You’ve all heard this model, right? Comfort, stretch and panic zone. Many a business coach will have you considering where you spend your time on this spectrum, where you feel you are in certain scenarios and will have you musing over how you can spend more of your precious hours in the stretch zone. The undisputed place of growth. Because we must all have a growth mindset, all of the time.
But is that true?
Hanging out in your stretch zone is commonly believed to be where it’s at, where we’re feeling a bit, well.. out of our comfort zone. Like we could royally mess up. And fall on our face. Or look downright silly in a high stakes situation.
Evolutionary speaking, we fear shame almost as much as we fear death, as to be deemed unworthy and struck out of the tribe was a fate almost certain to lead to an ugly demise on the African savannahs. Our wiring simply hasn’t caught up to the fact that presenting to the Board and potentially messing up is not quite so do-or-die.
We’ve all been there. The sweaty palms. The butterflies in the stomach. “This is good! Nerves are normal…” your inner coach screams.
But then, hopefully, when we don’t totally eff it up, we feel… BRILLIANT!
Euphoric!
“I’ve got this <bicep emoji>! And I actually, surprisingly, DID have it. Who knew? Nobody is more surprised than me. I am in a space of GROWTH right here. Is everyone looking? Good. Because I’m growing. Developing. Becoming a way better human being. And am almost certainly going to be promoted to CEO before the day is out.”
The feeling of euphoria is a result of our dopamine receptors having anticipated a small but uncertain opportunity for reward and then, against the odds, getting it. The slot machine actually landing on three cherries, ding ding DING. God it feels good. And it’s totally addictive.
Many a tale has used this mechanic of the human condition. We love this story. Life is hard, our protagonist tries, prevails, it goes wrong, then it goes right, they’re a hero, there’s a big moral. Take Frozen for one. Or Finding Nemo. I can’t think of any adult references because I live with a neurodiverse six year old who will only watch three different films. But trust me, it’s a tried and tested story arc as old as time.
Anyhow, what about the other ends of the spectrum..? I concur with the belief that being in one’s panic zone is best avoided, no thank you.
But is the stretch zone the only place of growth?
Is the comfort zone only Deliveroo, doing the same old presentation, the same old way and Netflix (with a side of ‘chill’ if you please)? OR… is there actually some real value in the ‘nothingness’?
So much good happens when you are comfortable. Safe. Peaceful. And this had me wondering, is the stretch zone really all it’s cracked up to be? Is it the answer to workplace wellbeing, productivity and growth?
Here are five arguments from Welfy as to why the stretch zone should be challenged as the only productive state. And why oscillating between stretch and comfort might really be where high performance happens.
And I am also happy to be challenged. Argue with me. The door is wide open.
1.Longevity is king.
Hanging out in low level stress for too long is bad for our bodies and our minds. We all know this tale by now. So if we push push push and jump from one stretch zone situation to the next without proper rest in between, are we “leaning in” to future success (thanks for this poisoned chalice Sheryl Sandberg) or are we leaning into future stress, inflammation and disease?
Is it not better to carefully prioritise our finite energy? For example using the classic Covey priotisation tool, plot what is truly ‘urgent and important’ or ‘important but not urgent’ and is therefore worthy of stretching for?
Being more selective on when to really stretch could be protective to your productivity today and your longevity tomorrow.
2.Let the good stuff settle.
Last time I checked, we are human beings, not robots. We need space in order to reflect and grow from our experiences.
Elite athletes have downtime scheduled to give their bodies the chance to repair and grow stronger so that they can perform optimally. The mind is no different. If we put ourselves under ongoing pressure, nothing new has time to settle and fuse together, so growth is minimised or doesn’t occur at all.
Why is this perfectly natural reflection and processing so undervalued in the business world? Is it because it’s too invisible? Is it not well understood? Is it because it’s shameful to pause?
At Welfy we insist on leaving two weeks between sessions with a business coach because we know that the magic happens not IN the session when the mind is being stretched, but between the sessions when the mind has the chance to settle and absorb the fresh insights. When the individual has the opportunity to test out some new behaviours based on their learning.
Could you try this for yourself? After a particularly stretching experience, schedule some time to reflect on it. Journal about it. Talk about it. Capture what you’ve learned and crucially, rest up to let the ‘muscle repair’ and ‘magic’ happen.
Don’t be ashamed of being human, we all need this recovery time in order for growth to come.
3.The power of chunking.
Sounds a bit like KitKat Chunky but sadly it’s nothing to do with that. It IS however to do with giving yourself a break.
Something about the stretch zone suggests that you are working on something testing and that you’re doing so relentlessly until you achieve your goal. You are a ‘tour de force’ when in this zone. Focused. Formidable. Indistractable.
It’s like we’re socially conditioned to accept that growth and working non-stop are indisputable bedfellows.
I’d like to challenge that theme. I believe that when we are working at the edge of where we are comfortable, we need breaks in that effort even more than usual. Time to shake it out, rest the eyes, move the body, get into a fresh environment to spark off the next round of inspiration.
Desktime repeated their infamous research into the ideal work and break time in 2021, seven years after the original study, and found that post pandemic, the most productive individuals now work AND break longer: 112 minutes of work, followed by a 26 minutes long break. Formerly, 52-17.
So there you have it, chunk your day up with breaks at least every two hours, or you’re unlikely to be protecting your workplace wellbeing or operating at your stretch zone best.
4.Lean on your tribe.
This point is mostly to remind myself, and also you dear reader, that in times of challenge, we need to lean on those around us more, not less.
There’s something rather appealing about the tale of the lone hero, battling and succeeding against the odds. If we’ve gone to the effort of stretching out of our comfort zone and winning, god forbid we have to share the glory with some fame hungry sidekick.
And yet, like bees in a hive, us humans have evolved to live in tribes. When the going gets tough on those savannahs, the very last thing you want is to lose your comrades and end up as lion lunch.
So when you are mindfully testing your limits, remember to look around and behind you. Who is there to support you? To watch out for slings and arrows? To distract the lion whilst you fire your shots?
Just like breaks, we need our mates even more in times of challenge and stretch.
So before diving headfirst into the depths of the stretch zone, ensure you have your allies lined up. A colleague, a mentor, a partner, a friend, a business coach. Whatever you need to be at your best. Someone who can prod you to take a break, remind you that you’re not superhuman and to celebrate with you when it all goes well.
5.“Dip into your knowing.”
Those of you who have read Untamed will recognise this phrase. Glennon Doyle’s masterpiece is an intimate memoir of what is possible when you step out of your cage and act with unwavering authenticity.
She speaks of her unusual habit of going into her wardrobe, sitting down in the dark, closing the door and sinking, sinking, sinking, into herself, to identify what she really really wants.
Sounds crackers? Sure.
I’m not suggesting, you start hiding in your cupboards, but there’s something to be admired in dipping beneath the decades of social conditioning. Of limiting beliefs. Of “should dos” and “ought to dos”. And listening instead to what is really truly the best next step.
Try dipping into your knowing instinct when choosing your next big, stretching project. Is it something that will drive you forwards, for you? Is it purposeful enough? Do you have the resources right now? How can you protect your energy?
“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing.” A A Milne
