10 Ways To Break Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Breaking yourself out of the confines of your comfort zone and pushing yourself to take risks and enjoy new experiences will pave the way for improved life and a rewarding professional career.

Key Takeaways:

• Life outside your comfort zone is full of great opportunities to reach new heights and achieve your biggest goals.

• When we limit ourselves because of fear, we miss out on tons of pathways for personal growth — including life experiences and career opportunities.

• Sticking to a regimented routine can often constrict you into a comfort zone, and this could make you miss out on new opportunities.

10 Ways to Get Outside Your Comfort Zones

Stepping outside your comfort zone can be scary, especially for introverts. It’s hard to break away from old habits and routines and try something new. But, don’t panic, there are plenty of neutral pathways and stress-free steps you can take to leave your comfort zone for good.

Here are some of the best methods for achieving personal growth, overcoming fear, and breaking out of your comfort zones:

1. Try new things. Perhaps the single best way to step out of your comfort zone is to push yourself to try new things. New experiences are some of the most fulfilling and fun life opportunities.

   • By trying new things, you’ll expand your skills and network and discover new things about yourself and the world around you.

   • Trying new things is a simple and effective way to face your fears. Whether that looks like taking on a new project at work, joining a new gym, or simply making a conscious effort to say “yes” more often, you’ll leave the cozy comfort of your everyday routine behind and dive headfirst into life beyond your comfort zone.

   • Oftentimes when we try new things, we’ll also be met with new opportunities. A great example of this would be a lawyer offering pro bono work.

   • For legal professionals, pro bono work is a great way of leaving comfort zones behind. By trying something new, lawyers build their reputation and are often rewarded with new clients.

2. Take the leap. The first step is usually the most difficult. By taking that initial leap outside your comfort zone you’ll learn to feel uncomfortable and challenge yourself to try new things.

   One daring example of leaping to break out of your comfort zone is recognizing when a job no longer serves you. Leaving a dead-end career will put you outside of your comfort zone and open doors of opportunities for you to potentially land your dream job.

3. Learn to adapt to changing situations. Adaptability is one of the most sought-after skill sets by hiring managers. If you can learn to adapt to changing situations, you’ll never have to worry about being in an uncomfortable situation.

   • Pushing yourself to be open to change is a great way of breaking away from your comfort zones.

   • Training yourself to be comfortable and adapt to changing situations is not only a top avenue to stepping out of your comfort zone, but it’s also one of the best ways to challenge yourself at work.

   • By challenging yourself to adapt to unknown situations, you’ll increase your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learning to adapt to changing situations will help you move away from the safety net of your everyday life.

4. Put yourself in a new environment. Sometimes not only do we get too comfortable with our daily routines, but we also get too comfortable with our environments. If you’re looking to face your fears and step out of your comfort zone, a change of scenery might be exactly what you need.

   Putting yourself in a new environment can be as simple as going to a different part of town or trying out a new restaurant.

   But, if you’re looking for a big change, a surefire way to do this is by working abroad. Living and working in a new country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and will rip your comfort zone right out from under you.

5. Take baby steps. Fully abandoning your regular routines and making a clean break from your comfort zones can be daunting. Don’t bite off more than you can chew when first breaking out of your comfort zone. Instead, take it slow.

   Incorporate small things into your everyday life that will take you beyond your comfort zone and push you to try new things.

   If, for example, you wanted to run a marathon, you wouldn’t start by running the full 26 miles. Instead, you would start small, running short stretches at first and working your way up. Breaking away from comfort zones works the same way — start with a mile, not a marathon.

6. Don’t be afraid of failure. To be successful at anything, you must first fail.

   • When you’re working to break free of your comfort zones, don’t make excuses because you’re afraid of failure. Instead, learn to accept that failure is just another means of learning.

   • When you strip away the negative connotation that goes along with failing, and instead look at failures as a teaching mechanism, breaking out of your comfort zone becomes that much easier.

   • It’s important to remember that even the most successful people have failed.

   • This quote by Michael Jordan illustrates it perfectly: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And, that is why I succeed.”

7. Get a mentor. One of the easiest ways to get outside your comfort zone is getting a career coach, friend, or colleague to help walk you through it. Getting a mentor will keep you accountable and help you push yourself to new limits that you may not have reached otherwise.

   When enlisting the help of a coach or mentor make sure to find someone you can connect with and who has these top mentor traits. It’s always a good idea to find a mentor who is empathetic and respectful and someone who will actively listen and provide constructive feedback.

8. Speak up. To break out of any comfort zone you need to be clear about your intentions, and speak up when necessary. This could mean voicing your opinions at a work meeting, being more open and honest in your relationships, and with yourself, or learning to be comfortable with public speaking.

   The fear of public speaking, in and of itself, is one of the most common comfort zones among career professionals. Although it might feel daunting at first, pushing yourself to engage in public speaking events, like group interviews, is the only way to break free of that fear.

9. Be a leader. Taking the lead on things in your life and your career will enable you to be your life-coach and push the boundaries when it comes to conquering your fears.

   If you are comfortable taking the lead, especially in your job, and navigating the uncomfortable situations that can sometimes arise in leadership roles, you’ll be more than prepared to break free of all your comfort zones.

   Being a leader will challenge you to let go of old habits. Having good leadership skills is also one of the top skill sets for job-seekers and can help employers boost employee morale and foster a successful and professional work environment.

10. Network with successful people. Networking with successful people is a great method to leave your comfort zone for good. Networking will introduce you to successful people who may be able to mentor you and give you clarity on what to do with your career and how to break free of professional barriers.

    Attending a networking mixer will push your boundaries and allow you to curate lasting professional relationships. By following networking tips, putting yourself out there, and surrounding yourself with successful industry professionals you’ll be able to easily break free of your comfort zones.

    Networking with successful people will help you to adopt the habits and behaviors necessary to push past any limiting beliefs and find success in your job and your life.

Why It’s Important to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Comfort zones are our safety nets. They’re like little bubbles we cocoon ourselves into so we don’t get hurt, stressed, or scared. Oftentimes, comfort zones are composed of our mindset and routines, the things that are typically most predictable in our everyday lives.

Sticking to a regimented routine can often constrict you into a comfort zone, holding you back from your full potential. It’s important to push the boundaries and step outside your comfort zone to challenge yourself and grow, both in your career and your everyday life.

There’s a world of opportunity waiting beyond the comfort of our little bubbles. It’s only when we challenge ourselves to overcome discomfort and fear, and step outside our comfort zones, do we become our true and authentic selves.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, by using the tips in this article, you’ll be able to leave behind the comfort zones holding you back and reach a place where you’re comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s only when you step outside of your comfort zones that you’ll be able to challenge yourself to try new things, find career success, and improve your life.

Remember, some of the best life experiences and career opportunities happen when you’re uncomfortable.

Author

Elsie Boskamp

Elsie is an experienced writer, reporter, and content creator. As a leader in her field, Elsie is best known for her work as a Reporter for The Southampton Press, but she can also be credited with contributions to Long Island Pulse Magazine and Hamptons Online. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Stony Brook University and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.