In the last few months, the whole world has changed. At first it was waiting for new information about the pandemic we have left behind and the certainty of understanding what exactly had happened. Then it became waiting for the end of restrictions. Then it was waiting for vaccines. Then, to waiting for the end of it all.
Waiting is exactly what has destroyed the mental health of millions of people.
More than the fear, more than the disease itself, it is this feeling of being perpetually suspended between “when will it end?” and “I’m wasting precious years of my life” that will cause the most difficult consequences to manage, namely the psychological ones.
Many are realizing this now, with reference to a very troubling feeling of apathy and lethargy caused by the pandemic comfort zone.
What is the comfort zone?
In the beginning, everyone hated this situation full of restrictions and limits. The desire to be free again and to live as before was the predominant feeling in most people. However, over time, what has happened in any form of comfort zone has happened: limits have become securities.
What was once distressing because it was oppressive and static has become a certainty in a life full of uncertainty. Too many days have accumulated that are all the same, with no real danger because they lack excitement and novelty.
The result is that many people today feel apathetic, pessimistic and tired. This state of mind is called “listlessness, laziness, discouragement” and indicates a condition in which one is not particularly unhappy, but at the same time cannot be happy.
Ways to get out of the comfort zone
Someone has said that the comfort zone is like a string to which you add a thread every day: the more time passes, the harder it is to cut it. If you feel this way, here are 7 actions that could help you break the mental patterns that force you into your comfort zone.
Talk to people you don’t know.
Socializing is a great way to grow. It helps you discover different points of view, forces you to put yourself out there and get out of the rut of apathy that comes with loneliness or superficial relationships with people you’ve known for a while.
Go somewhere you don’t know.
Buy a one-way ticket to escape to the other side of the world, but who says this is the right solution? Being a traveler is a mindset, a way of life. Walk until you find yourself in a neighborhood in your city that you know little about. Explore it, striving to capture those details that get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Discovering the new will make you feel better, give meaning to your day.
Do something you’ve never done before.
This is especially true for those who feel confused, for those who don’t know if the life they are living is really right for them or just according to popular opinion. If you have these doubts, you are probably living immersed in frustration. Try something different – how can you know you’re on the right track if you don’t try new ones?
Challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone.
A simple example is this: if you are an over-thinker, get lots of physical activity; if you are an over-active person, set aside an hour a day to read and meditate. Do the opposite of what you are used to. This means, literally, getting out of your comfort zone.
Do something that scares you.
In the comfort zone you think you’re never good enough to do anything. That’s why your dreams and plans stay anchored in the world of ideas, while in practice your life goes in a completely different direction. Only when you find yourself in situations that make you uncomfortable do you discover that you have all the courage you need.
Fight laziness by getting out of the house.
It doesn’t matter what you’re going to do, but as soon as you get into that state of apathy/sadness/bad mood, get out of the house. Walk, run, go for a coffee, go to a bookstore. Get away from the tentacles of your comfort zone, a monster that wants you safe even if it kills your will to live.
Keep a journal.
I advise you to do it like this: divide the page in half, write what you are grateful for on the left and what you would like to achieve on the right. Respect it as if it were sacred: every morning fill in the part on the right, every evening the part on the left. Writing down gratitude and dreams will help you never lose sight of what matters most in your life.
