Going Outside Your Comfort Zone 101: 150 Fun Ways To Do So!

Going outside your comfort zone can be intimidating to hear, even more so when you try to do so. Hence, it’s easy to shut it down and continue living as you do. While it may sound good at the moment, the long run says otherwise. Thus, starting small and breaking out of your comfort zone is important and recommended, then building it up to bigger challenges. We should always challenge ourselves and see just how far we can go while also honoring our own boundaries.

So, if you’re ready to take some calculated risks and try new things, this guide is for you.

Moreover, we’ll provide potential reasons you don’t want to leave your comfort zone. We’ll also list the benefits of doing so and different, actionable ways to do so.

Happy reading!

Challenges Behind Going Outside Your Comfort Zone

Unveil some potential roadblocks one can face when one leaves one’s comfort zone.

1 It’s uncomfortable.

Going outside your comfort zone means doing things that are unfamiliar to us, and unfamiliarity brings along discomfort. Nobody wants that, even if it’s a task that won’t kill them. For example, you’re learning a new language. It’s difficult when there’s lots of spelling, grammar, and pronunciation, which makes you want to stop. 

Yet you have goals that can be achieved by learning, like speaking fluently and accessing books in that language. Let it be uncomfortable first because it’s a normal reaction. But by being consistent, it all changes.

Keep in mind that while change is scary, so is staying the same. Pick the one you’re most okay with facing and dealing with in the long run.

2 The fear of the unknown is evident.

We go into survival mode when we embark on something foreign to us. It’s literally part of our DNA. In turn, we choose to stay back and live the way we’re used to because it’s safe. Because we know we won’t get hurt in contrast to the uncertainty that lies ahead. However, safety can also be an illusion, wherein it can very much hold you back if you don’t play your cards right. 

Of course, you don’t want to do anything crazy that can risk your life, but switching things up occasionally makes space for personal growth progress. Not doing so, or not going outside your comfort zone, will only limit you from what you can actually do.

3 Failures and setbacks are inevitable.

Such things are needed for our self-development, yet we don’t like the pain and discomfort they present initially. They take away the joy of the present, making it easy to wallow up in guilt and pity. In other words, it’s another plausible reason why people aren’t going outside their comfort zone. They don’t want the emotional stress that can occur when things don’t work out, so they’d rather not put a foot out the door in the first place.

Why Going Outside Your Comfort Zone Is Beneficial

Through this section, let’s learn the major pros of leaving your comfort zone.

1 It positively impacts your personal growth.

Doing the same thing repeatedly will get us to the same destination every time. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Hence, going outside your comfort zone encourages you to open your horizons and see more of what’s out there.

Even making small changes to any usual activity you do can make a significant difference. For example, you listen to a podcast about a topic you’re interested in (e.g., habit building) while tidying your weekly bedroom. You’re practically habit-stacking here, too, working on a new habit while doing a consistent one.

In other words, be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

2 It builds self-trust.

Going outside your comfort zone would mean many setbacks and failures along the way. But the more you do such, the more resilient you’ll be. This article from Harvard further shares that in going outside your comfort zone, “you’ll gain more confidence in how you handle failure or setbacks and become more comfortable with increased levels of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty”. You’ll know how to bounce back on your feet. In turn, you have more self-trust in yourself. Because look at you; you did the supposed hard thing and survived (or even thrived from it). You didn’t give up and still held your own hand through it.

3 You’re more productive.

The more accustomed you are to going outside your comfort zone, the more focused and confident you become. You use your time more wisely and effectively, ensuring that the things you do add to your personal growth. Time is currency, expensive currency. As the day comes to a close, you feel more fulfilled and like a winner. You’re also more in control of your energy and time, making sure they go to the right places.

4 You boost your momentum.

Upon going outside your comfort zone and taking on new challenges, you naturally feel a shift in your system and routine. This momentum picks up with all these small feats you’re achieving, urging you to continue and expand. You’d want to continue with the ride, especially when you feel much more confident and optimistic from doing those challenges.

5 Life feels more fulfilling.

Life feels more full and purposeful with all this newfound productivity and discovering more about yourself. Going outside your comfort zone shows how many things there are out there to try and accomplish, even making it a personal feat. At the same time, you feel more certain and secure in yourself as you unveil more and more of your potential in this life. Fulfillment also brings confidence and self-belief, shifting your mindset to a more positive one.

150 Ways to Go Outside Your Comfort Zone

Going outside your comfort zone has many looks, but they all make you unlock a new part of yourself. And self-discovery is always welcome! Keep reading this section for all the potential ideas out there, and even jot down the ones that pique your fancy!

1 Physical

1. Attempt a new physical skill, like a handstand or 1 min plank.
2. Take a cold shower as soon as you wake up.
3. Go on a nature walk, then build it up to jogging and running.
4. Explore a different way of stretching your body.
5. Try a new fitness activity.
6. Go outside barefoot for a few minutes.
7. Head outside and take deep breaths.
8. Try a new breathing technique.
9. Take a different route when walking or running.
10. Sleep without setting an alarm.
11. Try incorporating one day for low-impact movement and another day for moderate to high-impact movement.
12. Invest in vitamins and supplements depending on your age group and needs.
13. Invite a friend to work out with you.
14. Walk in silence and appreciate your surroundings.
15. Try a unique yoga position and hold it.

2 Mental and Intellectual

1. Listen to an educational podcast about any topic of your choosing.
2. Read at least 5 pages of a book on a genre that’s new to you.
3. Try a new productivity method (e.g., time-blocking, eat the frog, etc.).
4. Research a topic that either fascinates or challenges you.
5. Start a habit tracker.
6. Use a new word in a conversation.
7. Do a daily brain dump of your thoughts.
8. Read an online article about a topic of your choosing.
9. Watch and listen to a TedTalk.
10. Answer random trivia questions online.
11. Do an online crossword puzzle.
12. Watch a documentary about a topic that’s vital to your life.
13. Plan your schedule for the day the night before.
14. Try to plan your meals so you have a more structured grocery list.
15. Do any kind of task with your non-dominant hand.

3 Creative

1. Free-write for 10 minutes in a notebook or a piece of paper.
2. Doodle on a piece of paper (even if you’re not artistic).
3. Try junk journaling, wherein you take random mementos and create a series of pages dedicated to them.
4. Sing your favorite song out loud, even if your singing skills are not the best.
5. Host a solo dance party in your bedroom.
6. Make a monthly vision board.
7. Brainstorm a dish using ingredients you have at home.
8. Print out a coloring page or buy an adult coloring book with colored pencils.
9. Vlog your day.
10. Take pictures and videos of the mundane and romanticize them.
11. Write letters to your future self.
12. Write letters to your loved ones.
13. Watch a movie or TV show and write a review about it.
14. Make a playlist about any topic or mood (e.g., main character energy).
15. Script your ideal day.

4 Social Media

1. Don’t use your phone for 30 minutes upon waking up.
2. Remove an app that doesn’t serve you anymore.
3. Delete and organize files on certain apps (e.g., boards on Pinterest, photos on your gallery, saved posts on IG, etc.,)
4. Unfollow accounts that don’t align with your beliefs.
5. Time yourself when using an app that involves a lot of scrolling.
6. Go a half or full day without using your phone or social media.
7. Set app limits (e.g., no more social media after 10 pm).
8. Go a day without Google or any search app when learning something.
9. Set a “no-phone” rule during meals or any social gathering.
10. Turn off notifications on your social media apps, except for emergencies.
11. Respond to someone through a voice or video note instead of a text.
12. Place your phone in another room when getting ready for bed.
13. Utilize different modes on your phone (e.g., do not disturb).
14. Create a new focus mode on your phone for different purposes (e.g., morning routine, work mode, evening routine, etc.)
15. Edit the lighting on your phone into a warmer tone to reduce blue light.

5 Change in Routine

1. Wake up 30 minutes or an hour earlier than usual.
2. Count from 5 to 1 when feeling resistance towards a task.
3. Stand up instead of sitting while you work.
4. Try cooking a meal rather than ordering in.
5. Try styling your clothes differently (e.g., sandwich method).
6. Have only one cup of coffee or matcha a day.
7. Light up a scented candle.
8. Have an unplanned day wherein you’re just going with the flow.
9. Start a new habit and stick to it for at least 3 days.
10. Lounge around in a different room for the day.
11. Stay in a different space during work.
12. Switch up the order of your daily habits.
13. Have breakfast food for dinner.
14. Take a different route when commuting to your specific destinations.
15. Sleep in a different room for the night.

6 Financial

1. Make a budget for the day and stick to it.
2. List down all the subscriptions you have and cancel unused ones.
3. Read a book related to financial literacy.
4. Sort out your closet, take out items that you don’t need, and sell them.
5. Put in a tip if you’re at a café or resto.
6. Explore your home and see what items you can sell/donate.
7. Track every penny spent.
8. Start an emergency fund.
9. Thrift second-hand items like clothing.
10. Create a minimalist challenge (e.g., only buy coffee outside 2 times a week)
11. Swap items with a friend instead of buying.
12. Calculate how much you’d save if you cut a small expense for the year.
13. Make a wish list that you can browse through by the end of the month.
14. Ponder on your long-term financial goals, choose one, and take one actionable step you can take to achieve it.
15. Have a no-spend day.

7 Mindset Shifts

1. Give meditation a try, starting with a 5 minute-guided one.
2. List down your biggest fear and reflect on it.
3. Challenge a limiting belief (e.g., I’m not smart enough).
4. Give yourself some major pep talk in the mirror and high-five yourself afterward.
5. Recite positive affirmations to yourself and to the mirror.
6. Switch “I have to” thoughts to “I get to.”
7. Practice gratitude by writing down 5 things you are grateful for.
8. Set an intention for the day ahead.
9. Try delayed gratification.
10. Be a watcher of your thoughts and not react to them.
11. Rearrange the furniture in your space.
12. Take a different route to work or any space you intend to go to.
13. Decide on something without asking for an extra opinion.
14. Write down the things you deem as your flaws and explain why they aren’t true with proof.
15. Write a letter of forgiveness (no need to send it).

8 Outdoors

1. Hug a tree.
2. Lie on the grass and watch the clouds or stars.
3. Go tanning.
4. Have a picnic.
5. Watch the sunrise or sunset.
6. Swim in an inflatable or common pool.
7. Collect and press flowers or leaves in a journal.
8. Go to a park or any nature-filled place for the whole day.
9. Walk on the grass barefoot.
10. Go on a hike.
11. Learn different species of trees, flowers, leaves, or even bird species.
12. Jot down the kinds of things you see outside and what you like about them.
13. Do a free walk — walking without a certain destination in mind.
14. Go on a night walk and take in the sounds and lights around you.
15. Build a small nature sculpture made of rocks, leaves, and sticks.

9 Social

1. Start a conversation with a stranger in a communal area.
2. Initiate small talk with a barista or waiter (e.g., ask for suggestions on their favorite dish/drink, joke around with them, compliment them, etc.).
3. Join an online group related to a topic you’re into (e.g., selling clothes).
4. Offer help to someone without asking for anything in return.
5. Message someone you admire and explain to them why.
6. Reach out to an old friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
7. Say hello to at least 3 people when you’re out in public.
8. Initiate a group conversation online among your friends.
9. Ask someone about their life story or what makes them wake up every morning.
10. Say “yes” to the next social gathering you get invited to.
11. Make someone laugh.
12. Introduce two strangers (but individually your friends) to each other.
13. Point out a certain knick-knack someone has and ask them about it (e.g., a keychain of their favorite K-pop idol or celebrity).
14. Make eye contact with every person you come in contact with.
15. Attend a networking event.

10 Wildcard

1. Sign your name differently.
2. Smile at every person you see today.
3. Wear mismatched socks.
4. Check out a new musical artist.
5. Do a facial expression exercise in the mirror.
6. Jot down 10 things you want to try out.
7. Find your signature scent.
8. Explore various manifestation techniques.
9. Enroll in an online course about a topic you’re interested in.
10. Go on a solo date.
11. Set a 10-minute timer and do a random task (can be one you’ve been holding off for a while).
12. Watch a ballet in a theater.
13. Look up a certain character or celebrity aesthetic and dress or act as them (e.g., Elle Woods, Maddy Perez, Blair Waldorf, Rory Gilmore, etc.,)
14. Create an alter ego and act as them in public.
15. Use a different name when getting a coffee or having small interactions.

Takeaway

Going outside your comfort zone takes a lot of bravery and commitment, but it’s also a reflection of self-love and self-belief. Wanting to expand your horizons and witness how far you can go shows that you know your worth. And that you’re worth so much more. Furthermore, going outside your comfort zone encourages so much personal growth and seeing just how much potential you hold. In return, you’ll never be bored as you constantly learn new things and gain strength and knowledge.

On that note, we encourage you going out of your comfort zone at your own pace and capability. Starting small but steady and consistent paves the way for the bigger things.

For more self-help guides such as this one, head on over to the Lauvblog here.