Whether you’re giving up something big or small – or taking on something positive – here's some tips for how to stick to your Lent goals.
Ash Wednesday today marks the first day of Lent, which sees Christians across the globe give up something for 40 days in honour of Jesus’ fast in the desert for the same amount of time.
While some may try to get away with giving up work or school, people generally abstain from something they enjoy during Lent, such as crisps or chocolate.
Canon Michael Gisbourne (left) with a member of the congregation who has an ash cross on her forehead. Image: PA Images / Alamy. 22, 2023.Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Brendan Kelly told Newstalk Breakfast that “it’s very hard to stick to anything for 40 days”.
“It’s hard to stick to something for even one day sometimes,” he said.
“And yet, we do have these fantasies that we are capable of enormous renunciation and spiritual purification and self-discipline.
“So, I guess it’s useful enough to try and tap into that fantasy to an extent.”
Press the reset button
However, Prof Kelly said that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
“It is good to press the reset button a little bit at this kind of moment, be it January 1st or be it today or whatever your religion or your spiritual tradition might suggest to you,” he said.
“What’s interesting is nearly all spiritual traditions have some form of period of renunciation, giving something up.”
This year, Lent is aligned with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which sees Muslims fast during the day and only eat at certain hours of the night.
As the sun sets, Palestinians sit at a large table surrounded by the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings as they gather for iftar, the fast-breaking meal, on the first day of Ramadan in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip,Saturday, March 1, 2025 (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)When it comes to Lent though, Prof Kelly said you shouldn’t expect yourself to be absolutely perfect.
“The first thing to know is that you’re not going to succeed in this for 40 days, you will rationalise exceptions or make exceptions and you will forget,” he said.
“So, look, let’s go that little bit easy on ourselves.
“We try our best to do what we set out to do but it’s not like snakes and ladders when you get to 99 and then go back down to zero.
“You do your best, you have some setbacks and then you carry on.”
Prof Kelly said to set yourself reasonable goals and, if you don’t feel like giving something up, maybe try taking up a healthy exercise habit instead.
