In life, it’s important to learn to push the boundaries of your comfort zone to go on to maximise your potentials and live a fulfilled life. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 ways to break out of your comfort zone.

Start By Doing Simple Everyday Things Differently

When you want to take a bold step out of your comfort zone, it is important to first practice with the little things. Learn to do everyday things differently to sort of acquaint yourself with the feeling of breaking out of your comfort zone. Try a different route to work. Try a different restaurant or buker for lunch. Acquaint yourself with the perspective that comes with these changes and don’t be put off if things don’t work out as planned. Learn from it.

Take Your Time Making Decisions

‘Think, don’t just react’ – remember those words. Sometimes, simply defending your right to make an educated decision can push you out of your comfort zone. Calm down, observe what’s going on, take your time to interpret what you see, and make a decision.

Learn to Trust Your Judgment

You will continually find it hard to break out of your comfort zone if you don’t trust your own judgment. You must learn to trust your judgment. You share your intended decisions with people you trust and let them give you advice to guide you, if that makes you more comfortable trusting your judgment. From a religious perspective, you can also pray before making decisions. The important thing is that you do what you need to do to build trust in your own judgment.

Start With Small Steps

You remember the saying, ‘Slow and steady wins the race’. I always disagreed with the statement till I got older and realized the stunning level of truth in it. When breaking out of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to start slow. Take your time; only ensure you are making progress every day. Identify your fears and face them step by step, you’ll eventually get there.

Remember to Return To Your Comfort Zone From Time to Time

You’re not a daredevil or an adrenaline junkie. As much as you would need to occasionally come out of your comfort zone, you can’t live out of it all the time. It will wear you out. You need to come back to your comfort zone to process your experiences, learn from them and improve upon them. This way you strengthen yourself for the next experience. For example, if wearing a short skirt is a ‘coming out of your comfort zone’ experience for you, it’s ok to occasionally switch back to your comfortable trouser wear. You don’t have to wear a short skirt all the time.