Comfort Zone:The Science And Why You Should Break Out of It

I'm sure you've seen inspirational quotes that encourage you to get out and do something strange; something you wouldn't normally do. Hence, getting out of your routine could take so much work. A lot of science has explained why it's so hard to break out of your comfort zone, and why it's good you break out of your zone of comfort. With a little understanding and a few adjustments, you can break away from your routine and do great things.

The importance of pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone can never be overemphasis. Though it's kind of a big deal when you do. Apparently, one may ask, what is the "comfort zone" exactly? Why is it that we tend to get comfortable with the familiar and our routines, but when we're introduced to new and interesting things, the glimmer fades so quickly? Finally, what benefit do we derive from breaking out of our comfort zone, and how do we do it? Answering those questions is a tall order, but it's not too hard to do. Let's get started.

The Science of Comfort Zone, and Why It's So Hard to Leave It

Simply, your comfortzone is a behavioural space where your activities and behaviors fit a routine and pattern that minimizes stress and risk. It provides a state of mental security. You benefit in obvious ways: regular happiness, low anxiety, and reduced stress.

The idea of the comfort zone goes back to a classic experiment in psychology. Back in 1908, psychologists Robert M. Yerkes and John D. Dodson explained that a state ofrelative comfort created a steady level of performance. Hence, in order to maximize performance, we need a state of relative anxiety; a space where our stress levels are slightly higher than normal. This space is called "Optimal Anxiety," and it's just outside our comfort zone. Too much anxiety; we're too stressed to be productive; thus, our performance drops off sharply.

The idea of optimal anxiety isn't anything new. Anyone who has ever pushed him or herself to get to the next level or accomplish something, knows that when you really challenge yourself, you can turn up amazing results. More than a few studies support thepoint. However, pushing too hard can actually cause a negative result, and reinforce the idea that challenging yourself is a bad idea. It's our natural tendency to return to an anxiety neutral, comfortable state. You can understand why it's so hard to kick your brain out of your comfort zone.

Even so, your comfort zone is neither a good or bad thing. It's a natural state that most people trend towards. Leaving it means increased risk and anxiety, which can have positive and negative results, but don't demonize your comfort zone as something holding you back. We all need that head-space where we're least anxious and stressed so we can process the benefits we get when we leave it.

...to be continued tomorrow. #DubemickyInspiringGreatnessDaily. Good evening, and have yourself excellent night rest.