After this season of indulgence, it will be time to trade egg nog and Buche de Noel for club soda and carrot sticks. But can you imagine giving up such staples as alcohol, shopping, elevators, newspapers, cell phones, dining out, television, taxis, coffee, cursing, chocolate, and multitasking? That’s what Mary Carlomagno did, though not all at once.

In “Give It Up! My Year of Learning To Live Better With Less” (William Morrow, 196 pages, $14.95), Ms. Carlomagno recounts her realization that life has become suddenly more complex with modern “conveniences.” In the spirit of her Catholic tradition of Lent, the author vows to relinquish one habit every month for a year; each indulgence factors significantly in her life, and abstinence from each is designed to place her outside her comfort zone.

When she renounces alcohol, Ms. Carlomagno first finds herself avoiding social situations altogether, then learns to engage with others as a temporary teetotaler. Refraining from television allows her to complete her chores during the week, so that her weekends become truly free time. By dining in (instead of out), Ms. Carlomagno not only loses weight, but also rediscovers her passion for fresh food. She even grows closer to her family through the time-honored tradition of Italian home cooking.

The book’s release is strategically timed to make readers reconsider priorities as they head into the new year. By living without the little luxuries we all take for granted, Ms. Carlomagno develops a better understanding of her own needs and now feels less prey to media-driven must-haves. Each chapter ends with a tidy lesson, tied up with a Christmas bow.