The Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic season of Lent begins this Wednesday, March 1. During Lent, it's traditional to give up at least one thing, if not more, from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday. Food is the most common, with things like candy, soda, and desserts at the top of the list. This year, think outside the box and give up something other than food, like: (Some of these seem to big to handle, but hear me out!)

1. Taking the elevator.

We're so used to taking the elevator. Try the stairs for a healthy change.

2. Netflix (or restrict yourself to one hour a day).

If you're like me, your life revolves around it. By giving it up, or even just watching one hour a day, your productivity and motivation will skyrocket.

3. Social Media (one, several, or all of them).

It's such an integral part of our lives that we don't even think twice about it.

4. The snooze button.

Waking up earlier = being ready earlier = being more productive.

5. The convenience of using a credit card.

Try using cash to purchase things instead.

6. Watching your favorite TV show.

Use the time to be productive instead.

7. Yelling, or swearing.

It'll shock you how used to it you are.

8. Sarcasm or gossip.

Society nowadays has it positioned so that we're used to talking poorly about others, or to others, like it's no big deal. Take this time to give that up.

Or, if you don't want to give up anything, take on something instead, like:

9. Do the daily laundry/dishes/sweeping.

It'll take the burden off of whoever usually does it.

10. Go to Mass at least once, or multiple times, a week.

11. Take the worst spot in the parking lot.

This may just seem like giving something up, but if you don't take the best parking space, someone who might really need it can get it.

12. Spend at least one hour with loved ones every day.

NOT counting the time you spend eating dinner together.

13. Do something nice every day.

Even if it's something as simple as holding the door or giving a compliment.

The whole point of a Lenten sacrifice isn't to make yourself miserable. It's to impose some sort of inconvenience on yourself so you can contemplate on the suffering, and more over, to make you realize how attached we are to certain things and contemplate their importance in our lives.