Your Comfort Zone - Not Always a Good Place to Be

in GEMS4 years ago (edited)

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Your comfort zone is a nice warm cuddly place to hang out, but not necessarily the best state for your work out efforts.

According to Lifehacker one definition of "comfort zone" is:

Simply, your comfort zone is a behavioral space where your activities and behaviors fit a routine and pattern that minimizes stress and risk. It provides a state of mental security. You benefit in obvious ways: regular happiness, low anxiety, and reduced stress.

This sounds like a great place to be - sitting on the front porch in your rocking chair with that first cup of coffee in the morning. But it's not really where you want to be in workout mode.

I find myself becoming complacent in my workout routine, doing the same things, taking the same walks, watching the same videos because I'm COMFORTABLE with them. Walking the treadmill in bad weather with my headphones on listening to a book on Audible is NOT challenging. It gets the job done, but basically on autopilot.

So it's time to get out of my comfort zone because I'm getting bored with my routine and not seeing results that I would like. Here are some tips on how to break out of your workout comfort zone:

Try a new video with a different form of exercise.

I have my favorites, but browsing YouTube there are literally thousands of free videos available. Pick something you've never tried - maybe Pilates, maybe Yoga, maybe Kickboxing - and give it a chance. You won't be good at it, it will be challenging, and it will make new muscles sore. But these are good things!

Push a little harder.

Walking the Lincoln Loop in the park is 1.5 miles and takes me the same amount of time to complete a circuit. So I've added in some spurts of jogging. Now at 61 years old, jogging hasn't been on my agenda, but guess what - I can do it! And by challenging myself to "make it to the next lamp post" before stopping I've built up the time and distance. Yes, my calves were sore and my heart was pounding - but it felt great!

Focus on the rewards of that extra effort.

After pushing yourself and experiencing those little extra aches and pains, be mindful of your feeling of euphoria and accomplishment. You did it! Something you weren't aware of you could do and you need to bask in that feeling of accomplishment and remember it for next time.

Add in some spontaneity.

If your routine is to take an evening walk around a certain path, try an early morning walk in a different direction. Drive to a state park and do some hiking in nature instead of walking city blocks. If you always head for the treadmill or elliptical machine at the gym tackle some of those scary-looking weight lifting machines instead. Changing your routine will keep your body guessing, new muscles working, and your brain stimulated.

In conclusion:

Your body and mind need to be challenged. Venture out of your workout comfort zone and try something new. You'll be glad you did!

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Thanks for the advice. Monotony is not the best thing, probably you need to develop a training schedule for every day.

The last link does not work, I decided to share the banner code.

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Having an impossible time of editing this post. I can't get the code to insert and I did change the link, but when I try to update, it refuses and keeps giving me an message that I can't change the first tag (which I'm not trying to do!) But thanks for letting me know about the broken link!

@blueeyes8960 I love this write-up. That's right. Moving out of the comfort zone is the best. One will able to explore and exercise with some other people who have keen interest in Keeping fit.

Thanks @johnolusegun - I had intended to add "working out with a buddy" as part of the suggestions, then forgot it. Thanks for bringing it up!

I can't do any exercises, my joints are so very weak that they hurt with even a normal body movement @blueeyes8960
But as soon as my bones are not throwing calcium anymore I would do exercises if God wills it.

@cryptopie, I hope that day comes soon for you my friend, when you're not living with constant pain and can do some of the things that we take for granted.

It's true we can not stay idle in one spot our bodies need to be challenged in different ways so we don't become lazy and seized up 💪

@kohsamui99 - from your Wednesday walk post I can see that you challenge your body regularly. What a beautiful spot you have to enjoy for your runs!

I certainly do @blueeyes8960 i have always been in training since a kid and i wouldn't feel right if i didn't exercise running along that beach with them views just energize my whole day 😊