How To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone?
Comfort zone is a mirage — waiting for you to fool you.
We all have been there.
I mean am lazy as “F**K”
But am I lazy for all the things I do?
Of course NOT. Otherwise, Who would pay the bills? How would I survive?
I do all my personal chores. I work, probably more than usual hours. (Perks of being an entrepreneur). I do whatever is required to help my family and friends.
Now before we move further.
I have few quick questions for you to ponder upon:
- If you’re having a decent stable 9 to 5 job — which, btw, you got by struggling during earlier days of your life and now it is only stabilized and grown because of the hard you have put in for so many years— Are you in your comfort zone?
- If you travel occasionally to spend quality time with your family — by utilizing your legitimate earned leaves earned by you by working day in day out of your job— Are you in your comfort zone?
- If you’re playing safe to protect yourself and your family from adversities. — Are you in your comfort zone?
- If you’re putting food on the table for your family and intentionally not taking a risk to make a living for you — Are you in your comfort zone?
I think you aren’t.
All this was only possible because you slogged your ass for a very long time, you were patient, you kept a low profile, you sacrificed and now you’re enjoying the perks of it.
Would it be fair to categorize you in your comfort zone? Hell — NO
Let’s cut this BS about COMFORT ZONE — we have been told for several years.
I think enough of you being told about you being in your comfort zone. Whether it's your boss, your friends, your mentors, your family…blah blah blah…
It’s time for you to define what COMFORT ZONE means to you…
First thing you need to do is to identify which area of your life you feel defeated and have been struggling for a long time. In simple words, you have never taken any action in this area of life or maybe you have taken action but were never able to give your 100% to it.
It can be
- Relationship with your spouse
- Your career
- Venture you always wanted to start
- Parenting
- Love life
- Adventure
- Traveling
- Any hobbies you always wanted to do
- Any skillset you always wanted to acquire
- or pretty much anything you have always desired to do
Take one step a time.
Please don’t mix up two things here. Just pick one area of your life at a time.
Because to make it possible, we should always follow the path of least resistance.
Take your time.
Think about what you want to start with.
think….don't rush
Decided. Cool.
Now, let’s get you out of COMFORT ZONE (aka “F” zone)
How to get out of Comfort Zone?
This is easier said than done.
Now please understand there are no 7 steps or 10 steps or do this or do that formula. Don’t get misguided by social media or influencers telling you all rubbish, BS about the comfort zone and how they’re at a much better place than you are.
Don’t go there. That's the worst place to start your journey.
Everyone is different. And different things work for everyone. Different areas of life needs need different actions.
Let’s deal with each situation differently. Give it our best shot. Because nothing in life is “one size fits all.”
- Entrepreneurship. You always wanted to leave 9 to 5 rat ass and do something of your own. But was never able to do it. Do you know why? Because taking that first step is the most difficult thing to do. Courage is always rewarded. AND once, you take that first step things will fall into place automatically. But to take that first step you need to prepare yourself both mentally and financially. Take mini steps every day. Break it down into super mini-challenges and then start taking action by working on those challenges every day. Just start the journey without giving too much thought to it. You can check my blog on entrepreneurship for further insights.
- Relationship. “To err is human” we all make mistakes. We all have done something stupid which we aren't proud of. Mistakes happen. But if you have always desired a perfect relationship with your partner. AND have been sitting on that lazy spot for a while not willing to mend it. Let me tell you, it is further going to ruin your relationship. Relationship is a serious business, treat it like a problem you treat in your business. Communication, Communication, Communication, Communication — that's the only solution to move forward and fix your relationship with your partner.
- Career. Nobody is going to care about your career as much as you will be. If you feel you’re stuck at a place, which is not helping you grow your career. You need to take some action immediately. Now, taking action doesn’t mean quitting your job, that would be foolish. Take action by experimenting with new things, take new assignments at your office outside of your key areas, try to explore what you want, do something which you always wanted. After you have done that try to see if this can be monetized. If not, then rinse and repeat. Until you find something which can be monetized.
- Parenting. No parents like to be judged. But the truth is we always judge each other. While you’re growing up, I bet you would have come across several instances, where you would have said to yourself that I’m never gonna do this to my child. Right? AND then one day you become a parent. Now tell me honestly — Are you a good parent? Are you the one you have always wanted to be? I think we all want to be good parents but are we ready to put in efforts for that. Are we ready to sacrifice our work priorities and put that extra hour spending time with our Lil ones. Knowing your parenting goals and working as a team with your spouse to implement those will help you get out of your comfort zone when it comes to parenting.
- Love life. As they say, love is a risky business, and every human desire true love. In this modern world, we’re all battling with time management. And love honestly needs time investment. More you invest your time in your love relationship, the more it’s gonna multiply and fructify. Only way to achieve your love life goals is to invest time in it, and not just time but quality time.
- Adventure activities & Traveling. With Covid, this area of life is super messed up, especially for people who eat, sleep, breathe adventure, and traveling. A quick hack is to try to experience shorter trips to different places, while you’re on those trips try to anchor your thoughts on the fun part. This anchoring of your thought will give you the willpower to go for longer trips and maybe solo trips, reminding you how much fun it would be to go on such trips. Similarly, try a similar pattern for adventure activities. Don’t go overboard by having a goal of bungee jumping, try with less risky adventure sports like snorkeling or indoor skiing. Once, you’re done with that, you’re now ready to graduate to little more risky sports and so on and so forth.
- Skillset. If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. Well, acquiring a new skill set is critical, but if thinking of it gives you chills. Do this. Don’t go and enroll yourself in a professional course right away. Because the chances are you will never complete it and waste your time and money. Instead, make this learning experience a fun activity. Go join communities on Facebook, LinkedIn make friends there, form groups, and give each other tasks related to this skill set. Make yourself accountable to the group. This way you will not only learn but also have fun acquiring the skill.
