It can be hard to get out of your comfort zone. Establishing a safe and predictable routine is a normal way to minimize stress and avoid confronting your fears, and in the short term, it might help. But in the long run, that comfort comes with some big costs. You can only stay in your comfort zone by avoiding the challenges that are ultimately necessary to grow, both personally and professionally. This can sometimes mean putting off valuable opportunities, like auto body technician training, because they represent such a big departure from the daily habits you’ve become accustomed to. This is why stepping outside of your safe routine and pushing through the discomfort are often important first steps in achieving your goals and getting the career, and the life, that you want.
Read on to find out how to get out of your comfort zone and into auto body technician training.
Start by Identifying Where Your Comfort Zone Is and Why
Before you can get out of your comfort zone, it’s a good idea to clearly identify what it is. Every time you notice yourself pulling back from a goal, or saying no to an opportunity, ask yourself what your reasons are. What is it about the new activity or opportunity that makes you uncomfortable? What are you afraid will happen, and is that fear realistic? Try to be as objective as possible. As people in auto body technician careers can tell you: before fixing a problem, you need to identify what it is.
Counteract Your Negative Thoughts with Positive Thoughts
Once you’ve clearly identified the worries or anxieties that are keeping you in your comfort zone, you can start to fight back. When you do find yourself turning down or not pursuing new challenges and opportunities, take a moment to push back against your negative thinking. Ask yourself what benefits you might be missing out on, and whether you might be over-thinking the risks. If you’re looking at auto body technician training, think about other times that you’ve successfully learned new skills or completed job training in the past.
Changing Your Daily Routine Can Help You Out of Your Comfort Zone
Breaking out of your comfort zone can be intimidating, so it’s often good to start with smaller steps. Try mixing up your daily routine in small ways by taking a different route than usual to work, inviting a recent acquaintance out for coffee, or setting aside one day a week where you try something new. Even if these changes don’t contribute directly to your goals, they’ll help you break out of your comfort zone, and prepare you to take on the bigger changes in your life.
If You’re Interested in Becoming an Auto Body Technician, Start with Small Steps
When looking at the bigger goals that will push you out of your comfort zone, like a change in career or a return to school, try identifying small steps you can take towards them. If you’re not ready to apply for a program that you want to take, you can still get the ball rolling by contacting the school for more information or requesting a tour of the campus. These steps may not seem as daunting because they involve very little risk and no larger commitment, but they can be a valuable way of getting the process started. Once it is, you may find it easier to move forward knowing that the door is already open.
Are you looking for a career change?
Contact Automotive Training Centres today to learn more about becoming an auto body technician.
