11 Ways to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone is, well, comfortable. However, it’s a trap. Nothing new or spectacular happens in that comfortable place. Nothing changes.

If you want to grow and experience new things, it’s necessary to move beyond your comfort zone. This is easier said than done. 11 Ways to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

Your brain makes your comfort zone feel good, because it believes that’s where you’re safe. The only way to go outside your comfort zone is to endure some discomfort. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the discomfort.

With time, you can teach yourself to enjoy this uncomfortable feeling, because you understand the potential it holds.

Try these techniques to break out of your comfort zone: 11 Ways to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

1. Put your awareness on your surroundings. What ultimately makes you feel emotionally uncomfortable are your thoughts. You imagine the worst. You ruminate. You create stress and then proceed to magnify it.

> One way to short-circuit this process is turn your attention outward and focus on your environment. When you feel uncomfortable, focus on what you can see, hear, taste, smell, and touch.

2. Mentally rehearse. Mental rehearsal can be just as real to your brain as the real thing. Before acting outside of your comfort zone, mentally rehearse your actions and success in that situation. The more you practice (in your mind), the easier it will be for you when the time comes to physically do it.

> This can easily be done in bed just before falling asleep and immediately after awakening. 11 Ways to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

> These are two powerful moments everyone should avoid wasting!

3. Change your wardrobe. You’re accustomed to dressing a certain way. Dressing in your usual manner doesn’t evoke any anxiety. An effective way to turn up the heat a bit is to change your style. You’ll feel slightly out of place, and at least a few people are bound to draw attention to the change.

4. Take a new route home. Shake things up a bit by taking a completely different route home. You never know what you’ll see that you’ve never seen before.

5. Give someone a compliment. Giving compliments can be a little nerve-racking. After all, you don’t know how they’ll take it. You also know that you’re putting them on the spot, because they’re forced to provide a reply. 11 Ways to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

> However, it’s ultimately a positive experience for everyone involved and an effective way to stretch your comfort zone safely.

6. Spend time with risk-takers. The people you spend time with matters. Spend time with risk-takers, and you’re bound to feel a little bolder.

7. Compare the best and the worst outcomes. Many of the most rewarding opportunities in life have few downsides and huge upsides. 11 Ways to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

> Approaching an attractive person and applying for a job over your head are two simple examples.

> There are plenty of options in life with great upside and minimal downside. Realizing this can reduce your anxiety.

8. Take tiny steps. Take the smallest step you can that would feel like progress. Continue this process and eventually you’ll reach the end point and achieve what you set out to do!

9. Involve a friend. Take a friend along with you. Do you want to become comfortable talking to strangers? Would you like to take salsa lessons? Drag a friend along with you to any activity you’d like to try. You’ll have support and you won’t feel alone.

10. Pretend you’re a brave person. Imagine you’re an actor. How would you think, stand, and behave if you had to pretend you were brave? Become that person and take action.

11. Try something new. Take up a new activity that isn’t very threatening. It could be trying a new restaurant, going to see a play, dusting off your bike and going for a ride, learning to ride a motorcycle, or taking tennis lessons.

Have the courage to leave your comfort zone behind if only for a little time each week. You and your life will grow in new and interesting ways.

Remember: There’s nothing for you in your comfort zone besides comfort. Your life can be about much more than that!

Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life

Since when did life get so complicated? What happened to the days of running wild and not having to worry about anything? Even as we’ve gotten older, it’s still fun to remember the good old days and the simplicity of life.

But truth be told, you can still have that feeling. With some daily effort, your life can be balanced between joy and simplicity.

What most people don’t realize is that their daily stressful lives are stressful because of themselves. They’ve booked themselves solid, ran themselves ragged, and planned too many “to-dos” to keep up.

Even though this might be you, you don’t have to accept it as your fate.

You can easily change your daily path and get back to the basic simplicities of life with just a few small changes.

Why spend your days catering to others when you can find your own joy first? Stop the madness of running yourself ragged and do yourself a favor.

Slow down and savor every single moment with these strategies:

1. Stop putting yourself on the backburner. Do you spend your time doing things for others and not doing anything for yourself?

> For just a few moments per day, do what you need to do for you. Smile at yourself in the mirror, tell yourself that you matter, and start off your day with your thoughts and feelings in mind. Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life

2. Slow down and smell the roses. This means physically and mentally. It’s important to avoid rushing through your day and missing out on all the little moments in life.

> The moment that you stop rushing and start appreciating, you’ll begin to notice all the things that you’ve missed throughout the day. There are so many great things that you’re missing out on. Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life

3. Read a book just for fun. Sometimes being an adult means that you have to read books and articles that you just don’t want to read.

> Instead, head to the local library and pick out a stack of books or magazines that you actually want to read. When you have a book in hand that you’re crazy about, reading becomes a whole new world. Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life

4. Expand your family with a puppy. Having a puppy is a great way to have a loving animal greet you daily and make you feel as though everything you do is perfect. Plus, puppies give some of the best snuggles and kisses, too.

> If dogs are not your favorite, having a different pet can also bring many moments of simple joy to your life. Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life

5. Allow yourself to say no. When you spend all day saying yes to others, it leaves nothing in your reserves left over for you. The time is now to start saying no and supporting your own needs.

> Your family and friends will get over this change and will actually more than likely understand. Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life

Finding joy doesn’t have to take a ton of effort or time. You can easily make your life a better place with just a few simple changes.

Start by understanding what you’re missing in your life and then start factoring in the things that you need and want from there. Once you get a good grasp on it, you’re going to find self-love and happiness easily.

Allow yourself to fall in love with the idea that life is simple and wonderful. Your life holds so much joy if you let yourself see it.

Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life

Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

Anxiety can happen quickly and seems to settle in for the long haul. If you’re worried that your anxiety is taking over, you can transform your current path and, instead, opt for ways you can take charge and restore function.

Stop anxiety in its path. Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

Consider these tips on how you can use simple exercises to reduce your anxiety. Getting away from whatever you’re doing and moving your body is always a great way to calm the mind and help alleviate stress. Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

Who knew that exercising could have such a positive effect?

Try these activities:

1. Go for a walk. Walking is not only a super simple exercise, but you can also do this anywhere that you are. Stepping outside your front door and taking a stroll around the neighborhood or in a nearby park can do wonders to calm your mind.

> If you’re in an office, taking a walk around the block on your lunch break can really help to break up the day and calm mental chaos. Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

2. Ride a bike. Going for a bicycle ride isn’t just for kids. Biking is a really great exercise that moves your body and strengthens your leg muscles as well.

> Plus, when you’re on a bike, you get to bypass a lot of the traffic jams by riding around or up on the sidewalk to get by. It’s a great way to relieve stress.

3. Practice yoga. The calming effect of yoga is one reason that millions of people do yoga on a daily basis. Some refer to it more as a meditation time, but the stretching also brings you numerous benefits.

> Yoga can be done daily and in practically any location. It can allow you to have some control over daily anxiety and meet other mental and physical needs as well. Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

4. Try jumping rope. As a child, you may have enjoyed jumping rope on the playground. This activity is also a simple way to relieve stress easily at home – even if you are an adult!

> The great part about jumping rope is that your mind is at ease while you’re focusing on how many times you can jump. It’s a simple way to stop the anxiety if even for a moment of time. Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

5. Run. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a runner, get outside and hit the pavement. Or run on a treadmill indoors. The moment that your feet start moving, the stress will start to melt away.

> When you’re feeling extra stressed or anxious, just change up your run a bit. Run in bursts or sprint out some of that stress. You might be able to run anxious thoughts and feelings out of your system completely. Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

When you’re feeling like the world is coming down on your shoulders, it’s time to take charge and do something about it. Put on your workout gear and let your body movement transport your mind to a better place.

The great thing about using exercise to relieve anxiety is that you’re also strengthening your physical health as well.

Exercise brings you so many benefits. Use it as a simple way to relieve stress and anxiety and calm your mind. Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

Practice Persistence. Top 10 Reasons Why You’ll Want to Practice Persistence

Do you have persistence? Persistence is the act of working hard and trying again and again until you achieve what you’ve set out to achieve.

As long as you persist, you can’t fail! Practice Persistence

Consider these benefits of persistence:

1. You’ll become an expert. Chances are that the first time you try something you might not be good at it. However, once you’ve completed the same task multiple times, you’ll soon become better and better, becoming an expert at the task in the process.

2. Persistence will motivate you to try harder. When you try and try, you’ll move a little closer to your goal with each attempt. This will help motivate you as it will show that this effort makes a difference.

3. Persistence is a sign of ambition. Only those who are truly ambitious are able to bring persistence into their daily lives. This is why the most successful people you know are also those who are most persistent.

> Most successful people have failed at least once, but this did not stop them from achieving success. With each failure, they learned what they needed to do differently the next time they tried.

> Eventually, they succeeded, which would never have happened had they become discouraged at the first sign of failure.

4. You’ll set a good example. Whether you’re setting an example for your work colleagues or your children, if they see that you’re not willing to give up when you face adversity, they’ll be more inclined to try harder at their own challenges.

> Become a role model and those around you will become more consistent and hard-working too. Practice Persistence

5. Persistence teaches you the value of success. Being successful takes time and effort. No one ever became successful without making sacrifices and being persistent with their time and efforts.

6. Persistence gives you vital experience. When you’re persistent, you learn that each failure gives you another opportunity to learn. With each failure, you’ll become more resilient. You’ll also learn how you can overcome any challenge. Practice Persistence

7. You become more aware of your weaknesses. To achieve success at anything, it’s important to understand your weaknesses. When you look at your failures, you’ll discover your faults and learn what you need to work on to become successful.

8. People judge you on your consistency. When you’re persistent, you also develop consistency. Many people look for this skill, whether in the workplace or in your personal life. They want to know that you’ll work hard to do what needs to be done on a regular basis. Practice Persistence

9. You’ll learn that things that come easy bring little reward. Harder tasks may require a little work and consistency, but they offer much greater rewards. Is it not worth making that little extra effort to achieve greater rewards?

10. Most importantly, you’ll be able to create the life you desire. With persistence, you’ll be able to sail through life’s setbacks. You’ll seek solutions to overcome your challenges and keep moving forward to build a life that satisfies you.

Persistence is important, as rarely anything worth having in life comes without it. Most often, you’ll have to work for what you want.

Being persistent will give you the opportunity to achieve anything you set your heart on! Practice Persistence

Top 15 Ways to Protect Your Wellbeing by Being Kind to Yourself

How do you react when you’re faced with circumstances beyond your control or you fall short of your own expectations? Kind to Yourself

You might be tempted to become harsh with yourself. You try to whip yourself into shape, thinking that will help you to overcome the obstacles in your way.

In reality, treating yourself with kindness and compassion is more likely to build your resilience and clarify your thinking. Kind to Yourself

Make a list of things you can do to show yourself a little love today, starting with these ideas.

Kind Habits That Protect Your Physical Wellbeing: Kind to Yourself

1. Stay active. Exercise lowers your risk for heart conditions, diabetes, stroke, and many other serious health issues. Design a program you can do at home to train for cardio fitness, strength, flexibility, and balance.

2. Eat whole foods. Fill up on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Minimize your consumption of ultra-processed foods.

3. Drink water. In addition to its other health benefits, water helps keep your eyes, mouth, and nose moist so you may be less tempted to scratch your face. Quench your thirst with plain water or unsweetened tea.

4. Sleep well. Lack of sleep can make you more vulnerable to infection and illness. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of slumber each night

5. Manage stress. Deal with tension constructively. Find relaxation practices that work for you. Talk with your doctor if you find yourself using alcohol or other substances to manage your moods.

Kind Habits That Protect Your Psychological Wellbeing: Kind to Yourself

1. Think positive. Look on the bright side. Savor small daily pleasures. Read inspirational texts and keep a smile on your face. Remember that hardships are temporary.

2. Set goals. Add more purpose to your life by working towards realistic and challenging goals. Use specific language and put them in writing.

3. Express gratitude. Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness. Let others know how much you appreciate them and what a difference they make in your life.

4. Give generously. Focusing on others makes your own troubles seem less grim. Share your time, money, and talents. Volunteer online for a worthy cause. Ask an elderly neighbor if they need groceries. Kind to Yourself

5. Seek support. Surround yourself with family and friends who lift you up. Share your feelings. Ask for help when you need it.

6. Repeat affirmations. Use positive statements to retrain your brain and let go of doubts that hold you back. Say your affirmations out loud several times a day. Post written copies on your bathroom mirror and other places around your home.

7. Connect with nature. Green spaces have a positive effect on our emotions. Go outside for a walk as long as you’re careful about social distancing. Open a window to let in natural light and fresh air.

8. Laugh out loud. Use humor to help you through difficult situations. Watch cat videos and email funny jokes to your friends. Play with your children or fake a chuckle until it turns into the real thing.

9. Meditate daily. Develop a regular meditation practice. Create a quiet space in your home where you can sit down each day. Start out with a few minutes at a time. You can extend your sessions gradually as your power of concentration grows.

10. Live mindfully. Remain intentional and aware in between your meditation sessions. Practice healthy posture and deep breathing. Slow down and give your full attention to one task at a time.

Your relationship with yourself serves as the foundation for a happy and meaningful life. Treat yourself with kindness and compassion, the same way you would behave toward a dear friend.

Kind to Yourself

8 Methods to Overcome a Fear of Being Judged

The words that people say to us can have a lasting effect, leaving us feeling powerless and vulnerable.

Over time, the things that people say to us can shape our own opinion of ourselves. This can lead to a fear of being judged, which if we are not careful, can negatively impact our relationships, jobs, social situations, and self-esteem

Try these 8 Methods to Overcome a Fear of Being Judged and get your self-esteem back on track:

1. Learn your strengths and limitations. Once you know your own strengths and limitations, you’ll be less likely to be affected by what others say. Their opinions on your abilities become irrelevant, since you know what you are capable of.

Have confidence in your own ability but be aware of what you cannot do.

2. Acknowledge that things do not need to be perfect. Human perfection is a myth. You can excel at your tasks without them being perfect.

Rather than focusing on any imperfections, know that you are doing the best that you can – and that your best is good enough.

3. Understand that people will always have an opinion. Some opinions will please you and others won’t. What matters most, though, is your own opinion.

4. Be aware of your inner critic. That little voice in your own head can become deafening at times, so it’s important to recognize when negative thoughts start to creep in.

Once you start to recognize what triggers these negative thoughts, you can take the necessary steps to change them into positive ones.

5. Make yourself a priority. When you allow someone else’s judgement to cloud your own perceptions, you actually give that person power and priority over your life. You can take back control of your life by recognizing that you are your priority, not them.

6. Invest in yourself. Enhance your personal growth and well-being by doing more of what you enjoy doing. Take time for self-care.

The better you treat yourself, the better others will treat you as well, thus lessening your fear of their judgement.

7. Know that your memories fade. Even though hearing someone criticize you hurts at the time, if you purposely put it to the back of your mind by thinking of something else, then the memory of this event will fade.

There is only so much room in your memory banks, so you want to ensure that you aren’t giving these negative thoughts priority over more positive thoughts.

8. Tell yourself that you are good enough. Looking squarely at yourself in a mirror and telling yourself that you are good enough can help. Practice this exercise several times each day – whenever you’re in front of a mirror.

Repeat the affirmation that you are good enough off and on throughout the day, especially when you feel doubt creeping in.

Soon, you will automatically think about how you are good enough every time you see yourself. Your self-talk will automatically start to gravitate to the positive.

Consistent, positive reassurance such as this can help overcome the fear of failure and being judged.

Before you let fear of judgement affect your life in a negative manner, try these 8 Methods to Overcome a Fear of Being Judged. You’ll be glad you did!