Unless your weekly schedule involves traveling the world, skydiving, or eating cow brains, chances are good that you like to stay in your comfort zone (even if just a little bit). Obviously, there is nothing wrong with routine and doing things that make us feel good. That same daily Starbucks may just keep you going. Yet, many college students tend to forget that getting out of your comfort zone is much more important than you think. It can be small. It can be life-changing. Every day, week, or month, we all need to try to be a little more spontaneous. We need to be a little more in tune to our curious hearts and try something new, bold, and brave.
I am totally a person who likes what I know. I love routine. I love to know what's coming next. Honestly, though, this is not realistic. What happens to us is, to some extent, out of our control. So, why do we try and box ourselves into the same routines and activities with the same friends every day, pretending like that's all that there is and all that we'll ever need?
There is a multitude of easy, painless examples for leaving your comfort zone. These can be easy changes that can make a huge impact over time. Cut your hair short. Try a new food that you've never had before, but always claimed that you hated. These little dabbles in the seemingly mundane areas of life can honestly lighten your mood and improve your approach to change. I didn't think that I could pull off that dark cherry lipstick until I tried it and got so many compliments on it. I also thought that I would despise fried pickles until I tried them. Now, I'm more than willing to have fun with makeup and try something that I may have "hated" for years.
Beyond daily choices, we can get involved with activities or studies that are outside of the person or identity who we've created in our minds. Maybe it's taking a class on a subject that has nothing to do with your major. Maybe it's applying for a job at a non-profit that completely goes against the typical corporate internship that you're "supposed" to have. It can even be applying for a club that you've always been interested in. This past month, I auditioned for a musical, something that I honestly had never thought that I'd do. I sing all of the time. I love to dance. I don't know why I wrote it off, maybe it was because it made me anxious. It wasn't within my domain, but I went for it, auditioned, and now get to experience something that I'm sure will be one of my best college memories.
Even faith can be an area that makes people uncomfortable. Maybe you haven't been to church in five years and you honestly can't bring yourself to find a new place and try it. It can be awkward and uncomfortable to walk into a room with hundreds of random people, especially when you're all there for something so personal and special. Even if you're not religious, getting involved and active in something spiritual or close to your heart can be a lot harder than it seems. You may feel very passionate about defending the lives of others or feeding the homeless, but how much effort have you made to volunteer or work on that cause's behalf? All that it takes is one day of showing up to change your perspective on how easy it is to try new things.
Finally, getting out of your comfort zone can be within your relationships. I'm not just talking about your love life, there may be a person who you've written off, someone who doesn't "fit" in your social circle. However, if you take a minute to ignore the perceptions concerning who you should be and who you should talk to, you may find that the coolest people who you'll ever meet are the last ones who you thought that you'd be friends with. This summer while I was studying abroad in Oxford (way out of my comfort zone, but the most amazing experience that I've ever had) I formed the most mismatched friend that group I possibly could have. Despite our extremely different interests and backgrounds, we became really close and had the most amazing time. These are friendships that I don't think that I could have found if I never left for Europe and if I never gave a random friendship a chance.
It's not easy. It's uncomfortable at times. It may make you doubt your choices and judgment. However, getting out of your comfort zone is an integral part of changing, growing, and learning about yourself. Don't hold back, dress up crazily, join a cooking club, go to see a play downtown, write that book that you never thought that you would. I think that you'll find that life tastes a little sweeter and seems so much more dynamic when you actually do.
