Health & Wellness

How to Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

October 31, 2022

Let’s be real—no one likes being uncomfortable. Our brains are literally wired to chase comfort and cling to anything that feels familiar. So, naturally, stepping out of our comfort zones feels a little… risqué. However, according to Uncut and Uncensored‘s Caroline Stanbury, comfort zones are a cage. And, hot take? We totally agree.

It’s sooo easy to get stuck in a rut, ESPECIALLY in your late twenties or early thirties. You’re doing the same things, seeing the same people, hanging out in the same environments every day. And while that’s comfort, it doesn’t allow for personal growth. Relationships, careers, hobbies, and more become flavorless after a while without variety. But, even knowing that doesn’t make getting out of your comfort zone any less intimidating.

That’s why today, we’re giving you our guide for getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. The anxiety around failure and embarrassment can be a littleeee overwhelming, but so can being stuck in the whole “same-old, same-old” pattern. Let’s get into it.

How to Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Start with trying new things that don’t matter.

Putting yourself in difficult situations is, well, difficult! But, truly, the only way to feel comfortable being uncomfortable is to expose yourself over and over to those awkward situations. But, don’t worry, you don’t need to go signing yourself up for a hip hop dance class or head out to the nude beach. You can start small! “Michael Easter on How to Form Good Habits, Rewire Cravings, & Benefit From Discomfort In Your Life” from Him & Her Show is a GREAT episode to tune into for this.

Since your brain is swimming with all the possible risks that could happen when you’re in an uncomfortable situation, you need to pick something ultra low stakes. Start with switching up your coffee order, taking a different walking route, or dressing differently from normal. These situations rarely affect anyone else, so it’s great practice for getting out of your comfort zone!

Put yourself in unique social situations.

To become desensitized to uncomfortable circumstances, place yourself in unique social situations. These should be locations where there are lots of opportunities to talk to people! Kenzie Elizabeth from House Guest talks a little more about using shared interests to connect in THIS episode.

It could be something as simple as arriving at an appointment early to talk to someone in the waiting room or sitting next to another parent at the park. It could also be bold, like going to a rave alone or joining a language class! You make the rules here. Spark up conversations, talk to the people around you, and make a new friend or two! You never know how much you (or someone else) may need this.

For more on how to make new friends, check out our posts: How to Make Friends with Social Anxiety, How to Make Friends in Your 30s, and How to Make Friends in Your 20s.

Do something you’d never do.

Another way to push yourself out of your comfort zone is by doing things you’d normally never do. Make yourself a fish out of water by enrolling in a painting class, joining an improv group, jumping out of an airplane, or traveling to a new city. These experiences are scary, but exciting, and the bursts of pride you get from completing these tasks will help teach your brain that taking risks is a good thing!

Well with Arielle Lorre has the PERFECT episode for incorporating small habits that push you past fear. Check out “Daily Microhabits to Overcome Fear: The Steps to Leave Your Comfort Zone and Reach Your Highest Potential.”

Remind yourself that everyone is uncomfortable.

This is so important. Anytime you’re in an uncomfortable situation, you feel awkward and totally isolated. But, remember, everyone feels uncomfortable in new settings! If you’re dating later in life, you don’t think your dinner date has clammy hands? Or, if you’re in a beginner writing class, don’t you think everyone is a little embarrassed to read their work aloud? Of course!

Everyone is uncomfortable. But honestly, that’s the beauty of trying new things—you’re uncomfortable, you feel awkward, and then slowly, you’re like “Wait… I’m actually enjoying this!” This is the best way to discover new likes, interests, and passions. If you don’t know which interests to start pursuing, check out our post: “Hobbies That Help You Make Money.”

Bring a friend if you need to—an extraverted one!

If you’re struggling to get out there, bring a friend. Let them know your goals, and allow them to push you out of your comfort zone! If you get to the club and start eyeing someone on the dance floor? They’ll push you out there to talk and dance. Or, if you get cold feet before you take off on a trip, they’ll be there to tell you going back isn’t an option.

This is why ride-or-die friends are SO important. They’ll never encourage you to do something you actually shouldn’t be doing—they’ll just give you that gentle nudge you need. For more on this, tune into “The Power of Female Friendship” from Girls Gotta Eat!

Schedule it.

Again, your brain is going to try to protect you from (seemingly) scary situations. And it’s not because something bad or dangerous will happen, it just naturally wants you to stay comfortable. So, even though you’ve decided you’re going swing dancing or eating out alone, it’ll be really easy to talk yourself out of it every day. You’ll put it off forever!

So, schedule it. Set a date. If you can somehow, pay for it in advance, too! If it’s a set event or date, you’ll have fewer excuses when the time comes to walk out that door. And, as we mentioned above, maybe try bringing a friend for the first few go-arounds! Because even if you try to skip out on plans, they definitely won’t let you.

Ask questions about different beliefs, ideas, and values.

As you work on getting out of your comfort zone, you’ll see tons of change in your personal life. Most importantly, you’ll start to develop more confidence each day. And if you need a reminder on why this is SO important, tune into “How to Be the Most Confident Woman in the Room” from Uncut and Uncensored. You can continue to exercise this by challenging both those close to you and those you just met. Ask questions about their beliefs, ideas, and values if they’re different from yours.

Yes, this could be an uncomfortable conversation, but so what! This will make you learn that your voice matters and that lots of people care what you have to say. It’ll also broaden your horizons and challenge you to learn new things each day. So, don’t be afraid to let your curiosity and creativity drive potentially risking conversations.

Know that bad feelings don’t equal a bad experience.

We’re not going to tell you that you won’t be uncomfortable. You definitely will be. However, remember that bad feelings do not equal a bad experience. So, if you get home after a date or event and feel anxious and embarrassed, that’s okay! That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have done it. It’s all a part of the process!

Embrace discomfort by turning your insecurities to purpose. When you can find motivation in the uncomfortable, you’ll become unstoppable. For a helpful how-to, tune into “How to Build Your Self-Worth, Redefine Rejection, and Overcome Imposter Syndrome” from Life with Marianna.

Always reflect on your experiences and feelings.

Just because we embrace discomfort doesn’t mean we should ignore our feelings. After each event, journal or meditate on your experience. Develop healthy mantras and keep your eyes on the prize! And if facing your fears and dealing with anxiety is still really challenging, Looking Up’s episode “Facing Your Fears, the Power of Perspective . . .” is a great resource for pushing through fear of getting out of your comfort zone.

Acknowledge progress and reward yourself.

Each time you put yourself out there, celebrate! Reward yourself with something comforting that brings you joy. Finally hit “Order Now” on your Amazon cart, take yourself out for smoothies, or binge a few more hours of your favorite podcast. Do what makes you happy and acknowledge every accomplishment.

It’s less about thinking “every time I do something uncomfortable, I’ll treat myself to something.” Instead, it’s more about recognizing your growth and resilience. You’re honoring the effort you put in, no matter how big or small. And that mindset? It helps build a positive feedback loop where progress within itself feels rewarding.

Remember, it’ll take time to feel comfortable and confident.

This won’t happen overnight. This is a long term gain. Keep pushing and know that it’ll be tough and awkward for a while. In fact, the feelings might never go away completely, but you’ll learn to deal with them and push through the discomfort. You got this! If you need a little help along the way, turn on “Gary Vaynerchuk – How to Win in Life & Shift Your Mindset for Success” from Him & Her Show.

Why Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone is Important

Now that you know how to step out of your comfort zone, what’s the point? Why is it important to jump out of the predictable routine and do something risky? Well, here are a few reasons why this is crucial:

Open yourself up to new opportunities.

When you stop overthinking and push past fear, you open yourself up to lots of new opportunities. As you get out there, you’ll meet new people, explore new talents you didn’t know you had, and realize more of what the world has to offer. This will make you available for more, whether it’s a new career, a new relationship, or a new skill! It’ll empower you and bring SO much joy to your life.

Make great friends.

Most people lose a lot of friends in their twenties. This is normal. As people grow and change, naturally, you break up. However, staying in your comfort zone can leave you with no new friends either. This leads to isolation and loneliness.

On the other hand, getting out of your comfort zone will allow you to meet lots more people. When you meet new people, you can find love—platonic and romantic! These new relationships will provide the necessary community you NEED to survive. Listen in to “How Do I Make Friends as an Adult?” from Conversations with Cam for a helpful reminder that you’re not alone in this.

Find greater success in your career and ambitions.

The Yerkes Dodson Law theorizes that the right amount of fear is good for us. Too little makes us careless. Too much freezes us with stress and anxiety. However, the perfect amount keeps you focused and pushes you forward. You won’t want to fail, but you’ll know there is a good chance you’ll succeed. This principle will take you so far in your career!

Pushing out of your comfort zone will make it easier for you to stand out in your career and do more to get ahead. You’ll call that difficult client. You’ll push to complete your project. And, you’ll try that experimental marketing plan. Whatever you’re shooting for, go for it. If you need more help with your specific career goals, check out these great podcast episodes:

Grow your self-confidence.

Beyond getting further in your career and relationships, learning to be comfortable with discomfort will give you confidence. It helps you recognize what’s within your control, so you don’t waste your energy on things you can’t change.

More importantly, you’ll know all that you’re capable of. Each time you push through difficulties or challenges, you build resilience and realize that you can do MUCH more than you thought you could before. It’s not about things being easy—it’s knowing you can navigate difficulty and come out stronger on the other side.

Learn to heal faster.

Have you ever had an uncomfortable situation, and you couldn’t stop thinking about it? You’re probably just overthinking, but it still gives you anxiety and stress. Luckily, as you get comfortable being uncomfortable, you’ll learn and grow. You’ll heal faster when you’re hurt and dismiss embarrassment and discomfort from your mind much faster!

And remember, everyone deals with this—you’re DEFINITELY not alone here. Nonetheless, tune into “How to Soothe Everyday Anxiety” from Dear Gabby for a little reassurance.

Podcasts About Embracing Discomfort

If you need some inspirational content, we’ve got some great stuff for you! Dear Media has dozens of podcasts that help you become a better, stronger version of yourself. Tune in to discover more about how to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Dear Gabby

Gabby Bernstein, a bestselling author and international speaker, is your life coach in her popular podcast! She takes her listeners through life-changing transformations and supports them on their journey through personal growth.

Note to Self

Here’s another advice podcast that’ll help you explore yourself, the world, and new perspectives. You’ll feel empowered by the host, Payton Sartain, and all her inspiring guests.

Looking Up with Dr. Deepika Chopra

Dr. Deepika Chopra has studied the science of happiness, and she’s sharing it with you! You’ll get expert advice and science-based evidence to be more optimistic, successful, hopeful, and resilient.

The Dream Bigger Podcast

The founder of the wellness brand Arrae, Siffat Haider, hosts a podcast to help inspire you to live your best life! She interviews entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and experts on topics you care about. You’ll feel uplifted and empowered to achieve your dreams!

Him & Her Show

Power couple Lauryn and Michael Bosstick interview the world’s most accomplished and celebrated people—talk about getting motivated! Each episode explores actionable practices and unfiltered conversations that lead the way to enhancing your own life.

Almost Adulting

Violet Benson is like the candid big sister we all want. She has a no-BS approach to self-love, personal growth, and mental health. Sometimes she’s solo, other times she has on expert-level guests, but each episode is packed with helpful tips, useful tools, and lot of love.

Coming In Hot

Sometimes you need a fearless friend that pushes you out there, even when you don’t feel like it. And fortunately, that’s exactly what Caroline Baudino is to us! She provides inspirational tips to help us all on our journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Life with Marianna

When you want getting out of your comfort zone to feel like a warm hug, Marianna Hewitt can be that for you. This podcast is just as gentle as it is impactful—providing helpful tips and tricks to challenging yourself and elevating your life.

She’s So Lucky

Les Alfred is THAT girl when it comes to creating your own luck and living life on your terms. From solo episodes to insightful guests, this podcast is all about successful women, lessons you can learn from, and how to reach your fullest potential.

Transform

The Sami duo are here to empower you to reach ANY goal you’ve ever desired. Through conversations about their own struggles to tips and tools for working through insecurities and hard-to-navigate experiences, each episode feels like a masterclass in bettering yourself.

Learning to get comfortable being uncomfortable will open you up to a new world of possibilities.

Learning to be confident in who you are is hard. They tell you that the awkward stage is over in middle school, and it’s totally not! However, with enough exposure, your brain will learn to deal with uncomfortable situations, and you’ll start realizing all you can accomplish without the constraints of your comfort zone!

For everything from self-empowerment to relationship advice, head over to the Dear Media blog! We have everything you could ever need to navigate this journey of self-growth. Also, don’t forget to check out the DM shop to see what hot new products we have.