Getting Uncomfortable for Our Future Comfort
In this newsletter, I discuss how getting uncomfortable actually has a positive impact on our health and well-being, and tips on how to get uncomfy.
Hi Wunderfully Well Friends,
I took last week off from the newsletter as things in a significant part of my life have been quite energy-consuming, and I needed to take time to rest. One of my greatest lessons over the last couple of years has been learning just how important rest is for our mental health and physical well-being. In a past life, I would rarely make time for rest, working 10-12 hour days on my feet, working out twice a day on my days off, and not prioritizing my mental health. I burned out quickly and sometimes feel like I am still catching up.
While comfort and rest are incredibly important for our well-being, what is also important is challenging ourselves and getting uncomfortable, as discussed in the book, "The Comfort Crisis." I recently finished this audiobook and was fully immersed in learning about the weight that challenge and discomfort can have on our health and happiness.
We live in a world where modern conveniences make it difficult to be uncomfortable for prolonged periods of time: air conditioning, driving a car, sitting at a desk at work, having a stocked refrigerator, and a comfy bed to crawl into at night, to name a few examples. This comfortable life we are currently living is just a blip in the full timeline of human existence, where discomfort was more common than present day. Yet, we are the loneliest and most anxious/depressed we have ever been. Living such isolated lives, where community is minimal, and more pressure gets put on the nuclear family, it is easy to understand how loneliness has become an epidemic (as discussed in my previous newsletter). But how can we, in a time of such abundance of comfort and resources, be the most anxious and depressed in human history?
My belief in the reason why humans are the sickest and unhappiest we have ever been, backed up by "The Comfort Crisis" and the research that went into writing the book, is that we are so disconnected from nature in all of its forms. Getting out in nature is something that we have to make time for and fit into our cushy, modern lives. We no longer grow our own food, touching the soil and connecting to the elements. The majority of us sit in front of a screen all day for our livelihoods, when our bodies are meant to move and be mobile continuously. We place our children in front of screens to keep them occupied, rather than playing outside and exploring the world. Humans are a part of nature, and our behavior, which keeps us so separate, seems to only make us sicker and less happy. Although all of the examples I mentioned have a substitute that makes our lives more convenient - grocery stores, modern medicine, iPads, working from home - these all lead us to live a more comfortable life, which, in turn, adversely affects our health and happiness.
The following are a few ways in which leaning into discomfort allows us space for personal growth, resilience, and overall well-being:
Adaptability and Resilience: Facing discomfort helps build resilience by teaching us how to adapt to challenging situations. Overcoming discomfort creates a sense of accomplishment, boosting confidence and mental strength.
Learning and Growth: Stepping out of our comfort zone often leads to new experiences and opportunities for learning. Embracing discomfort is essential for personal and professional development, pushing us to acquire new skills and perspectives.
Stress Reduction: Embracing discomfort in a controlled way, such as through regular exercise or mindfulness practices, can help reduce overall stress levels. The ability to navigate discomfort without becoming overwhelmed contributes to better stress management.
Increased Creativity: Discomfort often arises when faced with unfamiliar or challenging tasks, stimulating creativity and problem-solving abilities. Creativity flourishes when we are willing to explore new ideas and approaches outside of our comfort zones.
Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness: Discomfort can be a powerful teacher in mindfulness, as it encourages us to stay present and engage fully in the current moment. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, can help manage discomfort and find peace in challenging situations.
Building Confidence: Overcoming discomfort builds confidence as individuals prove to themselves that they can handle difficult situations. Each successful encounter with discomfort contributes to a stronger sense of self-efficacy.
The following are a few ways to get uncomfortable which then leads to enhanced growth and improved well-being:
Hot/Cold therapy - i.e., Cold plunge and sauna.
Getting out in nature, uninterrupted for 3+ days.
Feeling hunger pings - it’s okay to be hungry for a little bit.
Prolonged periods of physically demanding exercise - our body is capable of so much more than our mind allows.
Having difficult conversations that you want to avoid.
Trying something new, even if you know you are going to be bad.
Talking to a mental health professional.
I hope you take time to think about how you can get more uncomfortable throughout your day because of the positive return it will have on your mental and physical health. As always, do what feels most aligned with you and your body and leave what doesn’t.
Have a great week, y'all :)