7 Ways To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone This Year

Here's to a new, more fearless you!

1. Take a break from your devices.

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It's not a stretch to say many of us are addicted to our phones, laptops, TVs, and other electronic devices. Keep your devices tucked away when you're talking with friends and family or eating a meal. It may even be worth starting a challenge among friends and committing to no screens for a given amount of time every day for a month. Give your eyes a break and live in the actual moment.

2. Try a food you've never had before!

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Elevate your palate and order a new international dish. There are endless food options from all over the world, so get out of your comfort zone and try a restaurant famous for its worldly cuisine.

3. Speak up a little more (or maybe a little less).

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If you're the last person to say something at work or at school, start exercising that voice more. Have an idea? Say it. Have a question? Ask it. The more you do it, the more comfortable you'll become expressing yourself. And if you're the first person to say something, try letting someone else have the floor. Sit back, listen, and learn.

4. Take a dance class.

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It's one thing to let loose in the club with your friends. It's another to actually learn the technicalities of a specific dance. Sign up for ballroom, hip-hop or even ballet courses, and challenge your body to move in ways it never has before.

5. Explore a new book genre and pick something you wouldn't ordinarily read.

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It's totally fine to have a favorite, but to break up your routine and expand your horizons, try a new book genre. If you love romance, try mystery. Or if you love mystery, give a well-reviewed autobiography a shot.

6. Travel somewhere you've never been.

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Plan a vacation to a place you've never been, whether domestic or abroad. Take a road trip to a different region of your country or book a flight somewhere warm with a rich and colorful culture! It's a good way to relax and have a good time, while also experiencing something new.

7. Affirm others more with compliments.

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It's strange to think that complimenting someone will push you out of your comfort zone, but think about it. How many times do you love a stranger's outfit or a random colleague's presentation? And how many times do you actually express your admiration to them? It's easy complimenting those in our tight circles, but it can feel a little awkward approaching a stranger to tell them what you like about them. Practice paying it forward and stepping outside of your comfort zone with simple and kind words.