Side Quest or Soul Snack?
When was the last time you did something creative just for fun?
Are Side Quests Bad?
There has been a lot of online buzz about the humorous concept of “side quests,” or random things that you do to distract yourself from the main things that you should be doing. Side quests are seen as being less-than-productive in the name of some noble distraction, but if you think about the video game reference, sometimes those side quests can teach you something, or give you a “magical item” or a boost of energy that can fuel your main quest.
Childlike Creative Joy
If you look at a kid coloring, you probably don’t think “What are you doing kid, that’s so unproductive and meaningless!” Maybe instead of being a random “side quest,” that creative project is the “soul snack” that you need to give you the energy boost and fulfillment to make it to the next bigger creative thing that you want to do.
Candle Making
I decided that I wanted to make my own candles recently. It was a completely frivolous project that I took on just for the heck of it. And do you know what? It was fun. FUN! You have permission to do things just for fun.
Not everything you decide to do has to be your ultimate passion. You can decide that you are curious about something new, and then give it a go. And hey, now if we ever do reach a zombie apocalypse and everything digital becomes irrelevant, at least now I can become a candlemaker. (Also known as a “chandler,” which I just found out thanks to Google.)
What is Your Favorite Side Quest?
What was the last random creative thing that you did just for fun? Start to think and get curious about that thing that sparked that moment of delight. Maybe, like me, you recently had a moment of 90’s nostalgia that made you rediscover your love for journaling with sparkly gel pens. Or you took on a home project, planned a fun trip, or did something musical. Learn to recognize and validate those joyful moments of creativity in your life.
Avoid Burnout with Creativity
Your soul needs to make things. Don’t ignore that part of yourself for too long, or you’ll start feeling burned out. A lot of times we think of burning out as being “too busy,” when in reality, it most often comes from the lack of using your creative gifts. It’s like you’re the character Cyclops from X-men, and all of that light and energy is trapped inside of you, and the more you keep it inside of you, the more it burns away at your soul.
On the flipside, you can learn to channel that energy into creative work that uplifts and inspires others, and becomes a beacon or a lighthouse to help guide them on their journey.
If you are looking for a little more motivation and guidance on your creative journey, check out and follow my Spotify playlists! https://open.spotify.com/user/315e7tkbwhtxlqumytr3uybccktm
P.S. Here are the affiliate links for the candle making kit and gel pens that I bought on Amazon, in case you decide to try them out: Candle Making Kit: https://amzn.to/4ljXhy9 (You could also use this to refill your empty candle vessels to be more sustainable) Wax Melting Pot: https://amzn.to/3H0tT1V Gel Pens: https://amzn.to/4ljXhy9
