Build your comfort zone ladder
Pick one thing you would like to do alone but keep putting off. You get five steps up to it, from something small to the real thing, and a place to note how nervous you feel before and after each one.
How to use your ladder
Start at rung 1, even if it looks easy. Before you go, pick a number from 0 to 10 for how nervous you feel. Afterwards, pick the number again and tap Done. The next rung becomes your next step.
If the number is still high afterwards, do the same rung again, on another day or in another place. Tap "Do this rung again" and log it fresh; your last numbers stay next to it, so you can compare. Move up when the number drops. There is no deadline: one rung a week is a pace that is easy to keep.
Why small steps beat one big leap
A big goal is easy to keep putting off, because there is no obvious first move. A rung small enough to do this week gives you one. Each rung you finish makes the next one look a little smaller, and by the time you reach the top, your goal is one step up from something you have already done.
The numbers matter more than they look. Seeing how nervous you were before and after, side by side and in your own numbers, shows you whether a rung is getting easier. That is hard to notice from the feeling alone.
How the five rungs are picked
Your goal is matched to one of five levels, from "ten minutes, and nobody is looking" to "several days, and your own logistics". Each level is explained on comfort zone challenges, sorted by level. Rung 5 is your goal, paired with a Solo Era mission at the same level. Rungs 1 to 4 are missions of the same kind, starting at level 1 and rising towards it.
When your goal is already a small one, some rungs share its level or come from a similar kind of outing, so there is still a step to take before it. Every mission shows its safety note where it has one. If you would rather build a ladder by hand: write your goal at the top, then four smaller versions of it below, each one a little shorter, quieter or closer to home.
Questions about the comfort zone ladder
What is a comfort zone ladder?
A short list of steps from something easy to something you avoid, done in order. Each step is a little bigger than the last, so you never have to jump straight to the hardest part.
How long should I stay on one rung?
Until the number afterwards feels manageable to you. Some rungs take one go, others three or four. Repeating a rung is not standing still.
What if the first rung already feels too big?
Make it smaller: ten minutes instead of an hour, or a quieter time of day. The comfort zone quiz can also help you find a gentler starting point.
Is my ladder saved?
Yes, in this browser on this device. Your rungs and your numbers are not sent to us. Clearing your browser data removes them, and "Start a new ladder" replaces them.
Can I have more than one ladder?
One at a time. When you reach the top, or your goal changes, start a new one.