I’ve been reading into ‘life coaching’ recently and how changing your mindset can really alter your everyday life. We so often get into a cycle of chasing holidays and running away from our normal lives, sometimes it’s about looking at what’s right in front of you.
Now, I’m no fool, I know this ‘top secret bit’ might be a bit airy-fairy for some but in the words of Coldplay's Chris Martin ‘if you never try, you never know’.
There's a reason the term 'staycation' was coined, and if you don't know what that word means, it's staying at home but doing activities around where you live so you don't need to stay overnight anywhere. So, step one of your staycation, turn off your phone. It may seem weird, because how is that going to help you feel like you're on your holibobs?
It forces you to do something else and that something else could be looking at what’s around you – I’m not talking about cuddling your dog or telling your family that you love them (but they are nice things to do anyway). I’m talking more along the lines of coffee shops you haven’t visited yet or national parks on your doorstep that you haven’t ventured to - finding places you haven’t yet explored will give you that feeling of being a ‘tourist’ (even if you do see your neighbour in the same café).
Another great way to mimic that holiday feeling is to shake up your daily routine. So, every Thursday you do the same run around the same park? Why not, if you’re lucky enough, relocate that run to the coast? Or, if you shop in the same supermarket every Friday – why not shop at a different shopping centre and explore the other shops whilst you’re there?
Sometimes, it’s about stepping outside of your comfort zone to help balance your 9-5 with that holiday feeling, minus the actual holiday.
The art of being outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens. Pop your goggles and aprons on, we're going to do a mini science lesson on what happens when you stay in your comfort zone vs when you break free.
- Staying in your comfort zone is a behavioural state where you feel in control and at ease, you experience low levels of anxiety and stress, you're able to perform at a steady level and feel comfortable doing so.
- Breaking outside of your comfort zone increases your anxiety levels and a stress response is created. Your concentration and focus begin to increase due to stress and the environment can sometimes feel uncomfortable.
"That sounds awful Abbie, why would I want to do that?"
Well, the magic lies outside of your comfort zone wherein lies the possibilities of success, accomplishment, reward and growth. Putting yourself in this place will allow you to gain all of those possibilities whilst changing how you think, making your brain believe that it needs to prove something better and more rewarding than whatever you just accomplished.
Deep, huh?