Many people use the traditional Lenten season to temporarily abstain from everyday vices or simply from unhealthy and environmentally harmful things. Thus, Lent can not only serve to do something good for the body or the environment, but also to raise awareness in terms of self-care. In this article, we want to give a few effective examples of what you can give up during Lent without going all out—as, for example, with therapeutic fasting.
1. Alcohol
79 percent of Germans have consumed alcohol within the last 30 days. Many of us appreciate the stimulating and mood-enhancing effects of beer, wine, sparkling wine, and spirits. It's easy to forget how dangerous the cellular toxin ethanol can be with excessive consumption and in the long term. Therefore, alcohol is certainly the most common and significant "everyday toxin" that people abstain from during Lent. Of course, this temporary abstinence shouldn't be used as an excuse to drink even more alcohol afterward.
2. Cigarettes
We surely don't need to elaborate on how bad smoking is for your health, do we? Tobacco smoke contains over 4,800 different substances , many of which are proven to be toxic and carcinogenic. When you inhale the smoke, these toxins are absorbed through the lungs and distributed throughout your body. The result: virtually every human organ is damaged by smoking. Perhaps Lent is the perfect opportunity to finally give up this vice for good.
3. Sugar
On average, every German consumes 2.2 kilograms of sugar per month, mostly hidden sugars in ready-made meals and other processed foods. Can that be healthy? Anyone who delves deeper into the topic of sugar, or rather, sugar abstinence, will quickly realize how difficult it is to escape it altogether, especially if you continue to consume processed foods. We therefore recommend starting with consistently avoiding refined sugar.
4. Coffee
In the morning it awakens the senses, at midday it banishes the post-lunch slump, and in the afternoon it contributes to a successful café visit: coffee. In 2014, the average German drank 162 liters of coffee. With an average cup size of 150 milliliters, that's over 1,000 cups of coffee per person. The roasted bean contains more than 800 aromatic compounds, but only about two kilocalories per 100 milliliters. And it wakes you up. It's no wonder so many people love coffee.
5. Television
Every hour spent in front of the TV increases our mortality risk by eleven percent. At least, that's what Australian scientist David Dunstan from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne claimed in 2010. For a study, he and his team examined the lifestyles of 8,800 Australians over several years. Another study suggests—who would have thought it—that people who abstain from television burn more calories daily. Let's be honest: there's almost nothing but rubbish on TV anyway. Perhaps YouTube, Pornhub, and the like also qualify for abstinence ;).
6. Meat
This isn't meant to be a call for everyone to adopt a completely meat-free diet, as there are also those who thrive on moderate consumption of animal products. But why not try being a vegetarian or vegan for a while? Perhaps schnitzel will taste even better afterward, or maybe you'll suddenly want to switch to tofu, tempeh, and other plant-based alternatives. The proof is in the pudding. Here are seven good reasons to give up meat.
7. Lies
Whether it's a white lie or a little fib in everyday life to (supposedly) make things easier, popular wisdom says that everyone lies at least twice a day. We can't scientifically prove this here, but we're certain that anyone who pays close attention for a while to whether, when, and why they lie will definitely improve their awareness .
8. Plastic waste
Of course, the issue of plastic waste is unavoidable when it comes to reducing our consumption. Far too often, convenience wins out over responsibility for many people, especially in this area . Anyone who pays close attention will quickly realize how difficult it is to escape plastics made from fossil fuels. They are found in packaging, cosmetics, and even chewing gum. For example, we have managed to avoid using PET bottles, but we are aware that this solution is not yet perfect.
9. Social Media
There's now plenty of data on the suffering caused by social media. In one study, smartphone users activated their devices an average of 53 times a day. A British study found that 58 percent of respondents felt unhappy or stressed when they looked at their phones. 71 percent of social media users regret their posts from a night out the next day. Many are fed up, more bored, and less enjoyable. It's only slowly becoming clear that these apps are addictive, like slot machines, with entire departments called "Addictive Design" analyzing, using, and manipulating us. If you don't want to miss any of our fasting tips despite abstaining from social media, you can also subscribe to our newsletter the old-fashioned way.
10. Take the escalator and elevator
For the sake of their health, everyone should really be able to do without taking the stairs for a while. The motto is: take the stairs instead of the elevator! This will quickly become a habit. Your heart and circulatory system will thank you.
