Comfort Creep: Why Reiki Might Be the Push You Need

I recently read a piece by David Lloyd in Good Housekeeping about something he calls "comfort creep." It's when life gradually narrows down to the same restaurant, the same shows on the sofa, the same playlist you haven't updated in years. It's a good description of how my Reiki clients sometimes describe their lives and routines.

There's a real temptation to stay home, stick with what's familiar, and avoid pushing ourselves to try anything new. We're tired, we're comfortable, and everything we need is already there. But there's a whole world outside of that, and getting out into it, even in small ways, is good for us mentally and physically.

Lloyd's article references research linking novelty with cognitive health, and mentions therapists who suggest small changes, like taking a different route on a regular journey, to help keep the mind active. He also brings up the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, whose research found that people are happiest when they're just past the edge of their comfort zone, scared enough to notice it but capable enough to handle it.

The article also quotes a therapist who pointed out that constantly chasing discomfort can become its own tiring habit. So this isn't about turning your whole life upside down or forcing yourself into things that frighten you. It's about not letting comfort completely take over. 

This is where Reiki has a role to play, both in noticing when comfort has taken over, and in finding the energy to move out of it.

One of the reasons Reiki can help break a comfort routine is because it makes you physically feel something. Many clients describe energy moving through their body during a session. That sensation on its own can be enough to shake things up in a positive way. It reminds you that you're alive.

Reiki can also help highlight where in your life you've been struggling, whether that's a mindset that's kept you stuck or a physical issue you've been putting off dealing with. Getting out of comfort creep isn't about forcing yourself into some new, more adventurous version of yourself. It's about letting yourself be changed by trying something new and feeling uncomfortable for a bit.

If you'd like support with this, my Hara Reiki™ three-month one-to-one programme goes further into this kind of growth.

© 2026 Laura Noonan Reiki. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Attribution is required for all shared insights.