In busy seasons of life, the days can start to feel like they’re on repeat and there isn’t much variety. I know that when it feels like every day is the same, I get restless and start to feel unfulfilled if it accumulates over a long period of time. Taking moments to do something for myself — whether it’s running to the store to pick out flowers and arrange them or going to a coffee shop to read for a bit — is a great way to slow down, be mindful, and take care of myself.
“When it feels like every day is the same, I get restless and start to feel unfulfilled if it accumulates over a long period of time.”
Some creators on the internet came up with a word for this concept, this idea of bringing fun and time with ourselves back into our life. Side quests, a phrase pulled from the world of video gaming, are little adventures we get to take to bring some novelty and joy into our life.
What are side quests?
Side quests are fun activities that disrupt our normal routines to make life more fun and fulfilling. They’re things that we can do to enhance our days and step out of the ordinary. Lauren Jeffries, an L.A.-based creator and influencer manager whose video inspired me to learn more about side quests says it best:
“Side quests are fun activities that disrupt our normal routines to make life more fun and fulfilling.”
“I consider a hobby something you do pretty regularly. It’s something consistent; whereas a side quest is something that’s kind of out of the blue for you,” she says. “I consider side quests more so things that aren’t really done on a consistent basis, like me and my friend, we want to go ride in a hot air balloon. That’s not something I’m doing every week. [Side quests] are things that I implement to add fun and whimsy and joy back into my life.”
Jeffries is on a mission to do one side quest a week in 2025 (she was inspired by this video by @hyphygrandma). She’s documenting all of them on Instagram and TikTok, hoping to inspire others to go on side quests too. A lot of the side quests Jeffries does are with the goal of getting out of the house, but she also does some from home. “When I first made the video of my original side quest, some people were like, I can tell you don’t live in a cold place.” She noted that it isn’t so much about getting out of the house as it is “doing things outside of your comfort zone, outside of your norm, doing things that just don’t occur in your regular day to day life.”
So to recap: Hobbies are things we do regularly, like knitting or reading, while side quests are activities that get you up and doing something new or novel. And they can be at home, out and about, or wherever, as long as it feels like something out of the ordinary of your routine.
“Hobbies are things we do regularly, like knitting or reading, while side quests are activities that get you up and doing something new or novel.”
If you’ve ever done “The Artists’ Way” (I am right now!), side quests are akin to the “artist dates” Julia Cameron writes about. They’re also similar to solo dates. All in all, side quests are another way to spend intentional time with ourselves.
Some examples of side quests could be:
- Volunteering
- Taking a sewing class
- Doing a puzzle
- Mending Clothes
- Exploring a neighborhood in your city
- Writing poetry
- Taking an online class for the fun of it
- Trying a funky workout class (Jeffries said she wants to try the bungee workout class like in the Timothee Chalamet SNL skit.)
- Cooking a new recipe
- Seeing a play
But side quests can be anything you want them to be. If you’re not sure where to start, you might consider thinking about what would feel new and exciting to you. It’s also important to note that they don’t have to be expensive, or even cost any money at all.
“[Choosing a side quest] can be really unique and individual, based on what people are looking for, what kind of intention they want,” says Laura Sgro, an LA-based licensed clinical social worker with a virtual private practice. “Where does your natural curiosity take you? What’s something that you’ve thought about doing, but for some reason, never did? Start there.”
How can we use side quests as self-care?
Side quests make life more fun — that alone is a form of self-care. But what are the other benefits?
“For some people, what I’ve seen in my practice at least, monotony can become defeating after a while,” Sgro says. “Adding in some novelty, new or fulfilling experiences or hobbies – all of those side quest type things – can be a huge component in creating a sense of accomplishment at trying something new, or a sense of fulfilment at doing something that’s just for you and has nothing to do with expectations.”
“Side quests make life more fun — that alone is a form of self-care.”
Trying new things and finding that we enjoy them or are good at them increases our confidence, Sgro says. “And you increase your curiosity. You exercise that muscle in your brain.”
Side quests can also encourage us to tap into our creativity. “It can help us in our mindfulness practices, to be more present, to be more in the moment,” says Emily Sharp, an art therapist and psychotherapist. “Creativity is really an amazing practice to engage in if you’re trying to maybe shift perspectives on something [or] you feel a little stuck.”
Jeffries says doing side quests has made her feel more comfortable doing things alone. “It’s nice that I’m kind of getting a solo dating experience from this too, because I have not been a human being on my own in a really long time,” she says, explaining that she’s been in a relationship for years and lived with roommates before that. “It’s nice that I get this time to be solo… It helps me build confidence doing things alone. And I also love that it’s breaking up the monotony of my life.”
Beyond that, side quests get us up and moving, off our screens, and engaging with the real world and actually living life. “When I’m 80 years old, I’m not gonna be like, ‘Oh man, I’m so glad I sat at home all day,’” Jeffries says. “I’m gonna be like, I’m so glad I tried a rock climbing class and fell and busted my butt and was embarrassed, but it was cool that I did that… It’s not gonna be as cool to be like, ‘Oh, I watched Netflix again, I sat and doomscrolled again. You’re not going to remember those things when you’re older.”
“Side quests get us up and moving, off our screens, and engaging with the real world and actually living life.”
So whether we call that side quests, taking time for ourselves, making the most of our lives, or creating special moments of joy, it’s so important to take care of ourselves and live the one precious life we have. “Our lives deserve to be more whimsical,” says Jeffries. “Our lives deserve to be more than just errands, going to the gym, cooking dinner, going to work — our lives deserve to be actually lived.”
Brianna Schubert is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade and the Digital Editor at Milwaukee Magazine. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since 2023, Brianna has combined her expertise and investigative skills to deliver thoughtful reviews of sustainable products and home goods, helping readers make informed, eco-conscious choices. Brianna is also the writer behind The Mood Board, a Substack newsletter for creativity and inspiration. When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking up a new recipe, reading and recommending books, cuddling with her cat, or finding hidden gems at vintage and thrift stores. Say hi on Instagram!
