Comfort Zone

January 10, 2023

Comfort zone: “a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.”

By: Cindy Williams, RN

Coordinator, Health Ministries

Comfort zone: “a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.” “A behavioral space where your activities and behaviors fit a routine and pattern that minimizes stress and risk.”

We benefit from being in our comfort zone in some obvious ways. We experience regular happiness and relatively low levels of stress and anxiety. It provides us with a state of mental security. Things feel familiar, we feel at ease and in control of our environment and life. Our job performance is generally at a steady level.

Being out of our comfort zone is, well, uncomfortable. Most of us avoid it fervently. But is it good for our health?

The answer is yes. Researchers have found that we need a state of relative anxiety where stress levels are slightly higher than normal in order to maximize performance. They term it “optimal anxiety”. There are several known benefits to both our health and our lives. Here are a few:

Taking risks on purpose after weighing the pros and cons gives us practice for the unwelcome surprises in life.
Decreased risk of depression.
It gives you the opportunity to learn what you’re really made of.
Naturally increases adaptability.
Sharper focus, improved creativity, drive, working memory, and task management leading to increased productivity are experienced.
Mistakes aid in learning and support personal growth.
Life becomes more colorful and fun as we have more experiences. You are likely to feel less bored.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said; “Do one thing every day that scares you.” But you don’t have to take up rock climbing, travel to a foreign country, or sky dive to experience the benefits of getting outside of your comfort zone (although those may be on someone’s list to try). Instead, add newness to your life. Make small changes in your routine that pull you just a little out of the familiar. Here are some ideas:

Find a new devotional plan for this year – something that truly brings you closer to God.
Try a new food.
Tell someone about Jesus, your Friend.
Listen to a genre of music or a musical artist that you haven’t experienced before.
Try your hand at some form of art or a new craft.
Change your exercise routine.
Drive a different route to work.
Learn a new sport.
Develop an interest into a new hobby.
Invite someone you don’t know well to your home for dinner or games.
Volunteer in a new capacity or a new place.