Who doesn’t like a good routine? Everything is planned out and doing everything the same way. But the real growth doesn’t happen there. The comfort zone we live in doesn’t allow us to grow and experience new things. For reaching your dreams you have to get out of your bubble by participating in some comfort zone challenges. As it is said Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
So here’s a closer look at Why you should step out of your comfort zone? how do you challenge yourself out of your comfort zone, along with 22 comfort zone challenges to help you leave your comfort zone.
Why you should step out of your comfort zone?
Growth doesn’t occur without change, and change can’t take place if you’re constantly repeating the same actions that have gotten you to where you are today. That’s why leaving your comfort zone is so important to develop a growth mindset, to face the fear of failure by taking some actions.
The main benefit of stepping outside of your comfort zone is that you figure out who you really are.
The other benefits of comfort zone challenge are a decrease in anxiety, new opportunities to explore, and growing to the fullest version of yourself.
But, Why is it hard to step out of your comfort zone?
By being in your comfort zone, you protect yourself from fear and failure. You try to avoid uncomfortable situations and run from fear, but your fear doesn’t go away.
This is the paradox about getting out of your comfort zone — the more you protect yourself from fear, the more it grows.
Your comfort zone feels safe, you feel in control and your stress is low.
It takes courage to step outside of your comfort zone. Expose yourself to the new stimuli and environments (Exposing yourself to fear doesn’t get rid of it, but it teaches your brain that you can handle it and overcome it). When you take risks regardless of the outcomes, new pathways begin to open up in your brain.
22 Comfort zone challenges to get you out of your comfort zone
So I’ve rounded up a list of my 22 favorite comfort zone challenges. Read through the list now and write down all the ones you want to try first. Once you begin to step out of your comfort zone and see how much it improves your life, you may just try them all!
Piece of advice: pick the challenge that corresponds with your weakness and insecurities. If you lack social skills, then focus on comfort zone challenges that will put you in uncomfortable social situations. If you fail to express yourself, take the challenge that will help you to express yourself.
22 Comfort zone challenge ideas
Start a conversation with a stranger
Whether at a grocery store or at a coffee shop. Try striking up a conversation with a stranger. It takes massive courage to strike up a conversation with a stranger in public. So try it once and see how it goes.
Post something on social media
Post something that’s slightly out of your comfort zone on social media such as a video of you dancing or singing. Show vulnerability and connect with others in a more authentic way. Post anything you want regardless of thinking about other people’s opinions.
No Phone day
There’s nothing that screams “comfort zone challenge” quite like turning your phone off for the day. We tend to check it more than we think. So go for No text messages, phone calls, or games and see what you think about not checking your phone all the time.
Ask help for with whatever you need to
Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re stupid or inadequate, it simply means you need help with something specific for a time. Instead of seeing that we are giving others an opportunity to contribute, we think that asking for help means we are a burden. Remove these beliefs and see what you need the help for and ask for it.
Give compliments
Compliment someone in person or digitally through text or social media. Tell them what you like about them. their sense of humor? Character? Skills? Be authentic and specific, not hyperbolic
Ask your crush out on a date
Who’s that person you can’t stop dreaming about? Get out of your comfort zone by asking them out on a date — even if you think they’re way out of your league! Gather amazing date ideas beforehand to add more zest.
Don’t watch tv for a day
Can you imagine a day with no TV? The average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year) Now you can take all the time you’d spend in front of the telly and use it to try something new, a new hobby maybe?
27+ Things To Do Instead Of Watching Tv: Fun & Productive
Take a new route to work
Change your way to the work or grocery store if you take the old route every day. You may find some new places or might enjoy the new scenery.
Buy something you would never buy from the grocery store
A different comfort zone challenge! Buy something you would never buy from the grocery store. It might lead you to find some interesting thing.
Have a “Yes ” day
This comfort zone challenge might be beneficial for your family and friends. Have a “yes ” day with them and see what fun transpires.
Ask for a discount
Can you easily ask for discounts? If not, try to go to a coffee shop and ask for a discount and see how the cashier will react. This might sound like a stupid challenge, but its purpose is to push you out of your comfort zone Therefore, “stupid” challenges like this that push people out of their comfort zone, with a high chance of getting a rejection, are quite brilliant.
Journaling challenge
If you do not journal daily and have difficulties writing your thoughts then it would be great if you will take this comfort zone challenge. Start journaling, it may be odd in beginning but it will become easier if you will continue.
65 Uplifting Journal Prompts For Self Discovery
Change your routine for a comfort zone challenge
Do you follow routines? then add a little bit of spice by mixing up routines. If you typically read in the morning, do it at night before bed. See what happens. Check out this post for some morning routine ideas.
Send someone a thank you note
Showing gratitude and appreciation does not cost anything but it can make anyone’s day and you will also feel good. Send a thank-you note (physical or digital) to someone who helped you out, whether recent or not.
Push yourself on your clothing choices
Challenge your clothing choices by wearing something out of your comfort zone. Make it fun, but effective. Actively seek out new styles, colors and silhouettes that are outside of your typical comfort zone.
Visit a new place
When did you last time visit a new place? It’s human psychology that we do not want to change our choices because what if we try something new and what if it isn’t good. The choices can be anything like your regular coffee order. But what if it is good? You won’t know if you will not try. So try a new place to visit. A new park, restaurant. Even change your order too.
Give honest feedback/ or ask for feedback
It’s always better to give constructive feedback to people when they ask you about your opinion. It can be a challenge for people who do not like confrontation (like me) but it’s something empowering in giving and receiving honest feedback. So next time, when getting a chance give or ask for feedback!
Sleep on the floor or switch up sides
Do you get comfort in sleeping on one particular side of the bed? Then, Why not get out of your comfort zone by switching sides? Or maybe try to sleep on the floor sometime?
Reconnect with an old friend
Do you feel hesitation when thinking about calling that one friend you haven’t spoken to in years but constantly think about? It could be someone from high school, college, or an old job. Step outside of your comfort zone by contacting them today. Not ready for the call? It’s okay send a quick text.
Have a photoshoot in public
You need confidence, and boldness when it comes to taking photos in public, especially the professional ones. Take this comfort zone challenge, have a photo shoot, go online and post that amazing pictures.
Take a 30-day challenge
How does a 30 day comfort zone challenge sound? Where you can combine 30 things that you know that are out of your comfort zone and make it one amazing 30 day comfort zone challenge. 30 day challenges can help us to grow and push our limits.
Spend the day by yourself
Spending some time alone has benefits like it can spark creativity, build mental strength and help you to get to know yourself better. So give this challenge a try, spend a whole with yourself, and go for a solo date. Spend some quality time with yourself.
Comfort Zone Challenge ideas to Push Your Limits
“Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.”
Even if you don’t do the full 30 day comfort zone challenge, I hope you at least choose a few comfort zone challenges from this list to try to push your limits, and I know you can totally DO IT! And if you’re looking for some 30-day challenge ideas check out this post with 17 ideas!