Breaking bad habits

Elin Alexander shares her personal relationship with Lent

Lent is the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday (the day after pancake day) and Good Friday, which symbolises Jesus’ withdrawal into the desert. For Christians, it’s a time for reflection, penance and prayer, often marked by giving up something to replicate Jesus’ sacrifice. Today, when over half of the UK’s population identifies as atheist, perhaps the idea is a little less popular. I must confess that the only indication I had that we were anywhere near the Lent period were the hot cross buns being sold in the supermarkets, though ASDA does seem to have them all year round, so maybe that’s not the best indicator of time either.

As a teenager, Lent felt more connected with diet culture than religion. Giving up crisps, chocolate or cake was maybe more of a bid to get rid of the things that were making us ‘fat’ rather than a time to reflect on another man’s struggle. It seemed more of a competition to see who could last the longest without indulging in their favourite treats, a façade if you will, as nobody talked about the midnight trips to the snacks cupboard when everyone was asleep. Well, I didn’t anyway.

Lent and I never really got on. Deciding what to give up was the first hurdle and believe me, there was an abundance of possibilities. I distinctly remember giving up milkshakes one year which actually went really well – probably because I had a milkshake once every four months so the whole 40 days thing was a piece of cake. I think I was looking for an easy escape after the previous year, where I gave up chocolate and resorted to eating around the chocolate chips of a chocolate chip cookie to try and trick myself into thinking everything was fine. Desperation is not a good look, let me tell you. Not long after this, Lent sort of went out of fashion in my social circles and everyone gave up. The excitement of a 13-year-old attempting to give up sugar isn’t quite the same as the excitement of a 21-year-old trying to give up drinking. Don’t get me wrong, everyone loves a challenge! But I think a challenge without appreciating why you’re doing it is maybe not the best kind.

I think Lent, whether you’re religious or not, is a good way to remind ourselves to appreciate the little things. Whether that’s our favourite foods, pastimes or maybe some quality time with loved ones. Although it’s easy to forget the real reason behind it, and perhaps Lent’s origin story doesn’t lie within your belief system anyway, it’s a good way to test the resilience of the human mind. If you can keep to it, that is!