When we get out of our comfort zone, we feel insecure and anxious. But it is necessary to do this, both for your own development and to achieve your goals. We’ve put together seven actionable ways to be smart about stepping out of your comfort zone and reducing the stress you might experience.
1. Prioritize
Staying in your comfort zone isn’t always bad. For example, it may be wise to keep your hobbies, but the old ways of managing personal finances may eventually stop working.
The point is to identify bottlenecks—for example, areas of life where too comfortable conditions do more harm than good. So you will know exactly when it is time to change to direct energy in this direction.
2. Learn new things
Make a decision to go for something new. It all depends on your courage and desire. It can be both global changes – a new job or a move, or small decisions. They are equally useful if they relate to something you have never done or put off until later.
Think of something you’ve always wanted to try, and then commit to seeing it through. You can enlist the support of friends or tell a friend about your plans.
This is useful not only because of the support we can get from others but also as a motivation: it is more difficult for us to give up if we have told someone about our plans. In addition, they can keep us company if friends have similar views on life. For example, you can start quitting smoking together or take courses you have long dreamed of.
Do not spend too much time thinking about the pros and cons of a new business. Analyze what you need to make your dream come true, make an informed decision, and act. The mind will always find reasons why it cannot be done, especially if we overthink what we have in mind.
3. Act
US lawyer created the concept of five seconds, which has proven to be an effective way to get out of your comfort zone. It encourages you to act quickly once you have decided on something you want to do or achieve.
Action orientation is the key to fulfilling the commitment we have made. Take the first step towards it as soon as possible.
Make this process something that is directly geared towards conquering fears and insecurities. Waiting too long often causes us to give up on goals. As a result, we may never rise to new levels of success on the path of life.
Sign up for a dancing class if you’ve wanted to for a long time. Go home on foot if you promise to start doing it for a long time. Stop responding to your toxic girlfriend’s texts. We can talk endlessly about what we want, but action is the best way to get closer.
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4. Deal with procrastination
Procrastination is detrimental to success. Because of it, we stay in our comfort zone and believe that later we will actually move forward and achieve what we promised ourselves.
The reality is that we probably won’t do anything further. Take a step now to stop putting off a dream or a new vision for your life. This action and the immediate cessation of procrastination can be the push you need to get out of your comfort zone.
5. Be creative
Starting something new, from writing a poem to building a business, usually involves an element of risk.
Being creative is a good way to accustom yourself to new thinking patterns and eliminate the need for perfection from the very beginning. Draw, write stories, cook a new dish, take up knitting or website design: do something that allows you to be creative and create something unique.
6. Challenge your own beliefs
While exploring alternative viewpoints can be uncomfortable, it promotes growth and understanding by challenging ingrained beliefs.
This can take many forms, such as reading books of different genres, diversifying your social circle, and visiting new places. It’s easy to get stuck on one known path. However, this can lead to a lack of curiosity and an unwillingness to accept change—the hallmarks of being in your comfort zone.
7. Practice honesty
When used carefully, honesty can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth. Whether being honest with yourself in a personal diary or telling someone close about your feelings, being honest forces people out of their comfort zone. We can better understand ourselves and build deeper connections with those around us through honest communication.
