Side quests 2025

Happy New Year! As someone who generally wants to do all of the things, all of the time, a new year can become a little cumbersome. Enter: side quests.

These are the ultimate solution—a way for me to avoid over-committing and burn out, while also embracing the exciting and fresh energy of a new year.

The gist: created by my friend Amanda, side quests offer a low-pressure approach to ideas and adventures to try to incorporate over the next year, in lieu of rigid resolutions and lofty promises.

If I make some of them happen, great. If not, no worries. To me, they’re secondary plot lines, characterization, backstory details—all coming together to build a well-crafted story of a year.

This is my third time side quest’n, and I envision a 2025 packed with connection, joy, creativity, and plenty of sunshine.

Here they are: my casual, low-stakes, fun, low-pressure side quests 2025.

2025 Side Quests

1. Lean into curiosity
2. Read (at least) 25 books
3. Prioritize skincare
4. Thrift more than purchase new (clothes especially) 
5. Play pickleball as often as possible
6. Aim for 100 barre classes
7. Write another chunk of my novel
8. Go on a winter trip
9. (Actually) run a 5k
10. Dive into UGC 
11. Increase my daily steps 
12. Ride my bike
13. Rollerblade (lol)
14. Get a *sick* tattoo
15. Collaborate with a local company 
16. Re-do our guest bedroom 
17. Travel somewhere new
18. Use our state parks pass
19. Go to Chicago casually
20. Publish my existing short story
21. Nail down a signature dish + cocktail 
22. FaceTime my parents more
23. Go dancing
24. Blog consistently
25. Take 3 weekend trips 

So, there you have it: 25 low-pressure, no-big-deal ideas to live a life that’s simply true to me.

Review of my 2024 side quests

24 side quests for 2024

1. Read (at least 24!!) books ✅
2. Play pickleball as often as possible ✅
3. Finish our loft space, then use it
4. Publish my existing short story with a literary journal or magazine
5. Aim for 100 barre classes!!
6. Put a dent in my novel ✅
7. Collaborate with at least 3 Wisconsin brands ✅
8. Mail birthday cards
9. Really make an effort to use/wear the clothes I own thoughtfully ✅
10. Take a girl’s trip with my mom
11. Write a pickleball e-book
12. Take my vitamins ✅
13. Run a 5k ✅
14. Add a few more tattoos to the collection ✅
15. Volunteer to make dinner more + master a dish to impress for company ✅
16. Learn a new skill for my business ✅
17. Take a lengthy vacation
18. Get more fresh air ✅
19. Level up my bedtime routine (aka, go to sleep before midnight and keep flossing!) ✅
20. Ride my bike!!
21. Fluff up the joint savings account
22. Finally finally finally take up roller skating (lol)
23. Plan more non-drinking activities with friends ✅
24. Make a conscious effort to move my body once a day

Onward

As you can see, there were some side quests accomplished, many not. There were quite a few that I realized maybe didn’t serve me, after all. That flexibility—the ability to evolve and change my mind and be a fluid human—is exactly what I love most about this idea.

So??? Fill me in! What are your side quests for 2025?

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