Stepping out of comfort zone, meet your unknown self

Hi, I am Halley Ching, a 24-year-old girl who just stepped into the working world last year. I am Mass Communication (major in Public Relations and Journalism) fresh graduate.

I know, you might think it is so weird to start the article like this as the title is "COMFORT ZONE".

However, I am so glad to start the article with that introduction.

It's because I stepped out from my comfort zone, I learn new things, experienced new stuff, and, I FOUND MYSELF.

COVID Pandemic, everyone has to work from home, the life being "trapped" at home make me feel so bored. Everyday same routine: wake up, breakfast, work, lunch, work, dinner, sleep.

At the same time, I found the book "Meet The Unknown Self" that inspired me to try on something different and practice some new habits to change the current lifestyle.

It is important to step out from your comfort zone and start to explore the world and yourself.

During MCO, I tried a lot of things which I never do before.

1. Cooking

I am not a girl who doesn't like to cook, I am just lazy. During MCO, it is very difficult for us to dine at restaurants or take away. Thus, my sister and my aunt were taking turns to cook for each other. I felt so disappointed in myself as a 24yo lady who seldom goes to the kitchen and cooks a meal for myself.

Therefore, I started to cook by following Youtube/RED/TikTok recipes.

After RMCO, everything started to return to the previous situation, everyone goes back to office and work. But still, I am scared of eating outside food, worried about hygiene and cleanliness of the cafe/restaurant.

Thus, with the little cooking experiences during MCO, I "forced" myself to cook and bring my lunchbox to work.

These are some of the lunchboxes I brought to the office.

2. Baking

When I was pursuing a Bachelor Degree, I liked to bake and bring it to the tuition centre where I worked part-time, to share with my students.

During MCO, it is also difficult for me to buy bread from the bakery. Thus, I decided to bake on my own every day.

I kinda enjoy the process of baking cake and making bread.

Here is some pastry I make during MCO.

From the Basque Burnt Cheesecake to Portuguese Egg Tarts, to Pizza, Japanese Souffle Cheesecake, Chinese Traditional Vegetable Dumpling, Fruit cake and Sausage Buns.

3. Social Media

From my introduction, I am a Mass Communication graduate. In order to enhance my skills and my talent, I decided to re-setup my WIX blog.

I started to practice a habit of daily blog idea - I will brainstorm or think of what content I would like to write and started to craft the article when I am free. I always write down the ideas' title in my Bullet Journal in case, I forget.

Beside WIX Blog, I also re-setup my Linkedin Account and make it nice to hunt for new overseas job opportunities. After posting an article on WIX, I will share it to Linkedin, so that everyone could see and give comments.

Furthermore, I started to manage my Instagram Bullet Journal Sharing Account well. I shared my Bullet Journal set up every month (at least) and some arts when I free.

Sometimes, it is not you can't do it, it is you don't want to do it.

If you have idea to start a new thing, just take your courage and step out from your comfort zone. And just do it, only you will know it is doable or not.

4. Graphic Design

As part of a design student, I set refreshment skill training to myself to prevent myself from forgetting some design skills.

I search on YouTube, RED, TikTok, Pinterest on design inspiration and gave me a tutorial to follow the steps to do the design.

Sometimes, I shared the skills on WIX Blog as well.

And now, to fully implement it, I am working as Social Media Content Creator cum Graphic Designer for a cafe. I used Autodesk Sketchbook for design.

5. Wall Painting

I felt so exciting while sharing this to everyone. This is my first time experiencing wall painting.

Same, I helped the cafe to do wall painting design.

And I will share it in detail in the next article "First-time wall painting".

So, some teaser first:

6. Art and Craft (Watercolour)

I like art and craft. I did crochet and knitting last time when I was in University life.

After that, I stopped awhile because I am so busy and lazy.

During MCO, I watched a lot of water colouring videos, and so, I tried to do watercolour as well.

And now, it has become one of my side income to sell all the art and craft to my colleagues and friends.

7. Workout

Do something today that your future self will thank you for.

I was a very skinny girl during high school.

After graduated from high school, I became fatter and I didn't even notice until I felt that I look so ugly and fat when I wore a sleeveless dress.

From then on, I tried to keep fit, cut my meal, on diet and so on. But all these do not give any impact to me.

Until I came into the workout video of Pamela Reif, I was motivated by her video and started to work out every day after work.

Even though the result wasn't so obvious, but at least, I practice a good healthy lifestyle daily. To slim down, I started to take care of my meal and I tried to cook my lunch every day to avoid too many calories.

8. Milkshake

To cultivate healthy lifestyle, I make juices to drink every night before dinner and I only drink homemade milkshake for my breakfast. (Don't worry, I am not advertising any products to you).

It is real, real and real ingredients I grab from my kitchen. (no additional products).

Matcha Banana Soya Milkshake

9. CGQP

Chartered Governance Qualifying Program (CGQP) is a course for those who want to take Corporate Secretary License.

As I mentioned in my previous article, I kinda lost my direction and interest in current work. Thus, to keep me motivated, I decided to register in this course for further study.

It is also a new move for me from my comfort zone.

My cousin continues her study after Bachelor Degree and she is now studying PhD. Due to the traditional Chinese culture of face, I got stress from my family as well as my relatives. They keep asking me to continue studying while working.

However, I just want to stay in my comfort zone, I felt that it is enough for me for now.

But after a few incidents happened during MCO, I was thinking and planning every sleepless night. Therefore, the decision of stepping out from my comfort zone and take new challenges was made.

To be honest, everything requires a first step to kick start.

If you always think that is enough for now and ever, you will never grow and meet the unknown self.

For now, if you have something that you wish to do/try for so long time, but never kick start, try to start your first step by doing research, then slowly, move on.

Hesitate to change old and traditional mindset is not scary. The scariest thing is YOU ARE AFRAID OF GIVING YOURSELF A CHANCE TO CHANGE AND TRANSFORM.

That's it for my sharing. Hope you guys like it.
You are welcome to drop me a message/comment. 

This article has a Chinese Version.

Thank you. 谢谢。Terima Kasih. Gracias. ขอบคุณค่ะ 감사합니다 ありがとうございました