Why do we choose to live in our comfort zone? Because we are accustomed to a stress-free existence in our comfort zone. It’s what you’re used to. It’s also the point in our lives that we’re the most miserable. Organizational studies suggest that most workers are un-engaged in what they do, yet most continue to stay within their comfort zone and bare the misery. These same individuals who identify as being “un-engaged” could stretch themselves outside of their self-imposed comfort zone could begin to experience a new sense of excitement in what they do.
We force ourselves to remain stagnant when we stay in our comfort zone. We’re terrified of what may happen if we change. Our brains are wired to keep us secure, so we prefer to stay in our familiar surroundings rather than face the unexpected.
However, staying in our comfort zones might lead to other problems. Here are eight reasons why staying in your comfort zone is a bad idea.
1. You are not achieving your goals. If you stay in your comfort zone, you are less likely to achieve your goals. You are preventing yourself from achieving your goals because of fear, procrastination, and self-doubt.
2. A lack of development. Staying in your comfort zone will almost certainly prevent you from reaching your full potential. You’ll constantly be stagnant, never progressing, never developing and growing. You may fail to meet your goals because you insist on doing things the same way you’ve always done them, even though you’re not seeing any results. You don’t go outside your comfort zone to see what you’re capable of or what you can achieve.
3. Loss of passion. Staying in your comfort zone makes it more difficult to discover your passions. Outside of your comfort zone is where you’ll find your passion.
4. A sense of being ignored. When you stay in your comfort zone, you will feel as though you are falling behind your coworkers and anyone with whom you interact. They may have been behind you in terms of results or tenure, but they have passed you by because they ventured outside of their comfort zone.
5. Making do with less. You force yourself to settle for less than you want by continuing to live in your comfort zone. You set aside your passions or things you like.
6. Your self-confidence is low. You won’t have the confidence you need to grow and take on new challenges if you don’t get out of your comfort zone.
7. Your health is harmed. When you don’t step outside of your comfort zone, you aren’t always taking care of your health. Stress often stems from a fear of having a long-overdue difficult conversation, a reluctance to modify your habits, or a reluctance to go to the gym for fear of being judged or attempting something new.
8. You’ll be caught off guard by changes. When you cling within your comfort zone, you become rigid and fixed in your ways. Life may be challenging, sending a variety of challenges your way. Even if you don’t want to, things might happen that force you out of your comfort zone. You can’t be open to new possibilities if you stay in your comfort zone.
The same reasons we stay in our comfort zones are the exact reasons we should use to break out of them. Staying in your comfort zone may feel safe, but settling for mediocrity is a mistake.
Catalyst Consulting 