Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a scary thing, but the mental-health benefits are worth it.
Therapists share how to get started.
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Comfort zones are safe, protected, stress-free, and low-risk.
Basically, when youre in your comfort zone, you feel at home.
clinical psychologist Alicia H. Clark, PsyD
Butwhyare we such creatures of habit?
Alexis Bleich, LCSW, is a therapist in private practice in New York City. She works with kids, teens, and adults to help them navigate the expected and unexpected twists and turns of life.
If there is a threat, then we will instinctively move toward safety, he says.
Yet in our modern world, the threats are often social and emotional.
And they can often encourage us to stick with whats familiar, rather than explore or embrace the unknown.
Hence, the widespreadlove for JOMO.
(Hello, global pandemic!)
In that way, they can keep everyday life chugging along smoothly.
In some cases, that can mean a comfort zone keeps you from achieving your full potential.
To that end, stepping out of your comfort zoneat least, on occasioncan be a worthy endeavor.
Below, the experts share tips that can make doing so that much easier.
Alexis Bleich, LCSW, is a therapist in private practice in New York City. She works with kids, teens, and adults to help them navigate the expected and unexpected twists and turns of life.
10 actionable tips from therapists for stepping out of your comfort zone
1.
In other words, take baby steps, says Dr. Clark.
Then, add a few more reps or exercises so that youre physically pushing yourself.
Start by downloading a social app likeMeetupto see what kind of offerings exist in your area.
Slowly but surely, these steps can bring a new routine within reach.
You want to bend, not break.
Once theyre in the loop, theyre one more person whos rooting for your success.
And if you feel a little freaked out?
Simply scale back and have another go when you feel ready.
6 mental-health benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone
1.
Performance anxiety has the benefit of motivating us to perform better, says Dr. Mayer.
According to theYerkes-Dodson law, moderate stress and anxiety are associated with maximum performance.
You cant perform at your best without a moderate amount of discomfort, says Dr. Clark.
It supports personal growth
Doing the same thing repeatedly means your situationand youwont change.
You could feel more creative
Its easy to put your mind on autopilot when youre in your regular routine.
Practice makes perfect when it comes to adapting, Dr. Clark says.
The more you deliberately stretch outside your comfort zone, the more comfortable you will become with doing so.
Self-reliant people recognize challenges as the vehicles for maintaining strength and resilience, says Dr. Clark.
Finding ways to regularly have novel experiences adds depth and satisfaction, he says.
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