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.
And 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.
However, it can also be where you get stuck in a rut, feel
bored or 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.
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.
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
- It enhances performance. Stepping beyond the fear, learning how to deal with challenge. Acquiring new skills, expanding your comfort zone and becoming more resourceful.
- It 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.
- It 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, your comfort zone expands so what was once uncomfortable, after a while has become part of your new comfort zone.
It’s different for
everyone.
There’s a happy medium between moving out of your comfort zone and into an area where you feel so uncomfortable you panic. At that point any potential 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.
A performer
experiences stress before going on stage or making a speech but uses it 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 perfectly comfortable hosting a party for a large
group but very uncomfortable managing your finances.
In the words of Susan Jeffers, at times you're able to ‘Feel The Fear’. At other times you need to step back
into your comfort zone.
Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt
How to expand your comfort zone
Is
there something you used to do when you were younger that you no longer do? Or something you’ve always wanted to do.
Do it!
Sign up to a class or workshop session and flex your creative muscle. Playing an instrument, painting, baking, dancing
…
Join a group, in person or online on a topic of interest. 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.
- Eating - cook or try something new.
- Reading - 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 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.
Over the years I’ve tried new things and taken on new challenges.
Back in 2015 I took on the challenge of doing 52 things in 52
weeks. Doing something different every week. A few big things, many small and I shared some of them with you.
This year I'm stepping out of my comfort zone to complete the Great Glen Canoe Trail.
Fundraising 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.
