The most important lesson I've taken away from my freshman year is the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Getting stuck in a routine is easy to do. If you're anything like me, you wake up at the same time every morning, you go to the same classes, you get off work promptly at 5 o'clock, and Jimmy John's basically has your order on standby.
But, as college students, being at such an exciting time in our lives, playing it safe could be damaging to our successes. Try and think of the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and took a chance on something.
What holds most of us back from escaping this comfort zone is fear. We have such a huge fear of failure in our society. New situations are stressful and awkward at times, but the more you do it the more comfortable you begin to become. Learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable is the key to stepping out of your comfort zone.
It's time to try new things more often. Start saying yes to new challenges. The more you comfortable you become, the less you're going to avoid.
However, don't pack your bags and move or change your major just yet, start small. Join a club on campus, take that workout class, or change up your Jimmy John's order (just kidding, always get the Turkey Tom). Taking these baby steps can help you become more comfortable with new challenges before taking that giant leap.
Seek challenges. When you take on something challenging you experience an endorphin rush. As Elle Woods said, "Endorphins make people happy, and happy people don't kill their husbands. They just don't." So seek the endorphin rush of trying new things if you don't want to wind up killing your husband. We might be falling down a slippery slope here but it's some nice comedic relief from this heavy topic.
Focus on the why of these challenges. Having a clear idea of why you're stepping out of your comfort zone can help you conquer the fear of it. Why are you running for that leadership position? Maybe you think you can make a difference or you're anxious for the opportunities it can bring. Why are you auditioning for that musical show? Maybe you're simply intrigued by the experience or you're about to blindside everyone with ferocious Adele-like vocals. No matter why the challenge, looking at the value of the task can help relieve stress and make the task easier to complete.
If anyone gets it, it's me. The comfort zone is safe and stress-free, why would we ever want to leave it? But allowing yourself to say yes to new challenges can bring new memories, friendships, and opportunities you never knew were out there.
It's time to step out of your comfort zone, and make the magic happen.
