Expand your comfort zone
Every now and then we need to step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to do something different.
Last weekend I stepped out of mine when I joined the IWD ‘swim’ in the sea. Given that it’s March the sea was pretty cold.
But it was invigorating and something I’d been wanting to do for a while - knowing the benefits of cold water swimming.
Swimming with a group of like-minded people was a good way to step out of my comfort zone and do it.
Many had done this before and, judging by the number of Dry Robes, were regular sea swimmers. Quite a few of us were first timers.
However, it wasn’t quite as cold as I’d feared, probably because my legs went numb shortly after the cold water hit them!
I have been wild swimming before. A Lake District tarn or a freshwater river is pretty cold even in the summer.
But swimming in the sea, at this time of year, was a first.
Your comfort zone ...
... is where you spend most of your time. It’s safe, it’s comfortable, you know what you’re doing. You're in control.
But it can also be where you get stuck in a rut, feel bored and demotivated.
Outside your comfort zone is a challenging and potentially scary place.
But when you step outside of your comfort zone you experience new things, learn new skills, as a result you feel more comfortable being uncomfortable.
When you do something different, that challenges you, you learn and grow. You realise it’s not as scary as you might have first imagined.
If you’re feeling frustrated or stuck, now would be a good time to step out of your comfort zone.
If you ever hear yourself saying … “I could never do that”. Put your mind to it and you can.
Age doesn’t have to be a limiting factor. There are plenty of people who take up a new hobby or activity when they get older.
Some because they have more time and freedom or now they care less about what other people think.
For instance, on holiday in the Pyrenees a few years ago, I met an ultra-marathon runner who only started running when he was 50.
Benefits of expanding your comfort zone
- Enhances performance. Stepping beyond the fear, learn to deal with challenge. Acquire new skills as you expand your comfort zone and become more resourceful.
- Builds confidence. Trying something new is often uncomfortable but once you’ve done it, you’ll feel more confident and ready to try it again.
- Enables you to achieve your potential. It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone but sometimes we need a nudge to get motivated and move forward.
- As you grow, what was once uncomfortable now becomes part of your new comfort zone.
And of course, it’s different for everyone.
There’s a happy medium between moving out of your comfort zone and feeling so uncomfortable you panic. When that happens any potential rapidly benefit decreases or stalls completely.
A level of fear and anxiety gives you the motivation to meet new challenges. Too much and you’re likely to run away … back into your comfort zone or freeze and do nothing.
Do you feel anxious or excited? On a physiological level they’re the same. Chose to label the feeling as excitement rather than fear or anxiety.
For example, performers experience stress before going on stage or making a speech but use that as a positive to enhance their performance.
Your comfort zone expands and contracts over time and for different areas of your life.
You might feel comfortable hosting a party for a large group but uncomfortable managing your finances.
In the words of Susan Jeffers, at times you're able to ‘Feel The Fear’, while at other times you need to step back into your comfort zone.
Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt
Ways to expand your comfort zone
What is something you used to do when you were younger but you no longer do now? Or perhaps something you’ve always wanted to do.
Do it!
Sign up to a class or workshop session and flex your creative muscle. Play an instrument, paint, bake, dance …
Join a group, in person or online on a topic of interest or out of curiosity. You'll meet new people and get new perspectives.
Team up with a friend and try something new together. Stepping out of your comfort zone on your own may be a step too far but less scary with a friend.
Think about what you ‘really’ want and go for it. Too often we’re held back, by convention, society or expectation, from doing what we really want.
Baby steps. It doesn’t have to be a big massive step, like throwing yourself off a cliff, base jumping. (You can build up to that!)
What everyday habit or activity could you do differently?
- Going to work - try a different route or method of transport.
- Exercise - a different class or workout.
- Healthy Eating - cook or try something new.
- Reading - read a different type of book from your usual genre.
Build your skillset. Learning something new on a professional or personal level. Invest in yourself to grow your skillset, boost your confidence and open up opportunities.
Embrace saying ‘yes’ to things you might normally say ‘no’ to.
We learn from our mistakes. Fear of making a mistake is a reason to stay in our comfort zone. Allow time for trial and error, make mistakes (and learn) before you get it right.
My comfort zone ...
Over the years I’ve tried new things and taken on new challenges.
Back in 2014 I took on the challenge of doing 52 things in 52 weeks. Doing something different every week. A few big things, many small things too.
So, this year I’ll be stepping out of my comfort zone again to complete the Great Glen Canoe Trail.
A Fundraising Challenge for Odyssey, a small charity that gives people recovering from cancer the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone, challenge themselves, rebuild their confidence and sense of self-worth.
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. - Nelson Mandela
Find Out More:
The Odyssey Great Glen Canoe Trail
Sponsor me --> HERE
Read previous related blog posts on time management and productivity.
Time Is Important - Use It Wisely (blog post)
Build Better Time Habits (online course)
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