Your comfort zone is your safe space. It’s where you can be who you are without fear of being judged or ridiculed. It’s a place of security and familiarity. But comfort zones can also be stifling. They can hold you back from reaching your full potential and, therefore, from living your best life.
This year, instead of staying glued to your comfort zone, why not challenge yourself to do something different? It doesn’t have to be anything significant or drastic, just something that makes you a bit uncomfortable. Something that makes you think, “Hey, I can actually do this!”
Here are five things you can do to leave your comfort zone and explore new possibilities:
1. Conquer a Fear (or Two)
Fears are meant to be conquered, not coddled. So if there’s something you’re afraid of, make it your mission to face that fear head-on. Understandably, it’s not always an easy thing to do or get over. After all, that’s a big part of why you’re afraid to do something in the first place.
But once you take that leap and do what you’re afraid of, you’ll feel empowered like never before. You’ll feel like you can take on the world. So pick something that scares you and go for it! For instance, if you’re a big scaredy cat, you could try overcoming that fear by entering a Halloween haunted house.
Or it could also be something less intense but still out of your comfort zone, like speaking in front of a crowd. If the thought of getting up in front of a group of people and giving a speech makes you break out in a cold sweat, then sign up for a Toastmasters club. You’ll gradually overcome your fear of public speaking and might even find that you enjoy it.
2. Pick Up a New Hobby
The worst part of learning something new is arguably the beginning when you know absolutely nothing about the subject. But if you look at the brighter side of things, that can also be the most exciting part because everything is new and you get to learn as you go along.
So instead of being daunted by the prospect of starting from scratch, see it as an opportunity to discover something you’re passionate about. And you can do this by picking up a new hobby. It could be something as simple as taking up painting or knitting. Or it could be something more adventurous, like rock climbing or surfing.
3. Try Something You Thought You’d Never Do
Living vicariously through other people is enough until you realize that you’re the only one not doing anything with your life. The fear of missing out or FOMO is a real thing, and it can be a powerful motivator to push you out of your comfort zone. Think about everything you’ve seen someone else do that you thought, “I could never do that.”
Well, now’s your chance to prove yourself wrong. It could be something seemingly small as dyeing your hair a loud color or getting a tattoo. Or it could be something bigger and more life-changing, like quitting your stable job to travel the world or moving to a new city.
At this point in your life, you should do things that will surprise not just other people, but yourself too. You don’t have to live your life by the book, especially one written by someone else. Write your own story and go on the kind of adventures that you’ll be telling your grandchildren about someday.
4. Go on a Solo Trip
This is a big one for a lot of people. Traveling solo can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re not used to being by yourself for extended periods of time. But it can also be one of the most liberating experiences you’ll ever have – one that will teach you a lot about yourself and your perspectives in life.
When you travel by yourself, you’re forced to rely on your own resources and instincts. You learn how to be resourceful and self-sufficient, two qualities that will serve you well in all aspects of your life. So if you’ve been wanting to travel but haven’t had the chance or the companionship, go ahead and book that solo trip. You might just find that you enjoy your own company more than you thought.
5. Quit a Bad Habit
Breaking bad habits can be just as hard as getting out of your comfort zone, but it’s definitely worthwhile. Not only will you improve your health and well-being, but you’ll also feel a sense of accomplishment at having overcome something that was holding you back.
Think about a bad habit that you’ve been meaning to quit for a while now. It could be something as small as biting your nails or as big as smoking cigarettes. Whatever it is, make a plan to slowly but surely break yourself out of that habit. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
Leaving your comfort zone can be scary, but it’s also exciting and liberating. So this year, challenge yourself to do something different. Step out of your comfort zone and into a world of new possibilities!
