As odd as it may seem, I truly do look forward to Lent. Not only does it mean the beginning of Spring, but it’s also an ideal time for reflection, to double-down on New Year’s resolutions, to set new challenges, and to reconnect. For this Lenten season, I’ve decided to focus on my health and self-care. A lot of things can fall under the self-care umbrella. I’ve decided to take a holistic approach to taking better care of my mind, body, and spirit.

First up, the body. In years past, giving up chocolate for Lent felt like a healthy enough move. But, for this year I’m getting a bit more serious and am finally scheduling a physical with my PCP. Apparently, people between the ages of 30-40 should get a physical every other year and, starting around 45-50, you should get annual physicals. I want to say my last physical exam was the summer before I left home for college, yikes! Sure, I’ve been to the doctor when I’ve been pregnant or when I’ve had a really nasty cold, but unless I’m sick or growing a baby, I don’t check in much with my regular family doctor. In addition to getting a much overdue physical, I also hope to cut back on after-dinner snacks and try to get to bed earlier. Lent also provides a great opportunity time to reassess your diet and exercise routine; it’s a nice chunk of time to make improvements and set weekly goals.

For the spirit, I’ve downloaded the “Pray As You Go” app, which offers a daily bible verse and reflection. There are tons of prayer, religious, and meditative resources out there. You can sign up for daily affirmation emails, or online newsletters for your specific denomination. Check out webinars for theological lectures, or join an online prayer community for daily scripture readings and intentions. For the agnostic-leaning folks, you can still use Lent as a time to renew your spiritual life. Try doing a good deed every day for forty days, or experiment with transcendental meditation. Or, explore a religion that piques your interest, through reading and research. Unlike the body, spiritual health is open to interruption from person to person, but we can all use an examination of the soul from time to time.

Maybe you’re not really interested in going on a spiritual journey between now and Easter, but be aware that the mind and spirit can overlap, especially when considering temperament and deeply-rooted personality traits. It can be a fine line between having an uncouth habit and the intricate fabric of your character. No matter how you suss it out — Lent can be a time to change your behavior for the better. What I like about Pray As You Go is that is also plays calming music, and the narrators have British accents, both of which I find soothing. In addition to being more prayerful each day during Lent, I’m also trying to learn better ways to deal with stress and anger. You may not be able to change how you instinctively react to outside stressors, but you can choose not to give in to negative thoughts. I find prayer very helpful in that struggle. Others could be helped by exercise or listening to music. The key is to focus on positive and healthy feelings.

For the left-brain-side of the mind, Lent can be a season for learning and organization. Six weeks gives you plenty of time to tackle a new project or learn a new skill. Think of it as a personal challenge, even for something small, like knitting a scarf, clearing out a file cabinet, or signing up for a class you’ve always wanted to take. Set yourself a goal and use Lent to make it happen. For me, I want to read more during Lent. I’m making up a book list and hope to get to the library near my office once a week. Both the walk and the written word will help me de-stress and feel more fulfilled.

Having mind, body, and spirit focused intentions this Lent is a tall order. I’ve set up small goals that will help me accomplish the larger holistic Lenten objective, but I’m not going to beat myself up if I start slacking on one of these fronts. Basically, if I get a physical, get some extra prayers in on the weekdays, and read some new books, I’d call that a win. As we approach this transition from winter to spring, whether from a spiritual standpoint, from a health angle, or as a time to take on a new task, use the season of Lent to focus your intentions and strive toward success, however you define it.