that time of year again, when the majority of us have indulged in pancakes and are now embarking on forty days free from alcohol, chocolate, post-Fruity takeaways, cigarettes and twitter amongst other things. Some even take quite drastic measures to ensure self-restraint. I overheard one girl in The Edge say that to ban herself from Facebook she had changed her password to something really complicated and left it in a drawer at home, to avoid refreshing the newsfeed on level thirteen. Arguably the most eminent Christian festival in the calendar, Lent is a period to remind believers of Jesus’ sacrifices and prepare for Easter by giving up meat and fish or just something they really enjoy. Regardless of religious inclination, the trend for abstinence is a popular annual practice amongst many. Critics observe that the real purpose of Lent is distorted and has become a superficial practice, as we resist the chocolate to lose a few extra pounds or stay off Twitter so that a day in the library amounts to an essay rather than ten new followers.

For me, as a non-religious person, Lent has become comparable to New Year’s Resolutions. I start off with the best intentions and the same ambitious thoughts run through my head that for forty days I’ll be able to avoid Diet Coke and Cadbury’s Dairy Milk. Last year, this lasted for one week and after years of attempting to give up sweets, crisps and caffeine to name a few, and failing miserably, I have now given up on giving up. If, like me, you’re a finalist drowning in a sea of dissertation and essay research, the prospect of being able to sustain forty days without your favourite treats becomes increasingly difficult. In fact, very soon I’m predicting that my main food group will be sugar, all washed down with an endless supply of coffee, as I work towards that important 12,000 word count, whilst indulging in chocolate eggs weeks before Easter Sunday.

However, Lent is not just about giving up, it’s also seen as a time to re-evaluate and reflect on what’s important in your life so that you can refocus. Rather than ‘giving up’, which just sounds so negative, there appears to be a growing trend to ‘take something up’. This latter option is exactly what I’ll be doing, as I attempt to refocus and stop worrying about unimportant, trivial things through yoga classes and meditation. Other ways to observe this taking up approach also involve building and sticking to new habits and, as we hit the halfway point of the semester, better time management could be something to try or a re-evaluation of your spending habits, in an attempt to make your student loan go that extra bit further. Alternatively, as Lent is often used to say no to the things we’ve given up, perhaps this concept could be thrown on its head and the time used to say yes to things you normally wouldn’t.
Whichever way you’re choosing to use Lent, for those who have gone for the traditional option and given up one of their vices, good luck! And for those who are considering starting Lent a week late or re-starting here are some more, slightly unusual ideas, rounded up from the internet:
1. Harry Styles
2. New Year’s Resolutions
3. Horsemeat
4. All technology – potentially the most challenging for students.
5. Everything, but beer and water – yes, apparently one man in America is attempting this.

 

words: Catherine Cloughley

 

 

Top tips to improve your willpower…

• Avoid visual triggers, or orchestrate them e.g. putting your gym gear by the door

• Psychologists have described willpower as like a muscle that can get tired during the day but similarly be strengthened and improved with training and exercise

• Sleep deprivation makes you susceptible to temptation…

• And alcohol also lowers blood glucose which has also inhibits willpower; a neat explanation for why when after a big night you feel like a mere puppet

• Keep your ‘want’ power in mind; remind yourself of your goal

• Take ten minutes before you give into an urge; chew some gum, have a drink, brush your teeth or do the washing up then reconsider

• The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark. ~~ Michelangelo