Lessons Learned from a 5am Spin Class

Every week my spin instructor writes a quote in the front of the room. She always knows just what I need that day. Or so it seems.Last week I decided to go to her 5 am class, rather than my night class. Yes, I willingly woke up at 4:30 to get my butt handed to me. But Liz always delivers with a smile and motivation that sets me up for the day.(No, this is not about the benefits of waking up at 4:30 am to get in a workout before your day begins. Everyone has their way that works for them. I am not one to encourage others to do what works for me. A 4:30 am wake up is something I can do once in a while, not daily!)Last week, as I thought I might puke, Liz said, ‘Nothing good comes from your comfort zone!’ Was she reading my mind? In a few hours, I would be training a group of high-potential, brilliant female attorneys on building their confidence.This is what I shared. We spend our time in 1 of 3 places: Comfort (so nice), Discomfort (not loving it here) and Panic (get me out of here!)When we are in our Comfort Zone, we do not learn. We do not stretch ourselves. We do not push ourselves to go further than we have before. And we do not progress – whether its in a spin class, or in our careers and life.In our Panic Zone, we work long hours. We push ourselves outside our Comfort zone to demonstrate our abilities to be comfortable with whatever comes our way. And it feels uncomfortable. And the result of spending too much time in the Panic Zone? We push ourselves to the point of burn out, lose the ability to problem solve, innovate, or create (or on the bike, we give up, turn off all the resistance, get off the bike, or maybe even puke.)Yet, in the Discomfort Zone we are in a unique place where we can push ourselves to learn something new. We learn how far we can push ourselves while remaining focused and engaged. We feel uncomfortable, but not panicked. Yet with practice, we learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. And when we feel success in learning or solving a problem, we feel even more comfortable with that discomfort.How do you get out of Comfort and into Discomfort? If you’re feeling calm – almost too calm – it is probably time to shake things up. Push yourself enough that you receive the gift of endorphins. A 5am spin class did it for me last week. I was thinking clearer, was able to decipher a solution from a long-standing challenge, and was more attuned to my clients. We all feel a sense of success when we try something new and succeed. If you are not feeling that sense of challenge and success, you know it’s time to put your toes on the edge of the 10-foot platform and look down into the pool. No need to jump in.How do you know when you’re on the edge of Discomfort and entering the Panic Zone? Many people will have physical reactions: panic attacks, fast heart beats, waking up in a panic in the middle of the night, etc. Extreme reactions result in accidents – i.e. falling down the stairs. When these symptoms begin, or even just show a small sighting, it’s time to pull back. You’re on the 10-foot platform and starting to leap. No need to jump, stay right there on the edge (unless that is your kind of fun!)Lesson Learned. Learn to be comfortable with discomfort. This is where you will experience change in yourself – both mentally and physically. Enjoy the 5 am spin class and the motivation that comes along with it. FYI, I am going back to my regularly scheduled evening spin class this week, knowing I’ll get the same kick in the butt and motivation from Liz.