How 2 Sidequest

Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy! - Ms. Frizzle

With the abundance of free time and the rather optional nature of maintaining a GPA as a high school senior, I have taken to doing completely and utterly random shit. I have been doing everything but schoolwork (much to the dismay of my teachers).

sidequest [noun]: a part of a computer game that has its own aim and story but is not part of the main game - cambridge dictionary

I’ve been spending that time on exploring and generally doing cool things. From traveling out to hackathons and sneaking around UCLA’s campus at 2am to hiking up one of New Jersey’s tallest mountains in an afternoon, it’s been an incredible past few months and I have no intention on stopping (especially since the summer break is rolling around).

Here are some of the tenets I follow for fun sidequests every day, any day.

Overcommit! Say YES to EVERYTHING!

The greatest sidequests and opportunities come from just saying yes. You must carry a mindset that you will succeed regardless of what happens. You must believe you are capable of learning and doing anything in any span of time. Yes, this is delusion and this is what you need to enjoy every minute of a sidequest.

Do not plan ahead

Be impulsive as possible. Embark on your adventure with a vague idea of what you might accomplish, and fill in the details as you go. Overplanning and overthinking will just hold you up.

Get a healthy sleep schedule

This section is dedicated to one very special person that I really wish got more sleep…

Sidequests are inherently unexpected, high-energy and fun-packed adventures that you can only truly enjoy with enough energy and whimsy. Back in junior year I sacrificed a lot of sleep (for many reasons) that resulted in burnout and a lack of creativity. Along with the other health benefits that come with getting enough sleep, it is crucial to a fulfilling day of sidequests.