While Lent started this past Wednesday, many of us may still be deciding what to give up for the next forty days. Instead of giving up carbs or biting your nails here are some ideas for what collegiettes should REALLY think about going without:
Our morning macchiato
It’s true, we may really need that cup of caffeine to get us to our 8 am Biology class, but your body (and wallet) may actually thank you after 40 days of no morning Starbucks.
Online shopping
Look! You have ANOTHER email about a package in the mailroom. While we may be able to justify to ourselves the five sweaters we purchased last week and the three Victoria’s Secret bathing suits we just ordered last night, maybe it’s time to take a break from the unnecessary online shopping. Empty your cart and back away from the credit card.Swearing
Sometimes we just need to really drive home our point and adding in that extra expletive seems to do the trick…or so we think. Instead, for the next forty days, promise to have the mouth of an angel instead of the mouth of a sailor.
Drunk munching
So you’re out at the Townhouses and all you can think of is that half of a pizza that’s waiting for you in your fridge when you get back. Wait – before you think about drunk munching that pizza along with everything else in your room – give it up for Lent. This is worth way more than ditching soda for the next 40 days.
All you can eat ice cream in Barone
I’m sure we all thought the same thing when we first toured Barone as incoming freshmen, “Are you kidding? All you can eat!?” But after months of having ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner you’re probably sick of it already, amirite?
Binge watching Netflix
Ahhhh procrastination at it’s finest. It’s okay to watch a few episodes of your favorite show here and there, but I think we can consider it an addiction when it’s 4 am and we’ve killed two seasons of Orange Is The New Black.
Social media
Take a second to look around you, or even think of where you first saw this article. Most likely you see people on their phones and you probably saw the link to this article shared on Facebook or Twitter. Social media these days is about as common as spotting someone on campus in a Patagonia. It may be hard think about life without Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook, but you may find yourself a more productive and happier person at the end of 40 days without it.
Everyone is guilty of it. And whether it’s discussing the previous night’s events or telling your friends who have been frequenting your dorm hall lately, it’s a bad habit. Yes, sometimes a story is harmless and may not seem like it’s hurting anyone, but it could also be doing damage that you aren’t aware of. Instead of spreading stories and rumors around, pledge to ignore the gossip and take on a more positive mindset for the rest of Lent.