How I Expanded my Comfort Zone Using Science (& you can too!) || summer of self ep 1

Welcome to the Summer of Self: ep 1!! 🥰 even though I still can't talk to strangers on the phone, my comfort zone has *definitely* grown a lot in the last few years!

I hope you guys enjoy one of my most highly requested videos! I often get asked how to go out of your comfort zone, how to be more confident, how to get out of a rut and how to expand your comfort zone. The answer is that every 'big' thing I've been lucky enough to do was the last step in a process of slowly working on my comfort zone. The idea of optimal anxiety is really helpful to understand how you can make baby steps towards your goals! 💌

Get out a hot drink. Get out a journal and a pen. and enjoy!! 🌻 and let me know what episode theme you'd like to see next.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro to my comfort zone
00:53 Intro to Summer of Self Series
2:08 What does science say about comfort zones?
3:42 An analogy to understand comfort zones
4:57 5 Examples of how I worked on my comfort zone
5:09 Public Speaking
6:32 Conversations with Boys
7:24 Doing things alone
9:03 New cultures
10:39 Driving
11:26 What are the benefits of working on your comfort zone?
12:05 Why it's important to come back to your comfort zone!
12:32 Journal Prompts
12:50 Outro :)

✨ CONTACT ME ✨
Instagram - @unjadedjade
TikTok: @unjadedjade

🌞 MORE 🌞
Casual Magic of the Day: my dad made me breakfast. little thing. meant a lot.
Song of the Day: Down for You by Cosmo's Midnight
What are YOU grateful for today?

FAQ:
How old are you? ~ 21
Where are you from? ~ The UK! Near London.
Where do you go to university? ~ Minerva Schools at KGI
One of the best decisions you ever made? ~ Taking a gap year!

CURRENT FAVOURITES — things I love recently (these are all affiliate links):

if no one has told you today, you are enough. 💛

[UnJadedJade]

At the end of the day, your comfort zone is unique to you!! 🌟 Challenging yourself doesn’t have to mean anything grand. It could be as simple as wearing an outfit you normally wouldn’t, or taking the train alone! How are you going to challenge yourself this summer?

also welcome to the Summer of Self series! Huge thank you to everyone who voted on the name 💐💐💐

[jennywang]

For everyone reading the comments that have things you're to try but still does it - I AM SO PROUD OF YOU for taking the steps, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem.

[GinnyBerch]

Your driving test isn't testing your perfection. It's testing whether you can drive safely. And once you have your licence, you will improve your spacial awareness and other skills. Once I realised this, I felt a lot less pressure, because I no longer expected to be perfect. :-) Fantastic video, Jade! You're a wise young lady!

[sophatt]

Went to an all girls school too. Didn't have any boy pals, still don't - started uni last year. I don't mind, all in good time:) Looking forward to the series

[kleinwolkje]

I love that I discovered this now. Felt angry at myself again for 'wasting' what felt like basically the entire summer break, since it started early July and uni starts in 3 weeks and I have to work a lot next week. It feels like I only have 2 weeks left to work on the things I planned to do during this looong break.
This video reminded me that there is still time left, I can totally do things, and it gave me ideas for what to do and how to do it.
And even this week I can work on it. Lots of small baby steps will also eventually bring you somewhere. Like printing out the syllabus for the courses starting in September. It didn't take me long and it's a step. Small, but it is one.

[rachaelpowles]

From a curly-haired sister who once thought she could never be beautiful without a hair straightener, thank you for always showcasing your fabulous curls 💖

[Toonksbell]

*If anyone cares to read this long story about my travel anxiety and how I am trying to overcome it thank you, sorry its so damn long* For me I have always had desires of travel since I was a young teen (now 23) and my parents had never really taken me anywhere. I live pretty much in the middle of nowhere, pretty remote, and away from many people. I left my home state in the US once, and didn't fly on a plane, take a train, or drive really anywhere (unless I was with my parents) until I was past the age of 18. On Top of this lack of exposure, my parents are so so fearful of the world. I have been SO aware of how 'dangerous' the world is since I was literally a child and growing up more and more its just lead to incredible anxiety. Here were the people who I am meant to learn that the world is manageable and all they taught me was that everything is scary, the only safe place is off the grid, and other countries are just filled with horrible people who will kidnap me and kill me. SO. That led to so much fear but still this desire to travel and see the world, and not stay trapped where I am. This caused me to kind of attach myself to friends who were more experienced with travel than me, and basically manipulate them into traveling with me in order to experience it. But this was very bad because I was emotionally attaching myself and manipulating people to help me instead of taking power in myself to do it for myself. I finally went on a plane with a friend for the first time in my life at 21, it was an hour long, and one of the best and also anxiety inducing experiences of my life. I took the bus by myself to and from my apartment to my university for three years, I took the train by myself down to a town near me to visit a friend. These were all things that have improved my travel anxiety, but oh god is it still such a huge struggle. In September I will be taking my first solo flight across my country, 5-6hrs away, and I am terrified, but trying to work myself out of my anxiety as I get closer to the date. I try to focus on my routine when in the air, my knowledge that planes are safe, and my excitement to visit the new place I will be in once I am there. Telling myself that I can trust myself to navigate scary new places like a big airport that I have never been in before. *long story short* comfort zones (from what I have found) can be parented and taught into us, and it is important as we go forward into adulthood that we make up our own decisions about the world and our own limits to life. If you also felt too scared to travel anywhere, have fear around transportation, I was right there with you not two years ago, you can do it, and you can do it safely, it will be okay, you got this.

[sahanameenachisundaram]

Is anyone else soo proud of Jade!? Seriously I have been following your channel since high school and you have helped me get through high school soo far with your blurting technique! And now seeing jade being comfortable in her tea and journalling loving self is amazing because it also encourages me to be myself. So all of that is summarised, THANK YOU SOO MUCH JADE!

[zeniam.]

The 'doing things alone' one hit so close to home. I'm at the exact same place where you used to be, my sweet mum helps me do everything, but I must learn to be independent like my friends. Part of the reason why I want to get a dorm instead of going to uni from home, I hope it helps :')

[SONALI_V]

I don't think you have any idea, how much you've helped someone miles away literally just to BREATHE and release in huge sigh. Over the years I had developed this huge clumped up knot in me for " always Overthinking" or being too slow or always being a fearful person
Not being able to just casually talk to someone without shaking or freezing
I'm still in my process of getting better each day, not just this video but this WHOLE COMMUNITY IN THIS COMMENTS i feel so hopeful and not so alone THANK YOU to each and every one of you for existing, and just being the way you are
I'm crying ok bye
Luv u all my weridos

[fanny.barrier]

☀️ I am 28 though I am so inspired by you! The past two years I have widen my comfort zone so much: quit my old job which was comfortable but didn't fulfill me anymore to go back to university and pursue my dream career, I am currently spending 6 weeks in another country for an internship and I will be spending a year abroad in two different countries for an Erasmus exchange. It IS true that you only grow when leaving your comfort zone for a bit. ☀️

Also leaving my comfort zone meant finally finding the courage and motivation to recover from my eating disorder. I am almost 30 but I guess it is never too late

[jennywang]

i feel like this will be one of those videos i'll come back to multiple times in the future just to remind myself to take that step and just get out of my head a bit and try something new. thank you jade for giving me that <333

[tonilou]

When I turned 18, I moved to a bigger city, started working, needed to manage household and adult things, was forced to make friends, took on responsibilities and I grew *so much*. Really glad I did that

[micaylabam]

Needed this. As a 21 year old who hasn't traveled out if South Africa or had a boyfriend. Gosh. Such an introvert, though I'm working on it. Thank you so much for this video, Jade. How is it that this girl always makes our days and encourages us to grow with every video? Mind boggling. 🙈🌻 I need to work on my driving. My learners permit expired so I need to redo it to get my driver's license. ☀️

[emma]

☀️ The part about driving was so relatable. Ever since I went to university and lived in the city I didn't need a car, and when I'm at home my parents drive, so even though I have my license I have barely any experience or skills. Today I promised myself I'd go to the store, it was only a 15 minute drive away from here but I was still terrified. In the end everything went perfectly okay and I gained a little confidence. I'm going to try driving a bit more in the future and hopefully make some more progress :))

[hannahwallis]

I am challenging myself by wearing my arms and legs out- i hate my body as I am so underweight, and so it's a massive step xx :)

[athenabaldursdottir]

Last year, I flew alone to Norway to stay with my aunt for a month at 15. This year, I'm flying alone again to move there! My parents will be joining later on, but flying alone really helped me develop my confidence and independence! ☀️☀️☀️ And I would have never pictured being so confident and calm about moving to another country :)

[mariacazorla]

This is exactly what I needed to hear

I was already in a journey of expanding my comfort zone, because mine is so small I experience fear and anxiety so often, and I'm changing that by driving more, talking to new people and overall exposing myself to new experiences

[echoai]

I have recently made a commitment to living my life as mindfully as a can, and truly embrace myself. I came out of the
closet, started yoga, and am dating a girl I really like. I just wanted to thank everyone here for trying their best. I am
proud of all of us x

[Ella-uqdb]

I've been in such a slump recently, I find it so difficult to work my way out of these slumps and become motivated to get things done. reflecting on that, I think this video has really helped to recognise why I stay in this phase and ways I can work out of it so thank you, Jade! Your channel brings me so much motivation and positivity ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️