At 8 years old, I embarked upon my first proper “side quest.” I was walking down Long Beach, interrupting, waking up and compelling beach goers to buy duct tape wallets—homemade by me— for $5. This was quite the steal for a zebra-print/hot pink wallet with 6 card pockets and a large cash pocket…or the cheetah-print design, or tie-dye, or eggs and bacon, etc.

This message isn’t rooted in duct tape design– despite that being a great story– but rather it’s about taking a chance on something new and exciting. In gaming, a side quest is an additional adventure taken by a player that falls outside of the main storyline and effectively adds fun and variety to gameplay by disrupting the routine of the game. To me, this also entails stepping outside your comfort zone and ends in greater confidence or a lesson learned- my duct tape wallet entrepreneurship experience included. For this reason, I think that we all have something to gain from embarking on regular side quests and breaking up the daily norm; you’ll never know what there is to be gained from something you’ve never tried. This blog is a bit of a side quest itself!

As a new navigator of postgrad life, I’ve become aware of the numerous opportunities for fresh ventures that can fill the open timeslots in my day. I’ve also become aware of how isolated I can get in the confines of my routine; and that there is not much to be gained from staying stagnant. Things like finding new recipes, doing gel manicures for myself and my friends, looking up constellations, and learning how to be a pool boy for my aunt (scary chemicals and chlorine addition included) are among my newer quests. These are all things that I could live without and wouldn’t necessarily stumble upon, but it’s for those reasons that these new quests excite and challenge me.

With variation in my routine, I also have a greater optimism towards my day-to-day life with an understanding that I have the power to make something new happen for myself- regardless of whether I fail or succeed. To me, the real success here is in the challenge and the beauty of the unknown; what you’re doing does not need to be grand, just different.

In case you’re feeling empowered to try something new and out of your ordinary, listed below are 25 side quests that you could take yourself on.

1. Download Duolingo and learn a new language
2. Bring paint, markers or pencils to your favorite spot and draw the landscape
3. Research a new topic that interests you in-depth. Be a student again!
4. Visit a new nature trail
5. Try creating a recipe of your own- even if it’s just a signature coffee creation
6. Volunteer at a local shelter or food pantry
7. Talk to a stranger everyday for a week: not just a “hello,” but a proper conversation
8. Try your hand at writing poetry or a short story
9. Take a camping trip
10. Read a book with a perspective that challenges your own
11. Train for a 5K, half marathon or marathon
12. Try a physical skill that you’ve never been able to do like cartwheeling, headstands or touching your toes
13. Try a new cosmetic skill like threading your eyebrows, waxing or a lymphatic massage
14. Join a new gym or workout studio
15. Sing at a karaoke night
16. Learn a new instrument
17. Join a group or club (book club, run club, soccer league, etc.)
18. Attend a trivia night
19. Thrift something and upcycle it into something new and totally unique
20. Learn how to crochet, knit or sew and make something for a friend
21. Obtain a new license or certificate…this is how I started the side quest of spin certificate
22. Take a pottery class
23. Host a dinner party with all the works
24. Redesign your room being resourceful with items you already have or can DIY
25. Try something that you’ve been too scared to ❤

It’s all about surprising, and showing up for, yourself. All things are possible with a bit of curiosity and ambition, so stay curious my people! Change is good and discovering something that you love from said change is even better- live beyond your storyline 🙂 What’s your next side quest?