The art of the side quest
Image Courtesy: Nathaniel Cooper
My recent weekdays have consisted of waking up late, going to work, going to school, making dinner and going to bed. Occasionally, I slip in a workout or see a friend. I have gaps in between errands that go towards “recharging” (i.e., scrolling through my phone, binging TV shows I’ve already seen, etc.), which just turns into procrastinating starting my day back up again. So, on days when I’m feeling I should maybe try a bit harder to seize life for what it’s worth, I fill these gaps with what many would call “side quests.”
Side quests, defined in my own terms, are the opportunities you decide to pave for yourself, even when they may be completely deterring you from whatever your set goals are for that day. Rather than considering this procrastinating, I believe it is more of a life enhancer. Who sounds more interesting: Person A, who went home after work to scroll through Instagram reels for two hours, or Person B, who decided to go to a comedy club on their own for the sake of spontaneity? In reality, side quests are not only a chance to keep yourself consistently entertained, but also a chance to sound really interesting when someone asks the question, “So what do you do for fun?”
As for my own personal endeavors, I have quite a few suggestions for side quests that you could easily get into on your lunch break.
Learn American Sign Language (ASL)
This is mutually useful as it is interesting. Not only are you making yourself more accessible for deaf/nonverbal people to have conversations with you, but it’s a fun skill to learn! I recommend Bill Vicars’s YouTube videos, as he is a deaf ASL instructor, and it is best to learn this language from someone who actually utilizes it regularly, so you can pick up on cultural nuances and proper facial expressions.
Become an ordained minister
Yes, I am an ordained minister. No, I have never wed any couple nor do I plan to in the near future. However, I do really enjoy the shock people react with when sharing this piece of information about myself. The process takes about five minutes and is available to anyone over 18 years of age.
Write a blog
My best suggestion is using the website Substack in order to create your blog if you’d like to share it with others, or even submitting a guest column to your university paper. Release your inner Carrie Bradshaw. Write about whatever you’d like. Write about dogs. Maybe coffee. Your choice.
Volunteer at a humane society
Not only are you fighting against animal cruelty, but you’re also getting a chance to play with dogs, cats, etc. It’s a win-win situation.
Attend a concert of a band you don’t know
Bonus points if you look to see whatever it is that’s playing that night and attend on a whim. Go alone or with a friend! Take a chance to see if a random genre like bluegrass or screamo is really worth the hype.
Take a class
The options are genuinely endless. Hot yoga. Pottery. Salsa dancing. Look at websites from local libraries, magazines or news publications. I can assure you you’ll find one that piques your interest. Take it once, and then you never have to again—unless you enjoyed your introduction!
Open mic night
Spectate… or get on stage. I have never been more entertained than watching people get in front of an audience to do whatever they want. This is the perfect event to attend alone and not feel lonely. Comedy, karaoke, slam poetry—all of it is made even more fun if you cheer as loud as possible for every performer that hits the stage.
The beauty of side questing is that it can be perfectly curated to fit your lifestyle. Go to the movies in the middle of the day, maybe veer off your morning commute to try a new coffee shop that’s out of the way. Even do something as simple as going on a walk to the neighborhood grocery store instead of driving. Do anything differently. A side quest may be just the thing that leads to finding a new zest for life.
Some sources for your side quests:
Bill Vicars ASL: https://www.youtube.com/@sign-language
Become an Ordained Minister: https://theamm.org/ordination-application
Substack: https://substack.com/
Athens, Georgia Event Calendar: https://flagpole.com/events/
Strike Out,
Nathaniel Cooper
Editor: Sydney Annis
Athens