SIR MO FARAH has challenged the public to escape their comfort zones by offering them holidays and bucket list experiences – on the condition they agree to leave “immediately”.

The Olympic gold medallist took to the streets of Fitzrovia in London to get passers-by to make a decision on the spot – presenting them with the chance to set sail to sunny Athens or jump on a flight to South Korea the following day.

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Sir Mo Farah has challenged the public to escape their comfort zones Credit: Ben Stevens/PinPep

Farah offered holidays and bucket list experiences – on the condition people agree to leave ‘immediately’ Credit: Ben Stevens/PinPep

All they had to do was commit right away – no second-guessing, just a gut decision to say yes and go.

Jane Snowden, aged 67, who runs a Good Neighbours programme helping elderly locals in Shropshire with husband Andy, trusted their instincts and are now setting sail on a last-minute, week-long voyage from Athens.

She said: “We were down visiting family and out for a walk when we spotted Mo out of the corner of our eye.

“We had absolutely no idea what was coming next, when Mo pulled out the envelope and revealed we’d won a trip of a lifetime – we were completely stunned.

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“We’ve never been on a cruise before, so saying yes felt like a huge moment for us – it’s something we never would have planned, but we’re so glad we did.”

It comes after research of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Virgin Red, found the nation is increasingly stuck in its comfort zones, with 54 per cent admitting they struggle to act in the moment.

The research also found only seven per cent said they embrace new opportunities wherever possible, with 42 per cent more likely to “sometimes consider them”.

And six in 10 have missed out on opportunities because they can’t say “let’s go” quickly enough.

Farah, who teamed up with Virgin Red to put the nation’s “say yes” instinct to the test, said: “I’ve learned that some of the best moments in life happen when you trust your gut and just go for it.

“Whether it’s in training, travelling, or spending time with my family, saying yes to something unexpected has created memories for me I never would have expected.

“Seeing people take a chance on these last-minute experiences has been brilliant – that spontaneous mindset is what Go-Mo is all about.”

Neuroscientist, Dr Tara Swart, added: “Go-Mo is the brain training itself to say ‘yes’ to new experiences instead of sticking to what feels safe.

“When we’re younger, everything feels new, which is why time seems to slow down, but as life becomes more routine, that sense of excitement fades and time appears to speed up.

“Modern society has taught us to overlook our ‘gut feeling’ in favour of rationality, but those instinctive ‘yes’ or ‘let’s do it’ moments can strengthen emotional wellbeing, self-trust and cognitive flexibility.”

A nation that steers clear of thrill-seeking activities at all costs, 56 per cent admitted they actively avoid anything that requires signing a waiver form.

This lines up with just seven per cent having tried skydiving or bungee jumping, while only 16 per cent had taken a road trip with no set destination.

With many preferring to stay in their comfort zone, the top signs people were stuck there included rewatching their favourite TV show again and again (70 per cent), sticking to the same route to work every day (58 per cent) and returning to the same holiday destination year after year (55 per cent).

In fact, 24 per cent said they wouldn’t accept a last-minute offer to travel somewhere new tomorrow, even if they had no plans and it was free, according to research by OnePoll.

DR TARA SWART’S TOP FIVE GO MO TIPS:

HERE’S how people can get out of their comfort zone for new and exciting experiences:

1.    Break habituation: Our brains are wired for efficiency, which means familiar routines can fade into the background and put us on autopilot. Introducing small moments of novelty helps refresh the mind, increase presence and boost wellbeing.
2.    Seek out something new each day: The brain is naturally drawn to what feels new, which is why unfamiliar experiences can feel energising and memorable. Small changes to your routine – from speaking to someone new to changing your daily routine – help expand comfort zones and strengthen adaptability.
3.    Become a culture vulture: Regular exposure to culture, the arts and nature has been shown to support both mental and physical wellbeing. Simple, yet memorable, experiences – such as live music, galleries or time outdoors – can reduce stress and lower mortality risk, and often begin with a spontaneous decision to say yes.
4.    Start small, dream big: Big goals are more likely to stick when they’re broken down into small, achievable habits rather than dramatic lifestyle overhauls – science shows it’s better to improve 10 habits by one per cent than one by 10 per cent.
5.    Trust your gut and say yes: Intuition is less about external experiences and more about learning to recognise and trust your internal signals. Our instincts are deeply connected to emotional wellbeing, so saying yes to new experiences can strengthen self trust, boost cognitive flexibility and help reconnect us with a sense of vitality.

While 20 per cent shared they ideally like to have a week or more notice for making plans, with only two per cent comfortable arranging something on the day.

Three in 10 (30 per cent) admitted they get in their own way, having missed out on opportunities due to nerves – with 28 per cent citing the plans were too last-minute, and a further 28 per cent said they got stuck in their head and overthought it.

And 77 per cent believe overthinking opportunities can hold people back from truly enjoyable experiences.

When faced with something outside their comfort zone, 37 per cent said they would say yes after some consideration, while 32 per cent would hesitate and likely decline, and 12 per cent would refuse outright.

Anna Troughton, 30, was left stunned after discovering she’d won a last-minute trip to Seoul, she added: “I’m in between jobs at the moment, so thought I’d come down to London for the day to do a bit of shopping.

“The next thing I knew, I was chatting to Mo Farah, who completely put me on the spot and asked if I was bold enough to say yes to something happening tomorrow.

“Given where I’m at right now, I thought, why not …I was totally shocked. It’s definitely made me realise I need to say yes more often.”

Andrea Burchett, chief loyalty officer at Virgin Red, added: “We can all be guilty of retreating to the safety of our comfort zones.

“But so many of us are missing out because we can’t just say ‘let’s go’ and jump into something new.

“We want to challenge people to embrace adventure and remember just how much fun it can be.”