September 2024: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

The arrival of a new academic year is a time of change- new classes, teachers, schedules, and faces. Yet this uncertainty also offers several opportunities for personal growth, especially in the form of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. 

To begin, what is a “comfort zone”? Psychological research indicates that one’s comfort zone encompasses the range of activities that cause little to no stress. However, studies have linked lower stress to lower performance. 

So, stepping out of your comfort zone means moving into your “growth zone”, taking on activities that cause a little more stress, and discovering the higher performance and plethora of benefits that come with it. 

For example, stepping out of your comfort zone increases self-confidence, decision-making skills, resilience, and self-agency. It also boosts productivity and expands your worldview, helping you actualize goals and understand what in life you want to pursue. 

Of course, reaping such rewards requires handling some level of stress, fear, and anxiety. As human beings, we seek safety and security- but often, achieving what we desire means overcoming our more primal fears. 

It is also important to recognize that progress takes time! When choosing to step out of your comfort zone, take baby steps. Pushing yourself too hard can have unhealthy consequences and bring on unnecessary stress. 

Interested in learning more? Check out this article from Harvard Summer School: 

Is it Time to Leave Your Comfort Zone?

To all our students, I encourage you to embrace a new challenge or experience this school year. You never know what good could come out of it! 

Until next time,

Anoushka Majumder

Vice President & Curriculum Director of English