Hi friends,
Who else is getting a bit overwhelmed by all the new year energy already?
I’ve been hovering between hitting the ground running and chasing my big and crazy dreams while also trying not to lose steam after January is over.
I’ve gone through the process of setting the intentions and systems for my year, but these are mostly for bigger life goals.
One of the words I’ve chosen for myself this year is authentic.
There are 3 reasons why I chose this word:
I tend to shy away from being vulnerable
I’m actively working to get more in touch with who I am and showcase that to others consistently and free of worry.
I sometimes can’t tell whether this is the authentic me or not
After doing more things alone last year, I think I’m learning a lot more about who I really am and distinguishing what I really want to do vs what I think I should do (based on other people’s or society’s opinions). I believe more exploring is what I need to do to figure it out.
Authentic me is the most fulfilled version of me
I truly believe that being authentic is the ideal way for me to live a more fulfilling life.
To become a more authentic version of myself, I feel that one of the best ways to explore is through having side quests.
If main quests are the big goals eg: run a marathon, get promoted, move out, find a new job, get married, then the side quests are the lighter and more passion driven things you would like to do this year.
They are fun, enjoyable, character building (if you must) activities that are not tied to a huge milestone. They are short explorations, side roads that go off the main path.
They might take you to places you could not even begin to imagine for yourself. And help you figure out that maybe there are many more possible realities or lifestyles that you enjoy.
You may find it completely useless, a slow unnecessary addition to your life and perhaps have no ‘monetary’ value at the start. The best ones usually do not.
Success isn’t guaranteed with quests. Because that is not even the goal. It is probably better to get things wrong than to do this quests ‘right’.
You are discovering. You are learning. You can give yourself permission to wander off the default path and get a little lost.
You will also hopefully have a lot of fun - if you truly immerse in them.
Here are some ideas that I’ve included in my list:
2025 side quest ideas
Try new hobby
Restart old hobby
Take a course/lessons
Move somewhere new
Travel with friends, family, or partner
Start a personal project
New restaurants/cuisines/recipes
New books/movies/tv shows
Meet new people/talk to strangers
Solo/romantic/group dates
DIY something
Even if you don’t tick off all the side quests or any at all, you are primed to take action and explore more just by making this list. I hope you find as much joy in your side quests as you do chasing your main goals.
Viv’s collection
📕 Content that resonated with me
In For 2025: Side Quests - Bustle
cost of confidence - Ash
How I give high quality feedback quickly - Wes Kao
In case you missed it: In my last post, I shared some lessons I learned in 2024 and what I’m bringing into the new year.
A question for you!
What’s a side quest you would try this year?
Always open to learning more and hearing from you 😊
Thanks for reading!
Stay inspired,
Viv