The comfort zone is one of entrepreneurs’ favourite concepts and a pet theme for coaches and personal‑development devotees. It’s supposed to be the magic key that opens the door to a coveted ideal — if only you dare to step outside it.

I’m not entirely sure what to make of a concept that too often pushes people into dangerous territory. In fact, a conversation with one of my readers is what prompted this article.

As I did with her, I’ll use an analogy from my time in high‑level sport (not now as I’m writing — rather when I was around fifteen).

The Cult of Effort

It’s 7:30 a.m. I’ve been in the water for an hour. I’ve just thrown up into the gutter; I didn’t have the time or the strength to run to the toilets. It’s not the first time. And in that exact moment I’m not disgusted, or embarrassed, or even uncomfortable. No. I’m proud, because I know my coach will read it as proof I pushed myself — the kind of effort that should translate into great performances a few weeks later at the next competition.

Today, I look back at the girl I was with puzzlement — and at the adult responsible for me back then with clear disdain — for finding it normal that teenage girls would literally empty their stomachs into the gutter of the municipal pool.

When I was swimming, I put my health at risk too many times to count. The logic seemed simple: the harder I trained, the further I pushed my limits, the greater the reward. Only… it wasn’t true. Exhaustion, injuries, discouragement and sheer excess killed the very results I hoped for. A few missing hundredths of a second on the big day were enough to wipe out an entire year of sacrifice.

Until I met a different kind of coach — one who taught me how to build progress, not only through effort, but also through rest and comfort.

Building Stamina

With this new coach, we repeated the same long‑distance test about three times a year (2 km all out — if you don’t know swimming, trust me, it’s long and brutal). That test determined our work zones: from 1, the slowest, to 7, the sprint zone. Each of us had a laminated sheet, and for each set we knew exactly which zone we were meant to swim in (and therefore what pace to hold).

We alternated periods dedicated to building stamina — high mileage at paces around our VO₂max, for those who know the drill. In simple terms: your endurance pace. That’s where we came to the edge of the comfort zone to grow it, little by little. Between those phases, we had recovery sessions, as well as sprint or technique work.

The analogy feels apt for how we use the comfort zone in life. We can brush up against its limits to expand it — and we can return to it to regain strength. Nothing forces us to leave it constantly. In fact, that would likely do more harm than good (cf. the gutter episodes).

In Praise of Gentleness

Here’s what I told my reader: I strongly believe it’s valuable to know how to return to your comfort zone — to what’s familiar. It’s essential to notice when you need to recharge.

We live in a society of relentless pace, and the art of slowing down — or simply appreciating a plateau — isn’t exactly fashionable. And yet both our wellbeing and our ability to reach our goals depend on it.

Yes, sometimes we need to prove to ourselves we can push our limits and go for performances that are new to us. But it’s just as important to recognise the times when we need something entirely different. It’s a true skill to know when to return to the essentials. I don’t think the buzz around Simone Biles’ choices for her health was a coincidence. She showed that returning to the comfort — the safety — zone is essential when you sense you might be at risk.

This applies across every area of life:
• You can stop looking for a partner if you’re exhausted by date after date with no result.
• You can pause a project you’re passionate about if it’s draining all your energy.
• You can take a “basic” corporate job to rest from the pressure and responsibility.
• You can close your business if you feel like it’s time.

Whatever you choose, remember this: if you want your sprint zone to perform better, all your work zones have to progress with it — including rest and cruise.

I hope this article gives you the permission to slow down; to give yourself the comfort you need; and to stop judging yourself harshly if you need a little more time to reach your harbour.

Because sustainable growth isn’t born from constant strain — it’s built by expanding your comfort zone and returning to it, on purpose.