40 Ways to Fast
Updated: Feb 24
Lent is characterized by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Fasting is something that we know we should do but sometimes wonder about its value. Fasting is helpful because it helps us focus on what is most essential.
Sometimes we focus too much on simply "giving something up." Now, I see the value but think that it can be made more valuable if we fast from some bad habit. Then, we take advantage of Lent to get rid of something that is doing us harm.
So, I would propose to really try to fast from something that is hurting you - physically, emotionally, morally, or spiritually. Or maybe, you should stop doing something where you are hurting others. Sometimes, we reduce fasting to a very limited arena of eating and drinking. I have come up with forty ways we can fast this Lent. Not all will be for everybody, but they can be an idea-starter if you are trying to figure out what to do for Lent. I like to integrate elements of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving into my own Lenten program. This gives you some ideas about fasting, at least.
Links to the videos are at the bottom. Here are the two Youtube links and then the list of forty things you can fast from during Lent.
1. Food - fasting as a Catholic on Ash Wednesday
2. Bad words
3. Speaking ill of others
4. Bad thoughts about others
5. Social media
6. Sweets
7. Scrolling mindlessly
8. Not reading - READ
9. Making mean comments
10. Being inconsiderate while driving
11. Thinking ill of others
12. Worldly music
13. All music - Silence is GOLDEN
14. Political news - Less is MORE
15. Gas - walk or ride the bus
16. Couch - don’t lounge around during the day
17. Impure images - Should be always
18. Impure conversations
19. Inappropriate jokes
20. Complaining
21. Negative comments about myself
22. Comparing myself with others
23. Phone use
24. Computer use
25. Netflix
26. Annoying my siblings
27. Disobeying my parents
28. Speeding
29. Impure thoughts
30. Messy room
31. Hurtful speech
32. Soda
33. Sugar in my coffee
34. Coffee
35. Milk
36. Gluten
37. Red meat
38. Fast food
39. Arriving late
40. Distracted driving
What other ways can you fast during Lent? Leave me a comment.
Forty Ways to Fast Videos
English
Spanish
How to Meaningfully Observe Lent
