Do something meaningful this Lent (besides banning biscuits)

Lent is a period when people try to be 'good', but often that means being strict on ourselves and then feeling guilty when we fail. For a positive and lasting change this Lent without the deprivation, try taking on a simple personal challenge every day. We promise these will be the good habits that will stick with your life (and it means you can still enjoy the odd custard cream).

Get outside every day

Whether you go for a proper walk or merely take a few moments for yourself in the garden, any time spent outdoors will benefit your physical and emotional well-being. If that means leaving a jacket and umbrella by the door to go stand in your back yard, so be it. Once you're outside, the fresh air, vitamin D and nature will clear your head, give you a boost and make you fall in love with the outdoors again.

Make a small change stick

Whether you decide to never set foot in an elevator again, or always walk around the house when on the phone, making a small change and committing to it is how you cement a habit into your life and create lasting change.

Rethink your plate

Rather than making diet sacrifices, try adding more healthy stuff to your plate so there's less room for the bad stuff. Once you get into the habit of having a serving or two of green veg with every lunch and dinner, you'll start to crave it and the health incentives are countless. Have a side salad, steam some veg or bulk out curries with spinach and broccoli for a boost with lasting benefits.

Join a club

It can be daunting to walk into a room of strangers, and finding the time is a different story, but the pros outweigh the cons. Meeting new people, getting out of the house, trying new things and developing your own interests will help build your confidence and self-esteem. So find something you think you will enjoy, like a book club, walking group or community committee, and once the initial nerves are over with you'll find people will always welcome interested new members.

Learn something new

Whether it's learning to master Twitter, or perfecting your ganache recipe, set yourself a challenge. A small goal that you you feel personally motivated to achieve will give you such a sense of accomplishment. Taking a little bit of time throughout Lent to learn a skill and build on your own talents will always be worthwhile, and it'll put an end to you saying, 'I wish I knew how, but I just don't have the time'. Now is the time.