Top 8 Things You're Giving Up for the Lenten Season

“I’d rather stay at home (than go shopping) during the Lenten season!” – @kyutkat

Starting off at number eight, it’s a tie between shopping and movie marathon, which garnered 2.22% of votes. Shopping can often lead to a materialistic pursuit of wants rather than needs, which make it a good thing to give up for Lent. Majority of the malls will be closed anyway for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which is good news for those looking to avoid shopping for Lent. But with the pervasiveness of the Internet, there is still the temptation—not to mention convenience—of shopping online.

Just keep in mind that excessive shopping almost always lead to impulsive spending which does not bode well for one’s bank account. Curbing shopping sprees teaches us to be contented and grateful for what we have, which is a great trait to imbibe come Lent.

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A movie marathon is defined as watching films in succession for six hours or more. It’s a fun and inexpensive way to spend time with family and friends. Movies also let us reflect and talk about current trends in society. But unless they are movies about Bible characters, they might not be appropriate to watch for Holy Week. Good thing that most local channels show Christian and family-friendly movies as part of their Holy Week programming.

Roughly 4% of ShoppersGuide readers have confessed to cutting back screen time dedicated to their favorite TV shows for Holy Week. With the popularity of streaming services like Netflix, Filipinos have caught on to the popularity of binge-watching.

Binge-watching, which was chosen as the 2015 Word of the Year by Collins English Dictionary, is defined as the act of watching a large number of TV programs consecutively. While TV shows can be a good conversation starter with other people, some studies suggest that this habit can have adverse impacts on our health.

A 2015 University of Texas study has established links to binge watching to a lack of self-control. A similar study from the Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group has also found a 3.4% chance of getting diabetes for every hour spent sitting at work or in front of the TV. So while it’s a good idea to not watch one’s favorite TV shows for Lent, lessening time spent in front of a TV screen or laptop may be good for one’s overall health even after Holy Week.

The sixth spot holds a tie again between getting a caffeine fix and consuming large amounts of food, which made up 8.89% of the votes. Refraining from these activities is only appropriate, given that Lent is a time for fasting, and giving up things which bring pleasure.

There are both positive and negative effects to drinking coffee. Studies have found that coffee drinkers are protected against certain diseases like Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and liver cancer. Caffeine also helps in boosting cognitive function and makes people less depressed. However, other studies show that people who drink two or more cups of coffee a day are prone to heart disease. Drinking unfiltered coffee can also lead to a mild increase in cholesterol levels.

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On the other hand, there’s overeating, which is fine when done once in a while. But when you gorge on copious amounts of food once a week for at least three months, it’s a sign that you have binge eating disorder. To avoid overeating, experts suggest savoring your food and eating with smaller plates.

“We need some long rest freshen up our mind and body.” – Butch

There’s quite an interesting mix of items which made it to the fifth spot. One of these is the online game Defense of the Ancients (DotA) 2. With DoTA, players can forge connections with other enthusiasts online and in real life. A number of Filipino players have even made it big in international DoTA tournaments. But on the flip side, this highly addictive game can create financial issues for avid gamers, lead them to disregard personal grooming, or neglect responsibilities at home or at school. It can even strain one’s relationships, the subject of which has been explored in the song “DoTA o Ako.”

With the success of Taiwanese drama “Meteor Garden” in 2003, Filipinos became exposed to Asianovelas, which in turn led them to catch on the Korean wave or hallyu. Now, every major TV network has Korean shows as part of their regular programming.

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These shows became a hit among Filipino viewers because of its fast-paced storytelling. Light, kid-friendly stories which focus on the lower middle class also offered something new compared to the poverty-stricken plots of a typical Pinoy teleserye. But since these shows can distract from celebrating the solemnity of Lent, ShoppersGuide readers have resolved to taking a break from watching these in the meantime.

Going to the malls, or malling, has been ingrained in Filipino culture. Malls have become the modern-day equivalent of the Spanish plaza complex where people used to gather with family and friends. Aside from buying stuff, you can also eat, watch a movie, do government transactions, and even hear mass at a mall. However, it’s good to veer away from the consumerist culture malls promote even just for a week, and ShoppersGuide readers certainly agree.

Work was also the last thing on people’s mind during Holy Week. With recent figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) citing that 8 million Filipinos are overworked, the long weekend of the Lenten season is an opportune time for employees to spend time with their family and loved ones.

With the busy pace of life, Filipinos turn to fast-food chains whenever they need a quick meal. Some chains have even come up with ad campaigns that have gone viral.

While they surely are convenient, fast-food meals have high amounts of sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Excessive consumption of these foods can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Giving up fast-food meals for Lent helps you attune to those who could not eat three square meals a day. If you plan to make it part of your lifestyle, your wallet and your body will thank you for it, too.

ShoppersGuide readers chose to eat less or none at all of their favorite food, putting it on number three in our poll. This is aside from lessening the quantity of one’s food intake, which Catholics are required to do for Holy Week.

Filipino Catholics typically fast on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent. This means they are only allowed two meals a day, or one meal plus two half-sized meals. Two small snacks are allowed but these must not be equal to one full meal.

By fasting, we get a feel of what it’s like to be in Jesus’ shoes who suffered for the sins of mankind. Just make sure to consult your doctor first before giving up certain food, especially if you have a health condition.

Chugging down a cold one after a long day at work is a way to unwind for some people. But alcohol is mostly associated with revelry and partying, which are frowned upon during Lent. Besides, one can hardly do self-reflection and prayers when in a state of drunken stupor.

When taken in moderation, alcohol may protect adults from the risk of coronary heart disease. However, drinking too much alcohol can lead to stroke, high blood pressure, inflammation of the liver, and even cancer. Those who have gone as far as totally banning booze from their lives reported forming real connections with friends, saving money, and finding time for hobbies.

Taking the number one spot in our list of Lenten sacrifices is oversleeping and eating meat and sweets.

Part of the Filipino Lenten traditions is having a night vigil on Black Saturday, and waking up at early morning for Easter Sunday mass. Observing these rituals means getting less shuteye, a sacrifice which compensates for those times spent oversleeping for the rest of the year.

Oversleeping is defined as spending more than nine hours in slumber. Adults aged 18 to 64 only need seven to nine hours of sleep, according to a research from the National Sleep Foundation. To avoid oversleeping, experts recommend going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including weekends. By doing so, you’ll have enough time for reflection even before your busy day starts, which can add meaning and purpose to your life.

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Lent is also one of the most popular times to go meat-free. The reason for that this is that in the olden times, meat was more expensive and was thus reserved for lavish feasts. This was not the case with fish. Since it was considered less decadent, fish became to being associated with Lent, when the faithful are called to make sacrifices.

In a predominantly Catholic country, restaurants even have Lenten specials to accommodate this seasonal change in people’s dietary requirements. Catholics aged 14 to 60 are obliged to abstain, or refrain from eating meat. Since sweets and dessert items are indulgent, foregoing them requires discipline and can also be a form of penance, especially for those with a sweet tooth. However, if you failed to observe a meatless Friday (except during Good Friday and Ash Wednesday), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines allows you to make up for it by doing acts of piety or acts of charity instead.

It can be challenging to give up things or activities we love or are used to doing. But focusing more on the lesson behind the experience rather than the discomfort helps us to have a richer spiritual life.