We often define and link the word “rest” to stopping what we’re doing and relaxing ourselves to regain our physical and mental state. However, rest differs for everyone—it could mean staying at home, snuggling under the sheets while feeling the coldness of their room, watching their favorite Netflix series or movies, or decluttering their room. But for others, rest is when they’re out of their homes, wandering into unknown places, spending their day trying out some new hobbies like rock climbing, hiking, or running, or going on spontaneous solo dates. These occurrences are not your everyday go-to routine or obligations in your life. They’re called “side ”quests”—tasks or activities that shift our ordinary days into something fun, explorative, and lighter. In fact, many people now embrace side quests for mental wellness as a way to recharge.
In a world where life is full of pressure, responsibility, and obligations, taking a break is a crucial moment in our lives that everyone should practice. May it be a simple task, stepping outside just to simply exist, or doing some fun side quests every weekend. These mini-adventures allow us to embrace ourselves without feeling and thinking of any pressure around us. Through this, even if you’re a student, professional, or someone who is seeking to explore and break free from the expectations of everyone, side quests can give you a one-of-a-kind experience that you’ll carry for the rest of your life. Notably, these side quests for mental wellness have become a modern way to refresh and regain balance.
Rest in Motion, Redefined to Action
For many years, side quests have been linked to the world of gaming. They’re usually known as an optional activity in video games that stray away from the main storyline. Nowadays, this concept is not only related to gaming but also to life. They are flexible tasks that anyone can do anywhere and at any pace they want. Just like in the concept of video games, it is also optional for us, but it does not damage our daily routine to choose to stray away from it for a while. And clearly, finding creative side quests for mental wellness can add joy and purpose to daily living.
A creator and influencer manager from Los Angeles, Lauren Jeffries, has been documenting and posting all of her side quests on TikTok and Instagram. She quoted, “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 added, explaining how side quests are fun activities that cut our normal routine and make our day more fun and fulfilling. Through her documentation, she encourages everyone to try doing side quests—things that are outside of your comfort and safe zone.
Traditionally, our idea of resting is to stay at home and recuperate through sleeping or disconnecting from the world. Yet, through side quests, it allows us to recuperate and be productive on our own terms. Isolating from our homes is still valid, but through changing times, resting may now vary from one another. As a result, more people now engage in side quests for mental wellness to adapt to modern needs.
How To Start Doing Side Quests
Before jumping off from doing these, an individual should assess where they could envision themselves—whether they enjoy doing extreme activities or light activities. Assessing for yourself what you desire and envision doing prevents you from being burned out and pressured to start these activities. Since the purpose of doing side quests is to recuperate and explore, choosing to do it should be from the heart, where you can fully embrace the essence of these activities.
To start off, bear in mind these steps:
- Assess yourself and start with small steps – pick one simple activity that you can envision yourself doing.
- Focus on healing and detach from any pressure – Think of these quests as an experience or reflection rather than a responsibility.
- Let your curiosity flow – Focus on enjoying and observing rather than memorizing its process. Let it flow within you, as mistakes and imperfections may come.
- Take a break – When exploring or learning feels overwhelming, take a break in between to avoid being overstimulated.
- Do it habitually – From these small steps, you can gradually expand your comfort zone and create a space for other quests that are out of your zone.
From starting small and following these steps, jumping from one activity to another becomes easier and smoother, and you find yourself slowly enjoying and being at peace with these weekly activities. Similar to how @angelsidequests, a content creator, creates a TikTok account just for posting and documenting her life while doing side quests. The caption for one of her videos, “I love my side quests so much I want more,” which included an edit of her completing her side quests several times.
Being Independent Without Loneliness
Oftentimes doing these quests may be done by yourself or with your peers. However, being independent doesn’t mean there’s no fun in doing these things. Choosing to have independent moments like these can be a reminder that having our “me time” doesn’t need a social validation around us. It is a reminder that before we seek company from others, we can seek it within ourselves.
Being independent can provide a sense of calm and balance that can help us process thoughts without interception. Whether you’re reading a book alone in a coffee shop, eating out, or shopping alone, it helps an individual build comfort and confidence to navigate the world without choosing any companionship.
Thus, these experiences and quests strengthen our independence. It teaches us that being present with yourself and having this emotional resilience to carry on with our day is a fulfillment that doesn’t need to come from others. Being present with ourselves is also vital for us to carry and transfer this sense of calm to others. In a deeper sense, the peace we have within can be a tool for restoration. Thus, doing side quests alone does not mean escape from others, but rather a restoration and pause from everything.
Recalibrations Rather Than Distractions
Side quests may look simple and normal on the surface. It may look like just doing a daily task or errands on a weekend. But what others don’t see is that it makes our life bearable. It is a breather that builds comfort while being curious of the world beyond our daily routines.
As an adult, it softens the flow of our life from being overwhelmed from work, studies, or emotions. From starting our day, turning on our survivability offers a gentler approach that doesn’t need to have a milestone that needs to be seen. Side quests only need our presence and detachment from our everyday life.
It is also not a distraction but rather a recalibration of how the world demands our constant presence—a reminder to take life slowly, quietly, and softly.
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