8 tips to deal with stepping out of your Comfort Zone

What is "Comfort Zone"? It could be your home, your city, your family and friends, your present job, your present state of mind, whatever you are most comfortable with is your comfort zone. For me, it is my city, my family and a group of close friends. 

Ambition, on the other hand, is wanting to achieve something. And sometimes, if the path to your goal, is in your comfort zone, then you're pretty lucky. But sometimes, once in a while, you might come face to face with a situation where you might have to step out of your comfort zone. It happens to all of us. Sometimes, we succumb to the comfort and let go of our ambition, but sometimes we need to step our game up and make that tough choice. 

For me, it was having to travel all the way from Chennai, India to Stockholm, Sweden for two years to do my M.Sc in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure. Right now, I'm done with one year and I have one more year left. 

When you leave your comfort zone..you feel vulnerable. You feel scared of the unknown, you feel a sense of  insecurity, you feel like you dont have your grounding anymore. But let me tell you something, it is ok to feel that way, but remember, your people and your comfort zone are not going to go anywhere. You are going to be fine. It might seem like it's a whole new world, and you are not ready for the change, but it is going to be okay. 

Here's how to deal with stepping out of your comfort zone. (This is as much a note to myself, as it is to you).

1. Don't forget who you are, remember your roots. This will keep you grounded and focused. 

2. Keep your family and your people close. When going through a change, be it a job, or moving to a new city, or any new change, keep your people close and spend time with them. Talk to them about your fears, and let it out. I don't mean you should always keep cribbing, but when it gets too overwhelming, talk it out. 

3. Keep yourself occupied, keep yourself busy and be productive. If you have stepped out of your comfort zone, it is for a reason. So give that reason full justice and work hard. Your effort will pay off.

4. When it gets hard, remember that this is just a phase, and that you will once again be back in your comfort zone once the phase is over. 

5. When they say "great things never came from comfort zones" it doesn't mean that you always have to live in a state of discomfort. It only means that till you reach a certain position in life, you might have to keep stepping out of your comfort zone. And once you reach a certain position, you need to keep working harder to retain it. 

6. Take up a new hobby, or learn a new language or a sport. This way, you'll be able to keep your brain active and ward off negative thoughts.

7. Focus on one task at a time. Focus on one day at a time. When you think about taking it one day at a time, you'll be less stressed. You'll be less anxious. 

8. Meditate and talk to yourself. Keep reassuring yourself that everything is going to be okay.

It can be overwhelming, but you've got this. Take a deep breath, believe in yourself and believe that good things will happen soon and keep working hard, little fighter. 

/Supritha