This year for Lent, I have decided to give up Youtube, social media and sweets. Lent is the 40 days before Easter Sunday. It is a time when Christians, primarily Catholics, give up something in hopes of getting closer to God. I am a Christian who participates in Lent, and Lent does not have to be confined to one group. The idea is that the time you would spend on whatever you give up, you use to spend with God instead. This creates a deeper relationship with God.
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is whatever Wednesday is 40 days before Easter, the day after Mardi Gras. It’s hard to determine which date Ash Wednesday will be because Easter moves. Some years Easter is early, other years it’s late and in others it’s right on time.
Okay, I’ve given enough of a history lesson. Rather than just talk about Lent, I will talk about why I gave up Youtube, social media and sweets. I’ll also talk about what I hope to gain from doing this.
Youtube
Ah yes, Youtube. Glorious home to Vines, Tik Toks, movies, cat videos, that one clip from a movie or the song you can’t get out of your head. Also the home to… procrastination! Or at least I felt that is what was happening to me. There is nothing wrong with watching a Youtube video. It can be relaxing, mindless entertainment after a long day of classes. I know, because I have used Youtube for just that. But when does it become excessive? I can’t say exactly how or when it became excessive for me, I just know it did. Or at least too excessive for my own personal comfort.
After having given it up for a few days now, I can tell you I feel great. I have slept better, gotten more work done, read more, hung out with friends more and it feels as though I have more time! It’s still a struggle to not watch that movie clip from that movie I love, but it’s worth it. In the end, I hope to be closer to God by using the time I’d be on Youtube as time to be with Him.
Social Media
Social media is fun. You can see pictures of your friends, find out what your friends are up to, post your own photos and share what you’re passionate about. However, it is also where you can start to compare yourself to others. Lets face it, as humans we compare ourselves to others a lot. We want to have a partner and a big, expensive house with this, that and the other because we saw someone on Instagram with those things. We want to try out this new makeup routine because we want to look as good as who posted it to Facebook.
This is a huge part of why I gave up social media for Lent. I already compare myself to others in daily life face to face, why increase it? Not scrolling through social media for the past few days has given me a bit more self-esteem and honestly, I’m a lot happier! I feel like I have more time to do what I want to do. I haven’t wanted to go on a rant about whatever post I saw, because for the last few days I haven’t seen anyone’s post. I have regained some peace by not looking at my social media.
Sweets
I know, I know, what’s wrong with a cookie once in a while? What’s wrong with a bit of ice cream or chocolate? The answer: nothing! Nothing is wrong with having sweets once in a while. I myself have a major sweet tooth and see nothing wrong with indulging it. That is, if I don’t indulge it everyday. I usually control it pretty well, but with having a major sweet tooth, it can be difficult some days. Being a Type 1 diabetic doesn’t help matters either. Why would anyone give a diabetic a sweet tooth? I mean, honestly, what’s the point?!
Anyway, I gave up sweets for Lent because I wanted to be healthier. That’s really what it comes down to. God wants everyone to be happy and healthy so they can live life to the fullest. By giving up sweets and making healthier choices over the past few days, my body feels so much better. Again, I’m sleeping better, I have more energy, my blood sugar has been better and I just feel overall better.