Breaking Through
Outdoor Fitness|Issue 69

We all have aspirations and dream of ‘doing more’ when it comes to our health, wellbeing and our sport, but what does it actually take to step outside your comfort zone and try something new? How does one make that leap from watching a race to participating in one?

Breaking Through

Train your brain

A comfort zone is a state of mental security. It’s a natural and comfortable space where your activities and actions fit a routine and pattern that minimises stress and risk. Performing (in any sport/activity) within your comfort zone feels just that – comfortable! You benefit in obvious ways: regular happiness, low anxiety, and reduced stress as ‘your exercise time’ takes you further from the daily juggle of deadlines, commitments and challenging situations. So, if a comfort zone offers such a happy place, why stretch it?

Neuroscientists have found that the brain learns best when stress hormones are mildly elevated. In other words, pushing the boundaries of comfort and experiencing a little anxiety and discomfort (i.e. stepping out of your comfort zone) can lead to significant progress and improvement. Pushing the boat too far, however, can have a negative effect by way of too much discomfort, a term called anxiety paralysis. The key to progressing is to keep gently nudging the edges of your comfort zone, and take small steps rather than huge leapfrog jumps.

“Comfort zones should be a moving target,” says Mike Margolies in his book The Athlete within You (2011). He says once you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone, you will start to get comfortable again, so you need to continually albeit gradually push yourself to a new level of discomfort. Too comfortable and you’re not productive; too uncomfortable, and you’re not productive – it really is a delicate balancing act.

Look in the mirror

Denne historien er fra Issue 69-utgaven av Outdoor Fitness.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Issue 69-utgaven av Outdoor Fitness.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA OUTDOOR FITNESSSe alt
Get Confident In The Mountains
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

Get Confident In The Mountains

Taking a Mountain Leader course isn’t just for those who want to do it for a living – if you enjoy exploring the mountains, you’ll feel more confident and safer if you undertake this training.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2020
15 Ways To Be A Better Runner
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

15 Ways To Be A Better Runner

Whether you’re hoping to run faster, further or simply increase your motivation, Christina Neal has these top tips on how to improve your running

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2020
PUTTING THE TRAINING HOURS IN
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

PUTTING THE TRAINING HOURS IN

Are your training goals ambitious? How can you find time to work out when you have a busy job and a family, yet want to train hard and long? Personal trainer Jeff Archer has some advice on finding the right balance

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2020
SECRETS OF THE 100 MARATHON CLUB
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

SECRETS OF THE 100 MARATHON CLUB

Just how do the members of this small but high ly prestigious club, some of whom have run over 500 marathons, race 26.2 miles or more, week in, week out? Lisa Jackson finds out

time-read
6 mins  |
January 2020
HIKING HOLIDAYS TO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

HIKING HOLIDAYS TO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH

While hiking is a wonderful way to get fit, it is also noted for its benefits for mental wellbeing.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2020
‘I CLIMBED MY WAY OUT OF DEPRESSION'
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

‘I CLIMBED MY WAY OUT OF DEPRESSION'

Thomas Palmer was suffering from anxiety and felt unable to leave the house. Then, he was inspired to climb multiple mountains despite having no previous climbing experience. He tells Christina Neal how he turned his life around…

time-read
8 mins  |
January 2020
DON'T BE A FAIR-WEATHER CYCLIST
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

DON'T BE A FAIR-WEATHER CYCLIST

British pro cyclist Alex Dowsett, a six-time national time trial champion and former hour world record holder, reveals how to stay motivated to keep cycling in winter.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2020
MICRO-RUNNING ADVENTURES
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

MICRO-RUNNING ADVENTURES

You don’t have to go on a grand expedition to have fun on the run – here are quirky ways to rev up your running mojo that will add a dash of excitement to your training.

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2020
DARK SKY ADVENTURES
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

DARK SKY ADVENTURES

locations are areas where the sky at night is unaffected by light pollution from big cities, enabling us to have a much clearer view of the stars Angela Youngman explains where they are and how to combine viewing them with outdoor exercise

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2020
BRAVING THE WATER IN WINTER
Outdoor Fitness Adventure

BRAVING THE WATER IN WINTER

We often associate surfing with summer, but many UK surfers happily do it all year round. With the right kit and a little winter sun, it’s an invigorating and fun activity, says Ruth Pocock

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2020