Science Says You Should Step Outside Of Your Comfort Zone More | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Science Says You Should Step Outside Of Your Comfort Zone More

It's kind of a big deal.

555
Science Says You Should Step Outside Of Your Comfort Zone More
Danka & Peter / Unsplash

Comfort zones are neither good nor bad; they are a neutral state that we often return to when we need to recharge. However, a 1908 study was conducted showing that when we as humans take a chance and step out of our comfort zones, we can reach a level of optimal anxiety that helps us to perform better than when we are in our state of relative comfort. Although, when put under too much stress, we tend to crumble under the pressure. This is normally where our brain exercises caution brought on by some sort of fear in the situation. Fear keeps us safe but not all fears should be treated with immense caution. Instead, we should take that fear and let it feed our sense of adrenaline and curiosity. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is kind of a big deal; it helps you grow as a person and increases endorphin's in your brain, making you happy.

To figure out what is outside of your comfort zone can also highlight what is inside your comfort zone. Things you are comfortable with can be used as tools to take baby steps outside your comfort zone. You never have to leap straight out of your comfort zone all at once, however. This can often lead to bad experiences and unnecessary levels of fear. Oftentimes things that make us uncomfortable are fueled by an underlying fear that, when identified, can enable you to overcome that which is outside of your comfort zone.

The best thing you can do to step further out of your comfort zone is to surround yourself with people who take risks more often; it is true when they say that you take on the qualities of your friends. Also, surrounding yourself with people you are comfortable around who enjoy doing something you are trying to get more into can help you overcome some of that initial fear.

At the end of the day, be honest: You are trying something new for yourself. Remember to have fun and enjoy learning new things and meeting new people. It’s important to use the outcome of these moments as motivation to get through them. You can only grow from making mistakes, and if you are having fun with it and laughing at yourself along the way, you can also grow to love even the most awkward and embarrassing thing about yourself.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

1664
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments