As one of Britain’s most celebrated Olympians, Sir Mo Farah knows what it means to push beyond your comfort zone and trust your instincts. Now he’s encouraging the nation to do the same.
Virgin Red and Sir Mo Farah have challenged the UK public to break up their monotonous routines and rediscover the thrill of doing something unexpected, turning FOMO into Go-Mo – the split-second decision moment where you trust your gut, say yes and step out of autopilot into something memorable.
The Olympic medallist took to the streets of London to surprise passers-by with spontaneous holidays and bucket-list experiences through Virgin Red, but with one catch – they had to agree to leave almost immediately.
This comes as new research from Virgin Red reveals that people are increasingly getting stuck in their comfort zones, with more than half (54%) admitting they struggle to act in the moment.
By deciding to ‘say yes’, Virgin Red is championing consumers who trust their gut and step out of autopilot, seizing moments that could turn into something memorable.
Passers-by were challenged to escape their comfort zones, with Sir Mo Farah offering them the chance to set sail from sunny Athens, jump on a flight to South Korea, or take a leap of faith on a skydive, all with Virgin – on the condition they agree to act ‘immediately’ and not dither over the decision.
Lucky Londoners who spotted Sir Mo Farah had a simple task – to commit to one of Virgin Red’s last-minute experiences right away – and many people took them up the offer – proving people are keen to leave their prepping and planning behind. What’s more, almost eight in 10 (77%) people agree that overthinking opportunities can hold people back from truly enjoyable experiences.
Jane Snowden, aged 67, who runs a Good Neighbour programme helping elderly locals in Shropshire with her husband Andy, trusted their instincts and said yes to Mo, both now setting sail on a week-long voyage from Athens.
“We were down visiting family and out for a walk when we spotted Mo out of the corner of our eye.
It’s not every day you come across someone like that on the street, so we thought, why not go over and see if we could have a quick chat.
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!
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.”
The research highlights a nation reluctant to embrace spontaneity, with 66% of consumers turning down plans because they felt overwhelmed or outside of their comfort zone.
Anna Troughton, 30, was left stunned after agreeing to take part in the challenge – and discovering she’d won a last‑minute trip to Seoul, departing the very next day.
“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.
“I noticed a film crew on the street and wandered over to see what was going on.
“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 – and then I honestly couldn’t believe it when he revealed I’d won a trip to Seoul, leaving tomorrow. I was totally shocked. It’s definitely made me realise I need to say yes more often!”
Three in five (60%) also admitted that they have missed an opportunity because they didn’t say yes right away, with only 7% of people saying that they would “embrace new opportunities”. However, more than half (54%) would like to push themselves outside of their comfort zones more often.
Sir Mo 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 with Virgin Red has been brilliant – that spontaneous mindset is what Go-Mo is all about.”
World-leading 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.
“If you don’t want life to pass you by, it’s about breaking out of those routines, even small changes can shake us out of autopilot and create more meaningful moments.
“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.”
The research also revealed many people are, unsurprisingly, creatures of habit, with the top signs of being stuck in a comfort zone including rewatching favourite TV shows (70%), choosing quiet nights in over going out (65%) and returning to the same holiday destination year after year (55%).
Andrea Burchett, Chief Loyalty Officer, at Virgin Red, says: “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. Virgin Red offers hundreds of experiences to help people take that first step into spontaneity.”
To help break these habits, Virgin Red is encouraging people to adopt a Go-Mo mindset, taking a step forward, however small. Those ready to ‘say yes’ and reintroduce spontaneity into their lives can visit www.virgin.com/virgin-red to start earning points or explore the range of experiences available through Virgin Red.
Dr Tara Swart’s Top Five Go-Mo Tips:
Break habituation and mix up your everyday: Our brains are wired for efficiency, so familiar sights, sounds and routines often fade into the background. Go-Mo begins when we interrupt autopilot and deliberately expose the brain to novelty again. By introducing small changes – like taking a new route, trying a different scent or pausing to notice your surroundings – we can become more present. Even tiny moments of novelty can refresh the mind and improve wellbeing.
Seek out something new each day: The brain naturally prioritises what feels new or attention-grabbing, which is why unfamiliar experiences can feel energising and memorable. Small acts of novelty – noticing something different, speaking to someone new or changing your routine – help expand comfort zones and strengthen adaptability. Go-Mo is about training the brain to lean into curiosity over hesitation.
Become a culture vulture: Research shows that increased exposure to culture, the arts and nature can positively impact mental and physical wellbeing. Simple experiences like listening to birdsong, going to see live music, visiting a gallery or spending time outdoors can significantly reduce stress, lower mortality risk, and create meaningful moments of connection. Often, the most memorable experiences begin with a spontaneous decision to say yes.
Start small, dream big – micro-habits build life changes: Large goals and resolutions often fall by the wayside, so it’s far more effective to break them down into bite-sized habits – science shows it’s better to improve 10 habits by 1% than one by 10%. Small, consistent actions like getting a little more sleep, moving more or trying something new each week can gradually reshape mindset and behaviour. Introducing these moments of novelty into daily life not only makes change more sustainable, but can also make time feel richer, fuller and more memorable.
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 and physical reactions are deeply connected to emotional wellbeing and decision-making. Experiences that encourage reflection, creativity, movement or stepping outside comfort zones can strengthen intuition and self-trust. Spontaneous moments and new experiences also help boost cognitive flexibility and reconnect us with a sense of vitality.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The research was conducted by One Poll in May 2026, to 2,000 UK adults.
Virgin Red is Virgin’s loyalty programme, offering members the chance to collect points on everyday spending and use them on travel, leisure, and other experiences. Points do not expire, giving members the flexibility to use them whenever it suits.