I think we’re all creatures of habit, at least a little bit.
Many of us eat a lot of the same foods daily. We take the same routes from point A to point B, do the same workouts, and talk to the same people.
Admittedly, this approach generally makes sense because it’s efficient and also most of us don’t have the flexibility of schedule that allows us to submit to all our non-habitual whims. But I think that mixing it up a little can be good for us, too. It’s a good reminder that there is more than one way to do things – and maybe that those different ways have their merits.
New foods make meals more exciting and special, as well as add different nutrients to your diet. New routes can lead to new shortcuts (and maybe some pretty views). Switching up your workout can challenge you and your fitness in new ways. You can learn a lot (and maybe make some new friends!) by talking to different people.
All of these are little steps outside your comfort zone, and they can not only make life a little more fun, but they also help you grow. Being flexible intentionally helps make it easier to be flexible unexpectedly.
So… this post is a little (a lot?) random, but lately I’ve been making more of an effort to push myself outside my comfort zone and be more flexible. I’ve found that making small changes daily is a good way to do that. Even things as simple as having a different than “usual” snack or striking up a conversation with someone you don’t often talk to break up the monotony that we start to face when each day is the same. Small changes can make every day a little more exciting and help you grow, and I think that makes making them worthwhile.
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Do you switch up your routine sometimes?
How do you step outside your comfort zone?
I support your decision to grow! I am a very Type A personality, and was especially so in my high school and early college years. I think it took hanging out with more close, great friends that were more free and less schedule-minded as well as dating my now fiance (who is definitely not Type A) to get me out of my comfort zone. On many levels. With change comes growth. 🙂
I’m so Type A it’s not even funny. But I’m starting to surround myself with people who aren’t as Type A (but who still respect that I kind of am 🙂 ), and I think that helps SO MUCH. Great point!
This is a great reminder; thank you so much for posting!! I need to remember this more often. A lot of my “stepping outside my comfort zone” *involves* switching up my routine and doing something unexpected and spontaneous. 😛 Also, letting other people do things for me, even if the end result is what I might consider less than ideal…I am trying to learn to take it in the spirit it was given, not say anything and start lowering my too-high expectations. 🙂
Giving up that control of doing things “your way” is super hard, but it’s definitely good for you sometimes. Delegating can be good (so can working really hard). And being uncomfortable can be good (so can comfort). And not having *ridiculously* high expectations can be good (so can having high standards). You just have to know the proper time and place for those things. That’s the tricky part 😉