I went back and forth as to what I should do this year. I honestly don't feel like I have many indulgences in my life. I rarely clothes shop, I don't eat sweets often, and I don't drink alcohol very regularly. Initially I thought about focusing on doing something extra, like going to daily mass once a week and praying the rosary instead of giving something up as I just couldn't think of anything that would be challenging enough.
And then I thought of something really challenging to give up yesterday. For the next 40 days, I am going to give up using my phone during work hours. I know that may not sound like much of a challenge to some people, but I am really bad about checking my phone
I know this will be challenging for me, which is what Lent is supposed to be all about! In addition to this, I still want to try to get to a daily mass each week, which is feasible since there is a Catholic church that is just over a block away from work so I can easily go before work or over lunch.
On a unrelated note, the fact that Lent starts today makes my move seem really soon as I will pack up and move the week after Easter. Eeks!
If you observe Lent, what will you be giving up this year? Would it be difficult for you to stop using your phone during the day?
21 comments:
Wow, that's ambitious! I tossed around a bunch of ideas yesterday and finally settled on giving up cursing. Clearly I'm setting myself up for failure. :)
WOAH that is huge to give up! I'm proud of you for choosing that!
I had a hard time thinking about what to give up for Lent this year too - I'm taking a break from blogging and will spend that time doing small things for others, and I'm going to try to write and leave a lot of love letters as well - this is the first year I'm actively doing something as opposed to really giving something up - we'll see how that goes!
That's a great idea to give up :) I always love your Lent decisions... I get so annoyed by people who use Lent as a time to lose weight, it drives me crazy. And it probably shouldn't because I don't give up anything for Lent. For some reason in my family we never did that, and now I'm a pretty bad Catholic anyway. I'm interested to hear how not checking your phone goes :) I would have a REALLY hard time with that on the weekend, but during the week especially at work I never have time to check my phone and don't have it with me. However I definitely understand the pull- sometimes on weekends if I am trying to save my battery, I end up checking it and being like AH stop Kelly haha
I've been thinking about giving something up for Lent. At first, I was thinking about giving up TV because that would be a HUGE sacrifice for me. Or social media. But I've decided to give up sugar for Lent. I know there are critics who say giving up a certain food is "cheating" or whatever but oh well! It will be a major sacrifice for me.
I'm obsessive about checking my phone at work, too. Lately, I've been doing better and only checking it about once an hour (ha, this is better for me!!) but that's a really good decision for Lent.
I love it! I was thinking about doing a post about what I am giving up - its slightly complicated and I decided to do a lot of things this year. I think yours is a great idea! I know I check my phone WAY too much even at night.
I think I may so something like that too! That is such a good idea !!!! I realize its Ash Wednesday already and I'm leaving this to the last minute.
I am also planning on reading some of the daily and attending a mass during the week if I missed it during the weekend. I got really bad this year working so many weekends.
I already miss you!!! =) But, I think it's a really excellent idea as you're right, it will take a lot of self control to leave your phone alone. Good for you!
I'm not Catholic and don't participate in Lent, but your comment about moving really soon made me realize that a very dear friend is getting married really soon (over Easter weekend) and I have to get organized about arranging our flights back to Boston!
I think this is a great idea. I think it ties in with your last post about feeling busy/stressed/pressured. I find that when I check my phone a lot, I feel like I have to respond right away and that can make you feel overwhelmed and pressured. This will let you respond all at once, and then you are done (kind of). This may make you feel more productive.
I actually stopped checking my phone at work when I got my new job. It did make me a little less present in the blogging world, but I made real life friends, and focused completely on my job, which is already hectic enough! It wasn't a conscious choice, but it did help in the long run!
That will be difficult, but I think it is a great plan! I'm doing both, too, - giving up things and adding more spiritual readings and weekday Mass attendances. I love the lenten season and looking inward to ways of converting my heart! I think Becky's idea of doing little things for others is also a great plan! I am going to try that, too!
I don't observe Lent, but good for you for giving up your phone! I am constantly on mine as well, so I would find it super hard to give up.
This is a great idea for Lent! I do use my phone quite a bit throughout the day and I often wonder how much time I waste checking FB for the gazillionth time. Is it really necessary?! Absolutely not. I would have a hard time actually giving it up, but it would be interesting to try.
I do not technically observe Lent, but I think I might give your sacrifice a try. I hate that I look at my phone so much while in my student teaching classroom. I do not think it looks professional at all. Plus, it's a waste of valuable time.
OK I won't be offended if you don't answer my texts during work hours ;) I might (stress might) be able to stop checking my phone during work hours if I had a job that I didn't hate so much. I do care about what I do and the mission of the organization, but my boss is so evil that when she comes in and I hear her making someone's life miserable (rarely mine because she likes me) I become so unmotivated that I slack off all day. Wait are you shocked that being crazy and evil and disrespectful doesn't actual motivate people?
That is SUCH a good one!! I think that would be really good for me too. I definitely use my phone too often during work hours, sometimes for work-related things but more often for texting with friends. Ha!
I have never given up anything for Lent but I do enjoy following others along!
Me (and Knight) are partaking in a daily eco-friendly challenge that our church is sponsoring. We get an email each day with a way for us to go green or help the earth. It's pretty cool so far!
I wish you a really meaningful Lenten season. I jokingly said that I was going to give up grading my students papers this year, but honestly I decided not to give up anything this year.
Nope, I don't observe lent, but I like the idea of it.
I dont usually use my phone during the day. My main usage is from the time I get out of work until I go to bed. I usually leave it in my bedroom until we leave for work unless I need to call/text someone and then it is off while I am at work. The hardest thing for me to give up would be the Internet but I don't do Lent so that won't be happening.
Awesome idea! I'd never be able to do that haha I'm not giving up anything for lent this year, but I'm just going to try to generally be nicer to everybody in my life! (Read: my parents haha)
I don't know that I could give up my phone during the day. But I can admit that it is probably something I should give up. Do I really need to be checking twitter during work hours? Er.... probably not. I don't think I'm that bad with my phone though, but know I could definitely be better.
I don't always give up. But what I try to do is give out and do random acts of kindness. Because I've been a little homebound that hasn't gone so well these first few days, but it will.
Giving up your phone, that's amazing and crazy! I sometimes wish I could stop checking mine obsessively too, but my jobs require it of me, because I deal with so much social media on a regular basis for three separate places, etc. It's nuts. But honestly, if I don't feel like being online I just don't do it. I'm on when I want to be. At least... I think? For Lent, I imagine I would quit something food related, or maybe watching TV, which I tend to do a lot, especially when I'm stressed and avoiding big decisions!
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