Life feels secure & comfortable when you are living in your comfort zone. Finding the motivation to get out of it is challenging more often than we’d like to acknowledge.
However, the more we stay in it, the more chances/opportunities we lose to truly engage with the human experience. It requires willpower & a transition in perspective to learn how to move out of your comfort zone.
Each action you take to come out of your comfort zone results in professional & personal development.
Today, we will talk about how you can get out of your comfort zone & live a successful and meaningful life. So, without further ado, let us begin!
What Is A Comfort Zone?
The comfort zone is a psychological state wherein a person feels at ease because they aren’t being tested.
People do not engage in new experiences or take on new challenges inside their safe place. In addition, they only participate in familiar activities, thus making them feel ‘in control’ of the environment.
People stay in their comfort zone to avoid anxiety, stress, & pain. Anything outside it creates uncertainty & uncertainty makes us feel anxious. Naturally, human beings are wired to avoid such feelings. As a result, this makes them reluctant to leave their comfort zone!
What You Must Expect When Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone?
Stepping out of your comfort zone is challenging. So, here’s what you must expect when it’s time to get out of it.
- Fear Of Uncertainty
Everything is predictable, and you feel safe as you have a sense of security. But uncertainty confronts you whenever you consider moving out of your comfort zone. Thus, even when you know you have moved ahead/beyond your comfort zone, fear will prevent you from taking action.
- A Desire/ Temptation For Comfort
The comfort zone has a powerful draw even when we want to improve. People will naturally want to stay there as it is safe & convenient.
However, being there also means never developing or evolving in personal/ professional life. We frequently overlook the danger of taking no chances. In simpler terms, you risk missing out on the life you could have had!
- A Fixed Mindset
When you think in terms of a fixed mindset, you convince yourself that you are incapable of performing/accomplishing anything. As a result, you become less motivated to seek out opportunities for acquiring & developing new skills.
Instead, you use your abilities as a justification to remain in your present position, saying things like ‘I can’t do that’ or ‘That’s not my cup of tea‘. This type of mindset allows you to avoid difficulties & issues by keeping you in your comfort zone.
- Routine Habits
Since our behavior is ingrained, changing it successfully can be a bit challenging. We fall into set habits due to repeatedly engaging in particular actions. The first step towards a long-term behavioral change is a strong willingness to change.
Regardless of how well you perform, in order to establish new goals & adhere to them, you need to get out of your comfort zone & take risks.
Thus, to push yourself out of your cocoon/ safe place, look at the following section!
Tips To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Here’s what you can do to get effortlessly out of your comfort zone.
- Do One Thing You’ve Always Wanted To
If you have a list of things you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t gotten around to, then you aren’t alone.
Many people have their bucket lists filled with meaningful experiences & goals they wish to accomplish.
So, challenge yourself by picking one thing you have always wanted to do. This can be anything, i.e., from learning how to play the guitar to learning a new language.
- Take On A Fitness Challenge
Getting healthier should be one of your main goals.
Take on a 30-day fitness challenge & engage in activities like running, cycling, jogging, etc. Fitness challenges not only expand your comfort zone but also improve your health & well-being.
Even studies show that regular exercises decrease the effects of stress on the body, thus lowering your anxiety levels. This makes it easier for you to experiment/ try things outside your comfort zone because one of the barriers to stepping out of it is the feeling of anxiety it triggers.
- Change Your Routine
A routine created on good habits offers people stability & helps them get things done fast.
But when someone becomes too cemented in their daily routine, they begin to feel like they’re running on autopilot.
Shaking up your routine with some spontaneity is a way to get out of that rut. For instance, say you are remotely working from your home comfortably. So, change up your routine & try working from a cafe or a different place in your home a few times a week.
Making even a slight change in your routine can do wonders & help you easily get out of your comfort zone.
- Expand Your Professional Skill Set
Staying in your comfort zone can get in the way of your professional growth. Getting too comfortable in the role you have outgrown can keep you stuck when you need to advance your career.
One way to get out of it is to acquire new skills that offer you a competitive advantage & make you more employable.
Thus, utilize your company’s learning & development resources to upskill yourself with industry-relevant skills.
- Travel To A New Place
Travelling is one of the top ways to step out of your comfort zone. It’s fun & eye-opening at the same time.
So, if you go to the same place & stay in the same resort, perhaps it’s time to change this routine!
Explore a new & diverse environment and a way of life, thus making it the most rewarding experience of your life. Going to a completely new place can offer you fresh perspectives, thus challenging the way you think.
Moreover, traveling also exposes you to the natural wonders of the world, thus making you gain a deeper appreciation for nature & environment.
- Cultivate A Positive Mental Attitude
When it comes to moving out of your comfort zone, having the right attitude is extremely crucial.
A positive mental attitude implies approaching every situation & challenge in life with optimism.
Here’s how you can have a positive mental attitude when you are filled with uncertainty:
- Have compassion for yourself
- Frame challenges as opportunities
- See every failure as a lesson
- Set ambitious goals
- Challenge your negative beliefs & learn how to be optimistic
- Set Personal Goals
Set SMART goals that will help you expand your comfort zone. For instance, getting your master’s degree within five years is a goal which will help you both personally & professionally.
So, get clear on your goals, write them down, & recognize how each goal will benefit you.
Remember that setting goals offers you a sense of direction & helps you create a personal vision of what & how your life can actually look like!
- Choose A Fear & Face it
You need to be brave to step out of your comfort zone. Being brave is not about eliminating fear but moving ahead despite it.
So, choose one fear that’s presently holding you back & confront it. You can begin with something small. For instance, if you fear public speaking, practice speaking up more during work meetings.
This will help you inculcate confidence to keep your opinion & perspective in front of everyone!
Face Your Fears & Move Out Of Your Comfort Zone!
Living life inside the comfort zone offers numerous benefits, i.e., it’s safe, familiar, & less stressful.
But as Nelson Mandela asserts, ‘There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life which is less than the one you are capable of living’.
Learning how to get out of your comfort zone leads you to the life you are capable of living. So, find what encourages you & challenge yourself one step at a time.
Stepping out of your comfort zone leads you to your professional as well as personal development & transformation. So, utilize the tips we gave you and move out effortlessly to see what success looks like!
Well, you can even go for our life coaching sessions. The sessions will fast-track the process & help you get excellent outcomes. Visit RILC Academy today & book a free session with us!