Side quests make life fun, that’s why I’m challenging my introverted ass to do at least 1 side quest a week till this year ends.

I looked in the mirror and asked myself when my life got so boring, I used to be the life of the party now my idea of a good time is watching my favorite TikTok series with snacks in hand.

And then feeling the guilt the next day wondering when my life turned into constant loop of the same old routines, wondering how I became so isolated, trying to grasp what’s left of my social life and finally deciding that something has got to change.

It’s time to get our spark back and we’re going to get it back with little achievable side quests. 

While the term “side quest” originated in video games, it has taken on a whole new meaning thanks to TikTok. Instead of treating life like a never-ending to-do list, people started treating themselves like the main character in a game. 

The big goals like graduating, getting promoted, finding love, buying a house, became the “main quest.” Everything else became a side quest.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in the same routine, these girly side quests are your invitation to embrace a little curiosity and chase a few harmless whims.

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What Is a Side Quest?

A side quest is a small challenge, adventure, or experience you intentionally add to your life just for fun, curiosity, growth, or the just for the plot. Unlike routines or goals, side quests aren’t about productivity, they’re about making life feel more interesting.

They’re almost a rebellion against turning every hobby, habit, and moment into a productivity project. 

In a world that constantly pushes us to optimize every minute, side quests are a reminder that not everything has to be useful. Sometimes the best stories come from doing something simply because it sounds fun, whimsical, or slightly ridiculous.

The goal is to collect experiences, make memories, and add a little more adventure to your everyday life.

Some examples:

Not side quests:

• Going to work
• Doing laundry
• Meal prepping
• Being a regular somewhere
• Working out every day

Side quests:

• Learn how to cuss in three different languages.
• Visit a bookstore and buy a book based only on the cover.
• Go to a photo booth to get some selfies for your DIY photo wall.
• Send a postcard to yourself.
• Find the prettiest door in your city.
• Wear an outfit inspired by a fictional character for a day.

A good rule of thumb:

If it sounds like a mission you could tell a friend about afterward, it’s probably a side quest. If it sounds like a habit, routine, or chore, it probably isn’t.

Ideas For Your Next Side Quest

1. Buy a bouquet and separate the flowers into tiny vases around your room.

2. Leave a sweet note in a library book for a stranger to find. 

3. Walk through a wealthy neighborhood and imagine which house you’ll live in. 

4. Order the thing you really want instead of the safe option.

5. Make a list titled “things I want to experience before I die.”

6. Find a hidden book store. 

7. Visit a hotel lobby and read there for an hour. 

8. Make a video for a version of yourself that doesn’t exist yet. 

9. Learn how to cuss in at least 3 different languages. 

10. Spend a day taking photos of only beautiful details. 

11. Say yes to one invitation you would normally decline.

12. Wear the outfit you’re saving for a special occasion.

13. Find a place where you can hear birds and stay for 20 minutes.

14. Keep a tiny book of compliments you’ve received for a month (this will come in handy for days when you don’t feel like yourself). 

15. Take a train ride with no real purpose. 

16. Pick a random street and see where it leads. 

17. Take yourself to a café and invent stories about people around you. 

18. Watch a movie in a genre you normally avoid.

19. Try a hobby you’ve always said you’d try “someday.”

20. Have a picnic, even if it’s just in your backyard.

21. Spend an evening listening only to instrumental music.

22. Learn to make one fancy coffee or matcha drink at home.

23. If you’ve been procrastinating on your goals, make a vision board for what you want in the next 6 months. 

24. Buy a vintage teacup from a thrift store.

25. Make a tiny “treasure box” filled with keepsakes. 

26. Wear an outfit inspired by your favorite fictional character or a flower. 

27. Keep a list called “proof that life is beautiful.”

28. Make a time capsule you can only open in 5 years. 

29. Learn to waltz in your room.

30. Collect seashells and turn it into this DIY seashell jewelry organizer that’s trending on TikTok. 

@sheri_wilson_ i turned my shell collection into a jewelry holder fit for a mermaid! 💕🐚 highly recommend trying this craft, it’s so fun & easy! To add some shimmer, I brushed each shell with pearlescent nail polish, then hot glued them together to form a “tower” and added a few pearl beads ✨ #diy #crafts #seashells #cozyhobbies #summerideas ♬ Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses Theme – Fairy Lullaby

31. Read a book under a tree. 

32. Buy a cake on a random Tuesday. 

33. Create a signature scent combination. 

34. Convince a child you’re secretly a fairy.

35. Learn a card trick and refuse to explain how you did it.

36. Develop a completely irrational feud with a local pigeon.

37. Draw one tiny moment from your day for 30 days.

38. Create an alter ego and become her for a week. 

39. Leave your phone at home and wander for an hour. 

40. Go to a photo booth to get some selfies for your DIY photo wall.