Lent is the Christian season of repentance. For 40 days, people give up or make some kind of sacrifice until it's over. It begins with Ash Wednesday which was last week and ends on Easter Sunday. Most people give something up that is normally harmful, others promise to do something. If you haven’t come up with what to do for lent, here are some ideas. Better late than never, right?

1. Give up any unhealthy foods that are a part of your daily diet.

Lent is always about bettering yourself in some way, the usual go to is adjusting eating habits. Giving up an unhealthy food for lent is the best way to diet, it’s not gone forever, just for 40 days. Maybe you typically eat a bowl of ice cream every day. You can give that up completely or substitute it with yogurt. Starting new healthy habits are what I usually did in high school.

2. Give up social media.

This is a hard one, especially for me. Not because I’m totally addicted, I just manage a few social media pages (if you're reading this and haven’t liked The Odyssey at The Fashion Institute of Technology on Facebook- do it!). Anyways, a 40 day (less than 40 now) social media cleanse could be the best thing you ever do. I gave up social media for a few weeks in 10th grade and it was the best thing ever. I felt more confident with myself and I was definitely more positive.

3. Give up complaining!

Everybody complains. It’s totally normal, but if it’s something you do all too often, try to monitor how much and what you complain about. Being conscious of your complaining will help you realize how much you do it and what is even worth the energy. This will help you to be a more positive person.

4. Do one good deed a day.

This is my personal Lent goal this year. Doing something as simple as lending someone a pen, or holding a door for someone can go a long way. Offer to pick your roommate up a snack when you make a run to the store or give someone a genuine compliment. The little things go a long way.

5. Do some community service.

Sign up or volunteer for some community service activities in the area. FIT has a community service club that meets on Tuesdays called FIT Outreach with plenty of community service activities.

6. Whenever you have leftover food from a restaurant give it to a homeless person.

If you live in a traditional style dorm and you can’t have a refrigerator, why not box up the leftovers at a restaurant and give them to a homeless person on your walk home? Trust me, when you see the smile on his/her face, you will feel the best you have ever felt.

7. Give a certain amount of your paycheck to a charity.

Save some money from every paycheck, even if it's just five dollars. At the end of Lent, donate your total to a charity that you feel strongly about. This is great because some of us can’t give throughout the year, so a little donation at the end of Lent is better than nothing.

8. Be more inclusive.

If you know of someone who doesn’t have plans for the night, invite them out with you. Sit with that girl you had class with last semester who is sitting alone in the cafeteria. Be more open to listening to everyone’s opinions in your group projects.

9. Pay attention to the news.

This might be a good thing since the presidential election is coming up. Try to formulate your own opinions rather than conform to what everyone else is doing. It will really benefit you when people ask why you support a certain candidate.

10. Save money on the little things.

If you like to spend money on little things like those bags of cookies placed strategically in the middle of the checkout lines at Trader Joe’s (I'm guilty), restrain yourself. Passing up on the little items will save you a good amount of money at the end of the month!

11. Reflect on your day before you go to bed.

This is something I do every day. It’s good to just think about how your day went and consider what you could’ve done differently or what you did well. It’s also a good time to think about what you are thankful for.

These are only a few things to consider especially if you have not come up with something to give up or do. I look at Lent as a time to make positive changes to who you are, not as some 40 day long, demanding journey. It's pretty much like having a New Years resolution for only 40 days.