The Real-Life Quest Board: 50 Side Quests to Level Up Your Life​

Ready to step into your own adventure?

This isn’t just another to-do list. It’s a quest board designed to help you build character, uncover hidden talents, and embrace the wonder of everyday life. Rooted in positive psychology and inspired by character strengths, these 50 real-world side quests are here to help you gain real XP in courage, curiosity, kindness, and more.

Choose one quest each day or roll a d50 and let fate decide. Each one is designed to push you a little outside your comfort zone, spark self-growth, or bring some magic into the mundane.

Pro tip: Keep a journal of your quests. The science is clear—writing by hand boosts memory, deepens processing, and helps you absorb insights on a deeper level.

Your Quest Board: 50 Real-Life Side Quests

1. Call a loved one and tell them how thankful you are for them
2. Write a letter of encouragement to yourself 5 years in the past
3. Dance for 5 minutes with no audience
4. Go for a walk on a route you’ve never taken before
5. List 10 things you appreciate about yourself
6. Drink 8 glasses of water today (potions of hydration!)
7. Try a new art medium just for fun
8. Make a meal from a country you want to visit
9. Text someone you haven’t talked to in a while
10. Make a list of 30 things you love
11. Read for as long as you would normally scroll social media
12. Watch a documentary that challenges your worldview
13. Style your hair in a completely new or unusual way
14. Limit your screen time for the next 3 days
15. Try a new dietary habit for one week
16. Find and follow a new educational podcast
17. Look up local birds and go bird watching
18. Take yourself on a solo date
19. Donate non-perishables to a local food bank
20. Meditate for 10 minutes daily this week
21. Replace “I can’t” with “I can’t yet” every time you catch yourself
22. For 48 hours, avoid giving advice—ask questions instead
23. Do a 72-hour detox from social media
24. Play like a kid for 20 minutes (coloring, hopscotch, etc.)
25. Say NO to everything for 24 hours and journal about the experience
26. Volunteer for a cause you believe in
27. Compliment a stranger
28. Take a cold shower and reflect on discomfort
29. Spend an hour learning about a different culture
30. Write down 3 strengths you admire in others and how to cultivate them in yourself
31. Do a random act of kindness in secret
32. Build something with your hands (Lego, furniture, crafts)
33. Listen deeply without interrupting during your next conversation
34. Write a 6-word memoir about your current season of life
35. Go outside and sit silently for 15 minutes
36. Create a vision board
37. Forgive someone (even if just internally)
38. Watch the sunrise or sunset with full attention
39. Do something that scares you a little
40. Write a list of things you’d do if you weren’t afraid
41. Cook a dish without using a recipe
42. Go a full day without complaining
43. Organize one space in your home you’ve been avoiding
44. Revisit an old hobby or passion
45. Start a gratitude jar
46. Ask someone to tell you a story about their childhood
47. Spend one hour without multitasking
48. Read a poem aloud
49. Write a thank-you note to a mentor or teacher
50. Reflect: What did this challenge reveal about your character?

Every quest you take brings you closer to who you’re meant to be. These side missions aren’t just fun—they’re fuel for your personal transformation. So grab your metaphorical sword (or actual journal), and let the journey begin!