Can you remember the last time you did something out of your comfort zone? Maybe it was trying a different cuisine or exploring an unfamiliar area. It could even have been reading a book you usually wouldn’t.
While most of us don’t do it often, getting out of our comfort zones has several proven benefits. Learning a new language, musical instrument, or skill, for example, can create new neural pathways and strengthen existing ones. It essentially rewires the brain. Although, as humans, we’re creatures of habit, preferring to choose the familiar option.
“The behaviours we do, day in and day out, become strong neural connections in our brain, so trying new things can feel strange because those neural connections are often not there yet, hence why we often stick to what we know,” explains Marny Lishman, psychologist and author of Crisis to Contentment: The Getting of Wisdom, Mid-Life.
A host of emotions can be felt when we try new things — fear, stress and anxiety — all of which we generally try to avoid feeling. Trying new things often pushes us outside our comfort zone, which makes us feel quite uneasy as we step into the unknown.
“It is wired into us to fear judgement, failure and rejection, so when we try new things, there is a possibility that we will make a mistake, look silly or can’t do it at all,” says Marny. “In the wild, it would be quite risky and a threat to survival for our ancestors to be outside their comfort zone and do new things.”
But for us, the threat is not as great. Even something small, like walking a different way to work or doing your weekly shopping at a different supermarket, has benefits. First and foremost, it helps build an adaptive mindset. Trying new things, however daunting, helps us build resilience for future disruptions in life, as we have become used to handling changes and newness.
Ready for a change? These are some simple, sure-fire ways to shake up your routine in the new year.
Dress for dopamine
If your wardrobe is a sea of black and white, try injecting some colour. Known as “dopamine dressing,” it refers to the idea that what we wear can influence our brain’s chemical responses, particularly dopamine release. This is the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. Dressing in a way that makes you feel good can stimulate its production.
Switch off in silence
Going fully tech-free is one thing, but a week of no talking? Silent retreats are about to go big, giving people a chance to detach from the noise, focus on their inner selves, and test the limits of their comfort. People report surprising insights — along with some serious communication struggles at first.
Feel the chill
From cold showers to ice baths and cryotherapy, cold exposure is having a renaissance. It’s touted for building mental toughness, resilience, and improving health. So jumping into an ice bath could become the new mindfulness. Many find that pushing through the first freezing seconds creates a mental shift that sticks around long after the chill wears off.
Micro-dose adventure
Micro-dosing adventure means testing limits through mini-experiences. For example, it could be trying an extreme sport, dabbling in rock climbing, or booking a night in an off-grid cabin without power. It’s all about small doses of adrenaline or discomfort, making it easier for the risk-averse to try something bold.
Lend a helping hand
Volunteering in roles or for causes you don’t fully understand or might be slightly uncomfortable about — such as supporting older Australians, working with refugees, or taking on eco-restoration projects — builds empathy and challenges assumptions. Plus, it’s a great way to get out of your bubble, expand your horizons and gain fresh perspectives.
Take an improv class
For the socially daring, improv comedy classes are a wild ride out of anyone’s comfort zone. Being put on the spot and having to think quickly can break down personal barriers, improve social skills, and make daily conversations a lot less intimidating.
The benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone
It helps you cognitively
Trying different things helps build new neural connections in your brain and prevents cognitive decline.
It’s good for your mental health
You might find interests you never knew you liked, which can boost your mood and help you lead a more fulfilling life.
It boosts confidence
Confidence comes from past successes. If you can achieve new things it’s evidence you can be successful, which can transfer onto future endeavours.
It widens our social circle
When we try new things, we meet different types of people. This can give us a wider friendship group and a sense of belonging and connection.
It helps manage stress
Trying new things can be tricky. So, while we’re focused on new activities, we can be distracted from other stressors in our lives.
