We’ve also heard that “Amazing things happen out of your comfort zone.” So how do we allow ourselves to have good habits and routines but also challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zone?

01/31/2018 .

Reannah Sartoris . Saddleback Singles Leadership Team

How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Routines and habits are great for staying organized and creating a solid foundation for your life goals. However, we’ve also heard that “Amazing things happen out of your comfort zone.” So how do we allow ourselves to have good habits and routines but also challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zone?

First, you need to think of an area in your life where you need to be challenged the most. Where do you need to get out of your comfort zone? Work? Friendships? Dating? Your day to day life? All of the above? Below are some ideas that you can start TODAY to get out of your comfort zone and start challenging yourself to live your life to its absolute fullest!

Start Small Getting out of your comfort zone doesn’t mean travelling far or doing something extreme. If the idea of getting out of your comfort zone scares you, then step one is to face your fear and do something different! For example, try a new restaurant that’s not on your normal route or try a new recipe and invite a friend over to try it. Changing your morning routine, taking a different route to work, or adding a new meal to your diet are little changes, but little changes can often make a big difference!

- Find a New Hobby A great way to challenge your mind, think outside the box and meet new people is to learn something new. Learn a new language, take an art class (I love those “Paint Nights” that are popular right now!) or take a dance or fitness class. Doing something you enjoy and learning something new will give you something to talk about with people you meet and will give you more confidence in other areas of your life.
- Expand Your Friend Circle Building relationships is a normal part of developing your personal and social health. As you learn to get out of your comfort zone, try joining new groups and adding to your friends. For example, join an event or sign up for a retreat, even if you don’t know anyone else going. Or, if you do sign up with a friend, make it a point to sit at a table where you don’t know anyone else. It’ll be great practice meeting new people and developing your social skills.
- Set a Challenging Goal for Yourself Some examples are to train for a marathon (or half marathon or 5k), train to hike up Saddleback Mountain, or join a 30-day health challenge. If you already have fitness goals, challenge yourself by joining a book club, or set a goal to go to more workshops, sign up to teach at a workshop, or find other creative ways to share what you’re passionate about. Remember, when you set a goal that it should be specific and have a timeline attached to it to help you stay motivated to work on it! Having an accountability partner for your goal is also helpful!
- Always be Reading a Book Self-help or motivating books are great for your personal growth, but any book can be an interesting talking point on a date or during any social conversation. I challenge you to always have a book that you are currently reading. Also, get even further out of your comfort zone and read your book in a public place. Who knows, maybe someone will come by and ask you what you’re reading?
- Get a Mentor Getting out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be something you do alone. Find a mentor, preferably someone who has had success in an area you are hoping to develop. Want to get promoted at work? Find a business mentor. Want to get married? Find a mentor who has been married for a while to share advice with you. Looking to challenge yourself financially? Find a mentor who is good at finances. The possibilities are endless! And yes, you can have more than one mentor for each area of your life.
Getting out of your comfort zone can be challenging, but I promise you that the more you do it, the easier it gets and you will start to see its rewards. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So, sometimes, the only way to get different results out of life is to do start off by making different choices. What’s one way you’re going to get out of your comfort zone this week?