How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone (And Why You Need To)
Is your business stuck in a rut?
Maybe things are going okay. You have a decent amount of website traffic. You’re making some money. But things have started to feel stagnant. You’re doing the same activities every week and getting the same results.
Think back to a time when your business was growing. What was different? I bet that you were working outside your comfort zone.
Why Comfort Zones Hold You Back
Comfort zones can truly be a hindrance to your personal and professional growth.
When it comes to business, sticking with what feels safe and familiar may seem like the logical choice, but it can also prevent us from reaching new heights of success. We may shy away from taking risks or exploring innovative strategies.
And in our personal lives, staying put in our comfort zone may feel cozy, but it can also keep us from discovering new passions and leading a full life.
But listen up! Breaking free from your comfort zone can be a game changer.
You have the power to learn new skills, boost your confidence, and make huge strides toward your goals, both in your business and personal life.
What does it mean to be out of your comfort zone?
When you’re in your comfort zone, you are doing things that feel comfortable. Things you know how to do. Things you are good at. Things with no risk.
But when you’re working outside your comfort zone, it means you are doing things you aren’t comfortable with. You’re trying new things. You’re taking risks. You’re pushing yourself.
But when you are working outside your comfort zone, it means you are doing things you aren’t comfortable with. You are trying new things. You are taking risks. You are pushing yourself.
Why should you leave your comfort zone?
You may be wondering why you should leave your comfort zone. If your business is going okay, why not just keep doing what’s working?
Because that’s when the real growth happens. When you step out of your comfort zone.
Let’s say you’re a blogger, and one of your goals this year is to increase traffic.
You’ve been writing one or two blog posts a week. Then you share them on Pinterest and various social media channels. You’ve got a good routine going, and it feels comfortable.
But you want to grow, so you decide to increase your output. Instead of writing one or two posts, you’re going to publish three posts a week. And you’re going to keep sharing them on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Will your traffic increase? Will you see more engagement?
Maybe. More content doesn’t necessarily mean more traffic. Especially if it’s the same kind of content, published in the same place, and promoted the same way.
Why? Because you’re still in your comfort zone.
Fear of Failure
Let’s talk about fear of failure for a moment. It’s totally normal to be scared of falling flat on your face when stepping outside your comfort zone.
I get it. Believe me.
But here’s the thing. When we play it safe all the time, we limit our potential.
We’re not giving ourselves a chance to learn and grow from our experiences – even the ones that don’t go as planned.
So don’t let that hold you back. Face those fears head on, and know that even if you stumble, you’re learning and becoming stronger every step of the way.
3 ideas to get out of your comfort zone
What if you took that time you were going to spend writing new blog posts and used it a different way? A way that’s probably not any harder but feels a little uncomfortable.
Write a guest post
What if you took the time you would have spent writing a post for your own blog, and instead, you wrote a guest post?
Guest posting can be a great way to increase your reach because you’re getting in front of a new audience. And if the blog you are guest posting on has a larger audience than you do, that’s even better. You spend the same amount of time writing the post, but it gets you in front of a new, larger audience.
And a by-product of guest posting is that you are starting a relationship with a fellow blogger. Who knows what kinds of growth opportunities could come from that collaboration?
Create a video
For many online entrepreneurs, video can be a real challenge. It requires putting yourself out there in a way that can feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. Plus, when you’re speaking to a camera, it’s kind of like public speaking – another thing that many people find intimidating!
But video, whether it’s live or recorded, is a powerful tool for connecting with your target audience and building trust. It allows people to see the real you, and that authenticity can be incredibly compelling.
And just like with public speaking, the more you do video, the easier it gets. And the benefits are totally worth it.
Plus, many people prefer watching video to reading written content. And those people might never find you and your business otherwise.
So, instead of spending time writing a new blog post, you could create a video to complement a post you’ve already written. Then upload that video to YouTube and embed it in the existing blog post. Now you can share the updated post on your social media channels, and you can also share the video separately.
You’re repurposing content you’ve already created and reaching a new audience at the same time.
Run a promoted pin campaign
Another option is to use the time you would have spent on a blog post to set up and test a promoted pin campaign. If you haven’t done paid advertising before, this can seem scary, but once you learn how, you’ll find that it can drive a steady stream of new traffic to your blog.
How to get out of your own business comfort zone
We talked about some ideas to get out of your comfort zone as a blogger. But what if those ideas don’t fit your business? Or fit where you are in your business?
Then you need to identify your own business comfort zone so that you can take steps to stretch.
Make a quick list of the business activities that are inside your comfort zone right now
For me, that would be:
- Writing posts for my blog
- Writing guest posts
- Writing regular emails to my list
- Creating lead magnets and content upgrades to grow my list
- Running promoted pin campaigns
Identify three activities outside your comfort zone
What business activities are you avoiding? Because if you’re avoiding something, it’s likely outside your comfort zone. You probably don’t need to think a lot about this. You know what they are.
For me, the big one is video. Followed by rewriting my email funnels. And then finishing the course I started creating a few months ago. These are all things that have been nagging at me, but they are just uncomfortable enough that I keep putting them off.
Pick one activity that gets you out of your comfort zone
Now, pick one activity that makes you uncomfortable and tackle it this week.
Don’t try to be perfect. Just do it. Take the first step.
The final benefit of getting out of your comfort zone
There is one last benefit of getting out of your comfort zone. In addition to the business growth you’ll see from taking these new and different actions, you’ll also experience personal growth.
Basically, you’ll be developing a growth mindset. I’m talking about the same growth mindset that can help you overcome any challenge in life.
By stretching your comfort zone and trying new things, you’ll develop a more resilient and courageous attitude to take on whatever comes next.
When something doesn’t work out perfectly, you won’t be discouraged from it, so you can adjust and try something new. You’ll be able to take risks confidently, knowing that the journey is part of the process.
Yes, it’s uncomfortable when you make those first videos, spend money on advertising, or pitch your first few guest posts. But that discomfort doesn’t last.
Before you know it, they will simply be routine activities.
And that’s when it’s time to experiment with another new strategy that will stretch you out of your comfort zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Being out of your comfort zone means doing something that makes you uncomfortable. It could be something new, like learning a new skill or launching a new business venture. Or it could just be pushing yourself to do something better than before.
Absolutely! Being pushed out of your comfort zone can help you grow and develop as an individual and in business. It forces you to take risks, try new things, and push yourself to be the best version of yourself. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself!
Stepping out of your comfort zone can be hard because feeling uncomfortable in new situations is natural. It takes courage and confidence to push yourself beyond what is familiar and easy. But if you take the time to build a plan, break it down into small actionable steps, and focus on the end goal, it will become much more manageable.
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