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Welcome, reader! How many times have you found yourself enjoying something without being able to explain why? We all have. Some side quests life leads you to. Some you go looking for. Either way, they all shape your life. You could even call them medicine for your soul. So here is what nobody tells you about them.
What no one told you about side quests
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Additional reading on side quests and how life works:
Side quests are the antidote to a mediocre life. One that can leave people feeling stuck in a boring, predictable, monotonous routine for the rest of their lives. The solution? Side quests. The more side quests you discover that align with your personality type, the better your quality of life will be.
The ONLY prerequisite for side quests is being open to them. Without being able to be silly, wrong, or illogical, you won’t get anything out of them. The other part of the story is your creativity. If you find yourself stuck or paralyzed, unable to figure out what your next side quest should be... It might be the perfect time to pay attention to what sparks your curiosity.
The key to a successful side quest career is keeping a personal quest log. Whenever you think of something that might be interesting to do, write it down. The next step? Break that quest into smaller, actionable steps. That way, when you are ready to start - you have already solved the hardest part... Which is knowing where to begin.
The biggest enemy of a life-changing side quest is the algorithm. Why? Because it constantly feeds you content it already knows you love and are interested in. Result? It limits your ability to even think about something outside the box, which might be something you actually need.
Wondering how to figure out what side quests are worth your time? Look at these components: novelty, variation, randomness, and goal-orientation. All those factors are controllable.
A big reason why side quests are necessary is that they will help you when things get rough. When you start doubting your big vision and yourself. They keep things playful. Light. They might even make you forget about the problems you are dealing with.
The side quest that doesn’t get enough attention is the one where you actively pursue communities and groups that share your interests. Are you into nature? Find a group that does the same activity every week. Are you into old racing cars? Time to figure out how to get access to them and start connecting with others who share the same vision as you. This is one of those side quests that will ultimately lead you to a social life others can only dream of. It all comes down to selfishly pursuing the things you are interested in.
There is a big difference between “traveling” and traveling. “Traveling” for most people means going to the same spots everyone else posts on Instagram. Traveling for real adventurers means pursuing things you can’t experience at home. One makes you look like everyone else. The other makes you appreciate the life you are living. The difference in the quality of the side quest? One you will forget about... The other you will never stop thinking about.
Every single thing you are even a little bit passionate about should be an excuse to dig deeper and find something that inspires you to take on more side quests related to it. Interested in ancient Greek? Spend a month watching every documentary and getting your hands on must-reads. Woodworking? What’s stopping you from getting cheap tools and trying it yourself? This is also one way to achieve a permanent state of happiness and fulfillment.
Keep in mind. There are spontaneous side quests that usually happen when you decide to push yourself out of your comfort zone. To the point that they appear out of nowhere and lead you to a completely different perspective on life. And there are optimized side quests you are purposely involving yourself in. YOU want both.
Side quests can be cultural, social, physical, creative, or adventure-based. It is up to you to figure out what you are missing in your life and what you need more of. What you want to do is the opposite of what you are currently doing. Spending the whole day in the office? Adventure. Most of your work is monotonous? Creative. Weekends usually your lazy days? Physical. All it takes is 2 to 3 side quests to have a complete change in your lifestyle.
Not all those who wander are lost. - J.R.R. Tolkien
The clear sign that you are side questing correctly is feeling uncomfortable at first. This is normal. It should feel that way. No one ever taught you to enjoy going to the movies alone or to organize a group chat with people you recently met to hike a local hill. The more you expose yourself to those uncomfortable situations, the easier it gets.
The problem with modern society is that everyone has been programmed to believe you should optimize only for your career and status, treating every other adventure as a distraction. That’s exactly why we have so many rich people who feel miserable 24/7.
A side quest everyone should pursue is figuring out how to contact the people who are best at what you are interested in. Exceptional people. You should do everything you can to figure out how to get the answers you are looking for from those people. The answers you get will change how you do things.
With most side quests, you are unsure whether they are worth your time. Ask yourself - what is the worst that can happen? Will it waste your time? Will it put your life in danger? Will it cost a couple hundred bucks? Will it lead you to something you never thought about before? Positives and negatives. Write them all down, and the answer will become obvious.
Whenever you feel that tight knot in your stomach as someone else talks about their side quests and what they have enjoyed... It is a clear sign to invite yourself the next time they do it and to experience what your body is telling you... That it is the right thing to do. It is one of those unwritten rules of life we take for granted. Listen to your body and your intuition. Most never do and spend years wondering why they don’t know what gets them going in life.
Most of the biggest career changes started as side quests. Allowing yourself to pursue activities reshapes who you are. Not only that. They also help you see opportunities and connect patterns others don’t. It might not make much sense. But it makes perfect sense when it comes to making money and pursuing something bigger out of your life.
Properly chosen side quests should feel effortless. A feeling of time slowing down. A feeling of full energy. A feeling that you don’t have a single worry. If you can check all three... That is a good indicator that you have found something worth living for.
Entrepreneurship is a REAL side quest that no one talks about. It is not for everyone. But if you do it well enough and long enough, and feel the spark and purpose in it... It will help you find your true self and what you are made of. It is the most beautiful side quest you can go on, and one that has the potential to change your life and the people around you.
Random drives in the car without a destination or goal do more for your mental health than most therapists.
Want a hard side quest that not many can do? Say yes to everything. Make yourself a promise that you will have a day when, no matter what kind of opportunity, question, or challenge happens… You will say yes to it. Want to take it a step further? Say yes to everything for a week. You will be surprised by how far this takes you and what kinds of opportunities start to appear out of nowhere.
Hotel lobbies are among the best places to visit, no matter what city you are in. They are also great places to start your side quest adventure. Or you could do what we did and give yourself a side quest to explore all of them in your city. There is something special about them.
Identify 3 people who made your current success possible but whom you have never properly thanked. Thank each one of them personally, not via text or email. If you cannot see them in person, you must instead do so via phone so they can hear your voice. - Ambition Project
What side quests are NOT and will never be: doomscrolling, watching endless streams, shopping, or online gambling... They are lifestyle traps.
A side quest you will never regret doing in your life is hitting up a random opera or symphony. There is something magical about experiencing it live and seeing what it is all about. It also shows why the brightest people throughout history have always loved classical music.
Whenever side quests start to feel like a grind or come too close to self-improvement... There is a good chance it is time to stop what you are doing and find something new.
A big reason most people become boring is that they put all their effort into ignoring their true calling and side quests. Turning their whole personality into Netflix shows and endless consumption. Completely ignoring the fact that the pursuit of figuring out your passion and the side quests that make you feel alive are things worth living for.
The side quest you will never regret is spending the weekend experiencing Twin Peaks for the first time or watching True Detective (season 1). Those are the side quests no one regrets embarking on. Seriously.
Spending an hour crafting the perfect day is the kind of side quest that will give you more of what you want than months of unnecessary goal-chasing.
A side quest of visiting museums can lead to finding an art piece that captures your attention and draws you in until you can’t stop thinking about it. It is the art you should study deeply. Remember the name. Take the photo. Download it to your phone. There is an underlying motive or a symbol you need to figure out that will unlock an insight you never knew you needed... It is one of those things you can’t explain until you experience it, and the only way to do so is by side questing.
One beautifully underestimated side quest you should take regularly is to take a different route home. Forget being the most efficient and enjoy the surroundings.
Anything that appears randomly multiple times throughout the day is a sign you should pay attention. It also clearly confirms that a side quest is coming your way, one you should not ignore. Appearing multiple times throughout the day without any connections? Not a coincidence, but a reason for YOU to act.
Taking a class in acting and improvisation should be a side quest everyone does at some point in their lives. It teaches you a lot more than acting. It teaches you how to present yourself to others and what it takes to get your idea across.
One way to improve the quality of side quests is to learn to be a tourist in your own city. Visit places you have never been before, do things that tourists do, and in the end… Realize that you live in the place others take vacations to visit. It is one of those things most of us take for granted. Yet there is hidden beauty in being a tourist in your city.
Everyone tells you that there are no limitations when it comes to side quests and how old you can be to do them. At the same time, have you ever seen a 57 year-old sleep in a hostel somewhere on the other side of the world? We haven’t either. Side quests change based on your age and priorities... So it is on you to figure out what you should do and when.
Never underestimate the value of being a beginner at something and staying comfortable in that phase until you put in the hours. This might not make sense, but it is a prerequisite for an interesting life and a long list of side quests.
Everybody has their own version of what they need to start doing side quests. The reality is that it is much less than we make it out to be. For most things, you don't need much more than goodwill and some willingness to take a bit of a risk.
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The key to a fulfilling side quest that leaves you with insights is recognizing its underlying purpose. It has to be self-motivating. Understand why you are doing what you are doing and how it impacts you.
Everyone talks about high agency, but no one talks about what it takes to achieve it. Jobs studied calligraphy. Feynman picked locks and played bongos. Da Vinci studied anatomy and hydraulics, and painted… It should be obvious what you should do.
One of your side quests should be to promise yourself that you will reach out to the author and thank them for their work whenever you finish a book. Maybe even ask a question or two about things you find interesting and that make you think. You will be surprised by how many of them will actually get back to you and thank YOU.
The side quest that will give you a complete outlook on a new life and make you appreciate everything you have is volunteering. Nothing makes you more human than seeing someone else appreciate everything you take for granted. Humbling and often necessary.
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. - Joseph Campbell
There is a beautiful side quest called observing the people around you. It will make you realize you are likely underestimating your capabilities and what you can achieve. It will also make you realize that someone who is much less capable than you is living the life you should be living.
Knowing how to be a memorable host and what it takes to be one is a side quest everyone who wants an above-average social life should take on. There is an art to it, and it is one of the rare things boomers did right. Just look at what J. Paul Getty used to do and how it worked out for him.
One of the highest-leverage side quests comes down to quitting one thing. Alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, or your phone before bed… Easily accessible vices. Anything you do automatically without thinking about it, but deep down you know it is not good for you or takes something away from you.
There is a hidden beauty in doing things alone. Watching a movie, eating dinner at a nice restaurant, sipping a cold drink on the rooftop of your favorite bar, going to a library, and walking around your favorite part of the city. It never clicks for most people that there is beauty in it. Yet once it clicks, you can’t go back. It is a side quest in itself.
It is your duty to have a good quality of life, and one side quest you should embrace is figuring out your go-tos. The things that, no matter what mood you are in or how you feel, will give you the sense that it was a good decision. They might range from always ordering a gin and tonic when unsure what to drink, all the way to eating a ribeye. Find your go-tos… It will make your life easier. Better. Simpler.
Sitting in front of a wall and doing nothing is one of the side quests you should give a try. A much better choice than wasting your precious life scrolling through social media. Extra points if you replace it with something more serious. Such as TM, and make it part of your life.
An important side quest most people never give themselves enough time for is figuring out how they should study and what it is all about. It is a sad reality that most people never learn what works for them or get the chance to figure it out. You should be spending an enormous amount of time finding the study method that works for you… It is an important, life-changing side quest you will use for the rest of your life.
Get rid of everything you do not use. Take a weekend to put everything that is taking up your space into one corner. The next step? Start taking pictures and posting them on your local marketplace. Not only will you free up space, but you will also make enough to buy yourself a nice dinner. An underrated side quest that will make you appreciate what you have even more.
Sooner or later, you realize that every side quest you give yourself brings you closer to understanding what your main quest actually is. Everyone who has done a few of them knows that years later the main quest emerges from one of them.
Writing is one side quest everyone should try. It not only enriches your thinking and how you perceive things… It also makes them reality. Sort of like you are programming your own future and what you will become.
Off-radar weekends, when you completely unplug from your usual life and only do the things you WANT to do, are the side quests not many take on. Take a few weekends like those each year, and you will never feel burned out or like you are losing control.
Being specific in how you communicate is the side quest that will give you an unfair advantage in an era of social-skills incompetence.
The beauty of doing multiple side quests and allowing yourself to pursue them comes down to optionality. When you have the option to choose what you want, because you know what is good for you and where you want to go… You are experiencing something not many people ever get.
Side quests are nothing but a collection of the things you devote your free time to. Questing for knowledge, for what makes you feel alive and purposeful. This helps you experience new things and understand their value and importance. Side quests indirectly help you escape mediocrity and become a better human being.
Disclaimer: None of this is to be legal or financial advice of any kind.