Comfort is a Trap. Discover 27 Ways to Challenge Yourself for a Better Life

Comfort wraps us in a warm security blanket, making us feel loved and protected.

But it’s a trap.

That security blanket is really a prison of our own making, walling us off from opportunity, growth, and self-actualization.

The secret to happiness isn’t playing it safe, but pushing past your comfort zone. If you want a better life, you need to learn how to challenge yourself.

Why Challenging Yourself Matters

Challenging yourself is crucial to happiness. It prevents boredom and destroys stagnation while providing growth and opportunity.

Navigating challenges makes life interesting, while overcoming them helps us grow and discover our full potential.

How to Challenge Yourself

Getting started is the hardest part, but you’ll find that there are tons of ways to challenge yourself more every day.

From small tests that stress your comfort zone to terrifying trials that push you to your limits, here are our favorite ways to challenge yourself.

Read Books from Authors with Different Perspectives

You will never grow if you only consume content that agrees with you. Expand your horizons by reading a book from an author you wouldn’t normally consider.

If you’ve only read works by white male authors, pick up a book written by a black woman. Read works by authors of different races, genders, and ethnicities. Explore ideas from across oceans.

I love this method of challenging yourself because it allows you to experience someone else’s perspective in a safe place.

Or Books in a New Genre

If reading from a different perspective is too much, start a little smaller. Pick up a different genre.

Opt for science fiction instead of fantasy. Pick up a drama over a romance. Read true crime instead of a murder mystery.

Exploring new genres of entertainment helps you challenge yourself in a small way, but sometimes all we need is that first baby step to explore even further.

Try a New Food

Challenge yourself by expanding your palate.

Order something different at your favorite restaurant, or go crazy and try a new place.

I struggle with this one. Why order something new when I know I love my old standard? But nine times out of ten, it’s worth it. The new thing is just as good – if not better!

Sometimes I take the L, but I can always go back and order my favorite anyway.

Take a Solo Trip

Solo travel is my absolute favorite way to challenge myself. Everything about it pushes you past your comfort zone, from exploring someplace new to having only yourself to rely on.

It’s impossible to describe the life-altering impact of a solo trip. Everyone should add it to their bucket list and experience it at least once in their lives.

Do Something Alone

I get it, traveling someplace alone sounds terrifying.

Start smaller. 

Go to a restaurant alone. See a movie by yourself. Take yourself on a date.

The more solo things you do, the more comfortable you will get with your own company. You might learn how much you like yourself!

Go Someplace You’ve Never Been

Being in a new place creates a small challenge because it’s automatically outside your comfort zone by virtue of being new.

It doesn’t have to be a trip to an exotic locale. It can be anywhere – from a retail store you wouldn’t normally frequent, the other side of town, a festival, or a park.

Where can you go today?

Take a Class

Learning something new is always a challenge.

Why not take a class to push yourself?

You can find online courses in nearly any subject imaginable, from art to self-improvement. If you prefer in-person learning, check out your community center’s events; they are always hosting random classes.

Many businesses also offer engaging, immersive classes on topics related to their industry. You can find sushi-making classes at Japanese restaurants, knitting classes at craft stores, and photography classes at camera stores.

Examine Your Bias

Every single person on this planet has bias. It’s not just human nature, it’s animal nature.

But the great thing about humanity is that we are the only species on the planet that can reflect on those biases.

Dig deep to explore your biases, discover where they came from, and try to overcome them.

Go to a Worship Service Outside Your Denomination

Our religious beliefs guide our entire lives. They’re fundamental to the way we see the world and often form the very core of our identities.

That’s why exploring other beliefs presents such a massive challenge.

It’s not about changing your beliefs – no one is asking you to do that. But going to a different type of service allows you to understand other people’s core beliefs. You may find a lot of similarities you didn’t expect, and you may learn that the differences aren’t so different after all.

At the very least, you will learn something about how others see the world, even if you don’t believe the same things they do.

Volunteer

Volunteering for a cause helps you challenge yourself in two ways. First is the obvious physical challenge of whatever the work entails. You may be tasked with lifting heavy packages, standing on your feet for hours, or doing manual labor.

But the real challenge is the mental part.

When you volunteer, you get to see the obstacles with your own two eyes. You’re in the trenches with it, socializing the scores of abandoned kittens, feeding the countless hungry, or mentoring the kids who never had a chance.

You’ll see the worst of humanity, but you’ll also see the best – the helpers, the people who care enough to give back. 

You’ll be one of them. And that’s a challenge worth pursuing.

Have a Respectful Conversation with Someone You Disagree With

Have you been on social media lately? It’s an endless cesspool of hatred and division. Everyone is screaming over each other, calling the other side “demons” or worse, and refusing to understand the world from anyone else’s perspective.

It’s time to stop the anger.

Stop arguing with others online, and instead, try to have a respectful conversation with someone who holds an opposing view. It doesn’t have to be on social media – in fact, it’s probably better to do it in person.

Try to Understand a Different Perspective

Now that you’ve taken that first baby step towards a respectful conversation, the harder challenge is trying to understand their perspective.

Ask questions from a place of curiosity, not judgment.  Set your emotional gut reactions aside and try to truly understand why they believe the things they do.

You may find that there’s some common ground – but you may not. Either way, taking the time to understand their point of view will make you a better person.

Learn a New Skill

If you want to challenge yourself while doing something productive with your time, why not learn a new skill?

Teach yourself how to sew, learn how to code, or figure out how to change your car’s oil on your own.

Train for an Athletic Event

Nothing is more humbling than going back to the gym after a multi-year break. You won’t be able to do nearly as much as you once could, and you’ll hurt yourself if you try too hard.

Don’t let that stop you.

Sign up for an athletic challenge, like a 5K, a triathlon, or a Tough Mudder. Training for it will push you to your physical and mental limits – but you’ll be so glad you did it!

Compete in Something

Challenging yourself is great, but have you tried challenging others?

I kid, but a little competition could be the motivation you need to test your limits. Search your community for any local challenges they host, or get your friend group together for a little friendly rivalry to see who can lose the most weight, read the most books, or walk the most steps.

Talk to a Stranger

There’s an episode of The Big Bang Theory where Raj and Stuart struggle to talk to girls (okay, that’s every episode, but hear me out), but then they realize it’s not girls…they struggle to talk to people.

So they go to the mall and challenge each other to talk to somebody – anybody! They are there for hours, unable to find the courage to say anything, until the end, Raj finally asks the security guard a question, and they both celebrate.

The episode hits because it’s so true. Talking to strangers is hard! I’m sure you can do better than Raj and Stuart, though.

Start a Side Hustle

Starting a business is one of the most challenging things you can do. You need an idea, a business plan, seed money – and what if it fails?

You don’t need to take a massive entrepreneurial risk, though. Instead, start smaller with a side hustle. Challenge yourself to start something – anything – on your quest to build skills and improve your life.

Starting a side hustle helps you experiment with entrepreneurship without the risk.  You can learn the trade, develop your idea, network, and build your presence without giving up your full-time income.

Ask for More Responsibility at Work

Not everyone wants to work outside their normal jobs, and that’s okay. You don’t need to start a side hustle to learn new business skills; you can build them at your current job.

Ask your supervisor for more responsibility. Volunteer for a side project. Help a coworker and learn what they do.

You’ll challenge yourself while building essential skills for your industry – I call that a win-win.

Set and Enforce Your Boundaries

Not all challenges are external. Sometimes, our toughest challenges are the ones within ourselves.

People pleasers struggle to say no. Some give so much of themselves that there’s nothing left.

Learning how to set boundaries, especially when you’re used to caving, may seem impossible, but it’s worth the effort.

You’ll gain more confidence in yourself, and as a bonus, those who relied on you will become more self-sufficient. And if they don’t, you’ll learn that they probably weren’t worth all the effort.

Limit Your Spending for a Period

Have you ever tried a no-spend challenge? A few years ago, I decided I wouldn’t make any impulse purchases for an entire year.

I failed, but that’s not the point. I challenged myself – and because of the journey, I learned my then-boyfriend was a user, identified my worst spending triggers, and ultimately saved more money than I would have without the challenge.

You don’t need to go as big. Try a no-spend week or month and see what you learn.

Do Something Different

Doing something different is the best way for people who aren’t comfortable challenging themselves to start. Those who struggle with discomfort can make tiny changes, and that’s still something.

It works because challenging yourself is about stepping outside your comfort zone. Since our comfort zones are based on habit, ritual, and sameness, doing something different forces us outside of them.

You don’t have to leap to the other side. Start by putting just a toe over the line. Take a different route to work, mix up your lunchtime routine, go for an evening walk, or take a bath instead of a shower.

Even the smallest disruption can help you challenge yourself, and as your comfort zone expands, you can push yourself further and further across the line.

Build a New Habit

They say it takes 30 days to build a habit, so why not start today? Challenge yourself to start that journaling, reading, fitness, or meal prep habit.

Consider something you want to incorporate into your daily routine, and use habit stacking to find the best fit.

Make a Small Change to Your Daily Routine

If building an entire new habit is too much, consider making smaller changes. As we said, any deviation from your normal routine can become a challenge, so why not use that?

Add stretching to your morning routine. Make tea instead of coffee. Wake up five minutes earlier.

 When you make minor changes that stress your comfort zone, you’ll be better prepared to handle big changes when they appear.

Enforce No Phone Time

In today’s world, putting your phone away may be the biggest challenge of them all.

It’s worth the effort.

Our phones burst with apps feeding you an endless barrage of fear, hate, anger, and division.

You don’t need that. Challenge yourself to put it down, at least for a few hours.

Learn a Language

One of my life goals is to learn a second language. It’s a massive undertaking that will take years – but I think it’s worth it.

Are you up to a similar challenge?

Consider a country that you’d love to travel to and start learning a few words and phrases. Buy some children’s books and see if you can follow along. Listen to podcasts in the language.

You may never speak it like a local, but most of the fun is in the challenge.  

Join Toastmasters

Most people fear public speaking more than death.

Overcome that fear by joining a group like Toastmasters. Toastmasters helps its members prepare and deliver epic speeches while overcoming their fear of speaking in public.

Start a Club

Sometimes, the challenge is just getting out of the house and doing something, but more often than not, it’s finding the thing we want to do.

If it doesn’t exist, why not start it?

Can’t find a book club? Start one. Need a run club? Make your own.

You can start a club for nearly any hobby, and there are probably at least a few people in your local community who would love to participate.

And as the founder, you get to develop all the great leadership skills it takes to organize and manage a social club.

Conduct Shadow Work

Do you know yourself? Most of us don’t.

We have biases, react emotionally, and every single one of us has done something we regret. Unfortunately, society tells us that these things are weaknesses – flaws we need to cover up and avoid at all costs.

Society is wrong. Our faults aren’t shortcomings; they’re human. And pushing them into the deepest recesses of our minds only does a disservice.

You can come to terms with your flaws via shadow work. It’s difficult, challenging, and often painful, but in the end, you’ll be able to accept your full self.

Ask for Help

Society promotes rugged individualism, which makes people think that asking for help shows weakness.

Identifying that you need help, then reaching out and asking for it, is one of the hardest things you can do.

But if you need it, I promise asking is worth the effort. Challenge yourself by reaching out. Ask for help. You deserve it.

Challenge Yourself for a Better Life

You’ll be shocked at how much better your life gets when you step outside your comfort zone and do things differently.

Hopefully, these ideas inspired you to start. How will you challenge yourself today?