Sure, there’s a certain comfort in hanging out with the same group of friends in the same old café, talking about the same topics. But have you ever wondered if there’s more to life than this? If you have, you’ve taken the first step of getting out of your comfort zone.
So, why is it important to leave your comfort zone? When you’re in your comfort zone, you feel safe and at ease. Although it doesn’t sound too bad, it comes at a price: the lack of new experiences.
In the end, you might end up fearing the unknown, feeling insecure, and having too many regrets related to the experiences you haven’t had. This is why it is important to leave your comfort zone, so you’ll live a life of zero regrets!
11 benefits of leaving your comfort zone
Why is it important to leave your comfort zone? Because that’s where real growth happens.
While leaving your comfort zone has advantages, it’s not a quick fix. You won’t immediately feel like a better person as if you’ve been touched with a magic wand. Instead, you’ll slowly start learning more about yourself, discovering new interests, and enjoying life in ways you haven’t known before. Here are 11 (real) benefits of leaving your comfort zone:
1. You improve your self-confidence.
Stepping out of your comfort zone challenges you, whether it’s through traveling to your dream country by yourself, signing up for a class, or applying for a job in another country.
Everyone gets scared before trying out unfamiliar experiences. But when we finally accomplish them—come back from a solo trip, complete a class, or start a job abroad, we’re more convinced that we can actually do and enjoy uncomfortable things! This translates to more self-confidence and room for bigger experiences.
2. You get better at problem-solving.
It’s normal to experience problems in a different environment. For example, if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll most likely need to navigate life in another language.
After a few days, you’ll not only pick up some basic phrases in the local language, but you’ll also manage to find some useful travel apps. No doubt that these critical thinking skills will apply in your everyday life, whether you’re in your comfort zone or not.
3. You become more adaptable.
The more you leave your comfort zone, the better you become at doing it again. This means that it will be easier for you to adapt, set expectations, and be prepared when something unexpected happens in your life.
4. You meet new people.
We’re willing to bet you’ll make a new friend or two.
Signing up for that volunteering abroad program can lead to meeting your best friend who also left their comfort zone to join the program. Or going to a career festival can mean exchanging contacts with your future employer. You never know if you would have met them otherwise—even if you did, it would be in completely different conditions.
5. You broaden your horizons.
By exposing yourself to new experiences, cultures, and people, you get to know other ways of living, broadening your horizons and worldview. And broadening your horizons trickles down to improving tons of aspects of your life! It’ll be easier to make friends, easier to relate to other people, and easier to understand different perspectives.
READ: Why Is Intercultural Learning Important?
6. You improve new skills.
New experiences improve your skills in various ways. Sometimes it’s the hard skills, like improving your Spanish thanks to an exchange program. At other times, it’s soft skills, such as empathy, communication, or cultural awareness that you acquire during the same program.
7. You discover new hobbies.
You’ll be surprised at the number of activities you never knew you would enjoy. It could be photography, dancing, singing, playing a new sport, scuba diving, you name it.
In the end, it all comes down to the first step—the first time you held your camera, the first dance class you took, or the first time you signed up for a scuba trial session. If it wasn’t for that first moment out of your comfort zone, you wouldn’t have had the same interests.
8. You get more creative.
You never know where you’ll find your new hobby!
Imagine you’re a college student who’s never been abroad. You decide to go study abroad, where you experience a new education system, a new culture, and other ways of tackling problems. As a result, you come back as a more well-rounded person, who has better, more creative ideas thanks to their experience.
9. You’ll be investing in your personal growth.
By challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone, you’re not just acquiring new skills or hobbies, you’re also investing in yourself. When you see that it wasn’t as hard as you thought it would be, you become a more resilient, understanding person.
10. You’ll have more stories to tell.
New hobbies, new friends, and new experiences. These could only mean one thing: more stories!
Don’t forget—even bad moments can make for good stories one day. Getting caught up in the rain in Angkor Wat and taking a bumpy ride with a tuk-tuk sure wouldn’t be fun when it’s happening, but years later, it could be your go-to icebreaker story!
11. You become a better traveler.
With increased cultural sensitivity and adaptability, you’ll be a more open-minded traveler. You’ll be able to connect better with the local culture, too.
Our Online Advisor can match you with 5 programs abroad—it’s free!
3 travel programs that will push you out of your comfort zone
Leaving your comfort zone puts you on a path to discovering more about the world—and about yourself.
Learn a new language abroad, go on a horse safari, or travel to India to help women live in better conditions—traveling is one of the best ways to get out of your comfort zone. Here are three programs for all types of travelers:
1. Spanish + Cultural Immersion - Beautiful Beach & City Campus
- Why? Suitable for both complete beginners and advanced Spanish speakers, this program immerses learners in not only the language but also the culture. Besides classes, which will be four hours per day, you’ll have the chance to practice with your host family and other students. In beautiful Costa Rica, no less! Thanks to the program’s relaxed schedule, you’ll have plenty of time to try out different activities every day, such as Latin dance, yoga, Zumba, cooking classes, and day trips to volcanoes, rainforests, and beaches.
- Where? Costa Rica
- Read Intercultura Costa Rica reviews
2. Tuli Horse Riding Safari in Botswana
- Why? Travel 120 kilometers in one week, sleep in tents, and immerse yourself in the diverse African wildlife. You have the chance to spot big cats, elephant herds, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and over 350 species of birds. As you ride on your horse amidst the red rocks, rocky hills, and lush greenery, you’ll want to pinch yourself to see if this is real!
- Where? Botswana
- Learn more about African Horse Safaris
3. Women Empowerment in India
- Why? Gender inequality is a big problem in India. In this program, you’ll meet many women who weren’t able to complete their education due to several factors. As a volunteer, you’ll help program coordinators with community-building projects depending on your skills. You’ll be expected to interact with the women often so they improve their English to get better jobs. In your free time, you’ll get to explore the Kerala region and go on day trips to other parts of India, such as Delhi and the Taj Mahal.
- Where? India
- Read Volunteering Journeys reviews
READ MORE: Why Travel?
Are you ready to experience life outside of your comfort zone?
We could cite thousands of comfort zone quotes—how there’s no growth where there’s comfort or how life begins at the end of your comfort zone. But you’ll need to try it for yourself to see why it’s important to leave your comfort zone. Go ahead, book that trip, sign up for that class, and go to that party!
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