Get out of your comfort zone

Hillsborough Forest is one of my favourite walking destinations and I visit it regularly.  As well as the diverse range of deciduous trees, a fantastic play park and a fort, it can also boast of having many swans and ducks in its beautiful lake.  The swans are very used to being fed and will even go for a little stroll on the paths if they think they will get some tasty titbits. 

On a recent walk with my friend Siofra, the swans seemed keen to go on a little walk with us.  Indeed, one brave swan got so close to Siofra that it looked like she was going to get a peck!  But she stood her ground in the hope that I would get a good photo – which I did.  In fact, she was well and truly out of her “comfort zone” and it got me thinking.

What is a comfort zone?

According to the Cambridge dictionary, a comfort zone is:

A situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.

In other words, it sounds like you are sitting at a roaring fire with your slippers on and the remote control in your hand.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with living all the time in your comfort zone but it does sound a bit safe and boring, doesn’t it? 

“A ship is always safe at the shore – but that is not what it is built for.” 

Albert Einstein

Why should we try to get out of our comfort zone?

It will force you to learn something new and will enhance your well-being as a result.  You will get that buzz from having achieved a new goal that you may have thought was unachievable.  You may also make new friends as a result or enhance existing friendships.  Plus you will encourage others to do something extra to push them out of their comfort zone.

 For example, Siofra and I have replaced our regular coffee dates with a walking date.  At the start, we could only manage a two mile walk but now we have pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone and our walks now usually exceed the four mile barrier.

How do you get out of your comfort zone?

• Do something new. 

In October 2021 after a little persuasion from friends, it was suggested that I should use my rambling photos to write a blog.  “Who would want to read my ramblings?” was my excuse but I wet out of my comfort zone and started Lynda’s Rambles. So far, I have had a great response to every blog post I have written so that motivates me to keep going.  To be honest, I am well and truly out of my comfort zone as a blogger but I have discovered that I quite like writing and this skill could be further developed in future.  Think about what you could do that’s new – perhaps try out a new recipe, join the local gym, start to journal, visit the seaweed baths or learn how to crochet.  (By the way, I haven’t a clue about how to crochet and have never mastered that skill.)

• Set yourself a challenge which is achievable but will take some effort. 

In May 2022, I am taking part in the Belfast City Marathon with a group of friends– not as a runner but a walker.  It’s eight miles which is much more than my usual walk of four miles but with determination and regular walking practice, I hope to finish it and raise some money for Cancer Focus.  (Click here if you would like to make a donation.)  So what could your challenge be?  Maybe it’s to walk 10,000 steps every day or to read 52 books in a year.  Whatever your challenge is, it needs to be realistic but it will require some stretch to make sure it actually happens.

• Make changes to your daily routine. 

Perhaps you could read a book or listen to some music instead of randomly surfing your social media feeds.  Or build in a short walk outside during your lunch break.  Phone an old friend like the one you promise to meet on your annual Christmas card but never quite manage to do it.  How about becoming a vegan for a day or writing something in that journal you started on 1^st January?  By making a small positive change and adding some variety into your life, you are starting to move outside your comfort zone and your life can become more fulfilling. 

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Eleanor Roosevelt

So make a start today and take some small steps to get yourself out of your comfort zone.  You will be quietly thrilled about how good you feel.  Will you fail?  Maybe but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you at least tried to do something different and perhaps you will even succeed at something that you didn’t believe was even possible.  Plus you may discover that moving out of your comfort zone is actually more comfortable than staying in it.