The Comfort Zone Challenge!
By Marilu Henner

What’s the first thing you think about when you hear the phrase “Comfort Zone”?

When I hear these words, I immediately think about the way I like to sleep.  For years people have teased me about my sleeping requirements – a room so dark you never know what time it is.  (Elvis would have been proud!)  In fact, I have “blackout shades requested” written into every location contract I sign…but not because I’m a diva.  I need to sleep in a dark room because I LOVE to be awake.  Any hint of light represents action, and I automatically want to be a part of that action.  If there’s a firefly out there having a party, I’m there!

No matter how crazy my sleeping comfort zone seems to others, it’s certainly better than my eating comfort zone was years ago before I got healthy and lost fifty-five pounds.  Back then I lived under the tyranny of stupid diets, thinking that alternating deprivation with gluttony was the way to go.  The discomfort of being heavy and bloated all the time was even part of this comfort zone.  It was only after acquiring the right knowledge and retraining my palate that my eating comfort zone changed.

So what are your different comfort zones?  What have you set up in your life to support the good and bad behaviors that make you “you”?  How do you relate to everyone and everything around you from your eating patterns to sleeping rituals, your exercise routines and your relationship strategies to the way you think and feel about yourself?  What are your habits that may even feel comfortably uncomfortable?  (Or uncomfortably comfortable?)

What makes us set up certain conditions so that we can continue to succeed…or fail? 

And where did we learn how to set up these conditions?  Are we mimicking our parents; or rebelling against our families?  Or have we just learned the best way to survive?

There’s a lot of talk these days about “comfort zones” and the typical advice is to challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone.  The point is to aim for change in order to attain the things you really want in life like a better career, better relationships, improved health, slimmer figure, and anything else we associate with a more rewarding and productive life.  Staying in your comfort zone seems to be one of the main barriers to achieving these goals because it keeps you rigid and less adaptable to diversity and change.  

There is obviously a lot of truth to this.  Staying in our comfort zone will keep us in a rut, so to speak.  We tend to do the same things over and over because it’s easy. We know what to expect and how to respond without thinking.

But what if we really like everything just the way it is?  Is there anything wrong with staying in our comfort zone to keep it that way? 

Well, possibly not.  But, does anyone really want to keep everything in his or her world exactly the way it is?  Do we really want the same old boring path of least resistance?  That becomes dull awfully fast, and eventually we lose sight of all the possibilities we’re missing out on because we are no longer exposed to better alternatives, including healthier, more varied, sometimes simpler, and sometimes more innovative choices.  Protecting our comfort zone also tends to support bad habits rather than help us find new ways to navigate our lives by allowing healthier habits to become a part of it. 

I think many people are in denial about this.  They believe they are perfectly content with the status quo, and perhaps they are.  But they might also be afraid to challenge their comfort zones because they know, consciously or unconsciously, that change caused them a certain amount of stress in the past.  And even though we usually gain something from taking these risks, we are reluctant to test those boundaries again because of the uncertainty and stress we associate with the unknown. The sad part is that this becomes more of a problem as we get older.  Kids don’t have nearly as much stress over leaving their comfort zones as adults do.  They are much more adventurous because they haven’t quite developed or defined the boundaries of their comfort zones yet.  People over sixty have an especially difficult time leaving their CZs.  (Try talking your grandmother into changing the meat-based diet she’s been eating all her life!)

So, here’s what I suggest.  Don’t think of challenging your comfort zones as something that you have to force or dread doing.  With that attitude you’ll eventually avoid change altogether.  Instead, think of each new challenge or change as an exciting new adventure.  Try to recapture the innocent, non-jaded enthusiasm you had as a child.  Don’t over analyze and worry about failing or having a bad experience.  Whatever your new endeavor is, take it all in as part of the experience.  Think of every comfort zone detour as a mini vacation from yourself, and don’t get upset if the hypothetical “hotel room” outside your comfort zone is noisy or doesn’t face the pool!

Testing these boundaries can actually be a lot of fun!  And remember, there are many subcategories to your comfort zone- your health, love life, family, finances, career, etc.  Each has its own defined comfort zone. Here are just a few suggestions to help get you started:

In the food department, try a vegetable you’ve never tried before.  If you’re always making the same old side dish, like steamed broccoli, try preparing something totally new like daikon or jicama.  Ask for advice from your produce manager, or do a little research on the Internet about choosing and preparing a new, exotic vegetable.  We often avoid trying a new vegetable because we don’t know how to wash, cut, or prepare it.  That’s out of our comfort zone.

And don’t just limit this change to a new vegetable.  Try new fruits, new grains, new beans, and pastas.  We also tend to prepare the same sauces for our pastas.  Ask your friends to share some of their favorites for you to try.

Another suggestion in the food category is to try a new recipe every couple of weeks.  We tend to stick with our old stand-bys because it’s easy; we know exactly what to buy and how to prepare it. To spice things up a bit, try a recipe from another country or culture.  Your family will love the surprise.  And don’t be afraid to botch it up.  That might even add to the fun.

In the discipline department, try having a sugar-free, dairy-free, meat-free, or fast food -free day (or entire week or month if you’re more advanced).  This is a great way to explore how much better you could feel when you eat a cleaner diet. 

In the lifestyle category, consider reading a book in a subject you know nothing about. We tend to explore areas we’re already familiar with because it’s easier; it’s in our comfort zone.  Try a weekend getaway that is very different, too.  Surprise your spouse without giving them a chance to nix the new choice.  Push them out of their comfort zone, as well.  And make sure you keep an open mind throughout the experience.

When it comes to exercise, I’m a firm believer in lots of variety.  Fitness gains are much greater when your body is challenged with variation in resistance and movement.  Physical gains come from changeups in your routine.  Therefore, explore new sports, new dance classes and exercises you’ve never done before.  Do remember, however, to be cautious if you’re doing anything a bit risky, unless you want to end up in traction, which, by the way, is the ultimate comfort zone!