Getting in the Zone

Do you want to make a change in your life?

You’ve probably heard of the saying “stepping outside of your comfort zone,” but have you heard of the learning (or stretch) zone or the panic zone?

To make changes, we need to move outside of our comfort zone.

As human beings, we are creatures of habit, wired to seek comfort and safety. So, it can be hard for people to let go of their comfort to learn something new. The comfort zone can be described as the range of circumstances in which a person feels relaxed or able to cope. Or their natural, neutral state -- a place where stress and anxiety are minimal, where they know what's coming next and can plan accordingly.

There's nothing wrong with being in our comfort zone, unless we get too comfortable and start holding ourselves back instead of challenging ourselves to learn, grow and try new things.

Let’s look at each of these psychological zones to better understand what we need to do.

The Comfort Zone

The comfort zone describes our regular habits and routines where we experience low levels of stress and anxiety, where there is little to no risk involved in what we do - a set of typical behaviours, routines, and actions that are familiar.

People who are said to “live in the comfort zone” usually take minimal risks and receive minimal rewards in return.

However, when there is too much or too little pressure, performance tends to decline.

So, if you do want to change, grow and develop any area of your life – for example, whether it’s your health, fitness, career or personal development, you need to know when you are in your ‘comfort zone’ and how to leave.

How many times have you heard someone talk about “leaving their comfort zone”? Have you ever stopped to think what it means or why it’s necessary?

In the Comfort Zone, everything is going well for you, you’re not pushed, you don’t have to think about things, you’re on automatic pilot. It feels secure, and you feel in control because you’re familiar with this space and know what to expect.

For instance, eating the same meals every day and denying any other food because they are not in your routine is a great example of staying within your comfort zone.

Have you ever tried learning something new? To do so, it is necessary to step outside of the comfort zone to experience growth.

The Panic Zone

On the other hand, having too much pressure means we may end up in the panic zone, which may cause us to react with extreme anger or fear, to shut down or behave irrationally, to panic from all the pressure and stress that being far outside of our comfort zone brings us.

When you move into the Panic Zone, you may feel as though you’re not in control. Things are not manageable. You may think or feel you are going to fail.  So, working in the Panic Zone is not optimal. If you are working in the Panic Zone, you are probably either thinking about the past or thinking about the future. Try bringing yourself back to the present. And be aware of your surroundings and everything that is going on about you. Fear and anxiety cause excuses, lack of self-confidence, and being persuaded to stay in the comfort zone are obstacles you may face when trying to leave the comfort zone.

 But how do you expect to change and grow in your life or career if you only stick to habit and routine? Reaching new goals involves the risk of attempting something you might not succeed at. A little anxiety can help you perform at your peak - in other words, when you challenge yourself, it gives you the drive to reach a bigger goal.

 I have a good example of what happened to me recently. My grandchildren are Dutch and live in the Netherlands. I wanted to surprise them and learn Dutch so that I could speak to them when I next visit – no mean feat at this stage in my life. I tried using an app on my phone but had limited success and wanted to fast-track my learning. So, I engaged in a programme with an online language school and started one-to-one lessons. I was excited to begin the first lesson and got through it without too much trouble. I had already learned some basics via the App, but when it came to the second lesson, I was panicking that I would not remember anything or be able to pronounce the words I was learning. I had well and truly moved into the panic zone.

The Learning (or Stretch) Zone

The optimum state when embarking on something new is when you’re in the Learning or Stretch Zone. You’re not fully knowledgeable about your subject, topic or area. You are learning about something new, that challenges you, you’re setting goals that help you to work towards the bigger plan.

Growth happens quickest when you step outside of your comfort zone. This applies to both your professional and personal life, so it’s important for your personal and professional growth to find ways to step outside of your comfort zone on a regular basis.

Moving beyond your comfort zone will likely make you slightly uncomfortable, or maybe fully uncomfortable like me 😊.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and my lessons are going well. I am practicing in between lessons and finding the meanings of the words, the pronunciation, the vocabulary, new words and spelling. Understanding ‘how to’ makes me feel more comfortable about speaking Dutch. I’m now well and truly in the Learning Zone.

So what are you waiting on? Decide what you are going to do today that will take you outside of your comfort zone. Always remember, you’re more capable than you think.

Working with a coach can help you to find your internal resources – your natural talent and ability which you can draw on to move towards your goals and beyond your current comfort zone.

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