Getting stuck in the same routine is easy to do. Trust me, I know from experience. Every day I wake up, go to school, leave to go dance, go back to school, then go back to dance. Quite honestly, it’s hard to break my routine and when my schedule has a glitch, it’s frustrating and exasperating. Over the past few months, I have learned that stepping out of your comfort zone and changing your daily routine is surprisingly beneficial. Experiencing new things, and every once and in a while breaking a ritualistic routine, is something that I believe our generation is lacking and needs more of.

It’s not just the big things that are capable of holding us back. Sometimes, just going into a new situation can be daunting and even intimidating. So my question is, how do we get past that cozy energy surrounding us, keeping us from trying new things? It’s not easy, but it can be energizing and liberating if we try it.

As most people know, this past summer I went on a trip to California. I tried so many new things, and I met so many new people. Some of the adventures that I went on were hiking Half Dome, jumping off a cliff, surfing, and backpacking. If I hadn’t taken a risk and stepped out of my comfort zone, I wouldn’t have had the experiences that I had. Honestly, I am tired of everyone doing the same thing every day. Doing new things is so beneficial and eye-opening. If there was a way that I could show people how awesome stepping out of my comfort zone was, I think it could make a real difference in the overall happiness of our generation.

All around the school, splattered like paint on a canvas, are posters advertising new and upcoming clubs. From the outdoor adventure club to the hiking club, there are a wide variety of new ways to get out there. My advice is to go to a meeting and join one. It’s an easy way to try something new and get out of everyday routines. On different days of the week, the outdoor adventure club meets at different locations, and they attempt to try new things. They went rock climbing and in the future, are planning activities like hiking, backpacking, and more. Doing new activities is a great way to step out of our comfort zones and do something fun and adventurous.

Another way to step out of our comfort zones is to interact with new people. Typically throughout high school, we stick to our main group of friends. Although I am guilty of staying close with my own friend group, I have made it my goal over the past few weeks to reach out to new people. I can 100% say that it has made me happier, and I have already opened my horizon to a new range of people. But my challenge to our generation is to hang out with different people. There are so many interesting people at our school, and there is nothing to lose by interacting with someone new and gaining new friendships.

So to the people who stick to the same routine every single day, here is my recommendation: start with something small. It can be anything from starting a friendly conversation with a stranger to calling someone you haven’t talked to in a long time. Then, move onto bigger things. Join a club, and do something you wouldn’t normally do. Go volunteer for Family Promise, go rock climbing, participate in DECA, or sign up for Model UN. The possibilities are endless and for the people who are willing to try, I can assure you that stepping out of your comfort zone will always be rewarding.