By: Aneeq Shakoor

It’s quite common nowadays to see Gen Z always out and about. Whether it’s trying a random café, visiting a bookstore they’ve never been to, attending a pottery class, or simply taking the longer way home, this generation seems to be constantly chasing new random experiences to say the least. But have you ever stopped to think about why it’s becoming so common?  It’s funny to think that just a few years ago, millennials would always gloat about how they “had to walk over mountains and cross rivers just to get to school,” while today, we can get almost anywhere with a taxi or a ride-sharing app. But honestly? I’d rather walk over a mountain and cross a river if it meant every day started with a new unexpected adventure with something to learn outside the classroom. Sometimes it's not about going from point A to point B, but rather about all you learn along the way and the people you learn it with. What is the reason behind your child's sudden desire to travel 30 minutes to visit a café they saw on TikTok? Why do people constantly search for new hiking trails, volunteer at events, or aimlessly travel across cities? Greetings from the side questing universe.

What Is Side Questing?

A side quest is an extra assignment that isn't required to finish the main plot but frequently rewards players with new experiences, abilities, or surprising discoveries. It was first adopted from video game culture. In real life, side questing refers to taking impromptu, stress-free breaks from your regular schedule to investigate something just because it seems intriguing. It could be:

• Trying a new restaurant you’ve never heard of.
• Going to a local market on a Sunday morning.
• Joining a photography walk.
• Taking a train to a nearby town for the day.
• Learning pottery, rock climbing, or dancing just because it looks fun.
• Saying “yes” to an invitation you would normally decline.

There’s no pressure to achieve anything. The goal isn’t productivity—it’s curiosity.

The Benefits of Side Questing

Routines can easily become monotonous in the fast-paced world of today. Work, school, homework, the gym, sleep, and so on. Routines give life structure, but they may also make it seem predictable. That loop is broken by side questing.

1. It Helps Prevent Burnout

Burnout isn’t just something adults experience at work. Students and young people experience it too. Constant academic pressure, deadlines, and the expectation to always be productive can become mentally exhausting. Research from the World Health Organization recognizes burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic stress that has not been successfully managed. While the term is often associated with workplaces, many psychologists note that the same symptoms, mental exhaustion, reduced motivation, and emotional fatigue, appear in students as well. A spontaneous afternoon spent exploring somewhere new can provide a mental reset that endless scrolling on social media often doesn’t.

2. It Boosts Creativity

Our brains thrive on novelty. When we experience new environments, conversations, and activities, we’re forced to think differently. Studies have shown that exposing yourself to unfamiliar experiences improves cognitive flexibility, the brain’s ability to adapt, solve problems, and generate creative ideas. That’s one reason why many people get their best ideas while travelling, walking, or doing something completely unrelated to work. Sometimes your next big idea starts with getting lost.

3. It Improves Mental Well-being

Side questing often encourages people to spend time outdoors, be physically active, and interact with others. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 in 8 people worldwide live with a mental health condition, making simple habits that support emotional well-being increasingly important. Spending time in nature has also been linked to lower stress levels, improved mood, and better concentration. Even something as simple as taking a different route home or visiting a nearby park can have a surprisingly positive effect.

4. It Creates Genuine Memories

Think about the moments you remember most vividly. They’re rarely the days where everything went exactly according to plan. Instead, they’re the random road trips, getting caught in the rain, discovering a hidden café, laughing because Google Maps sent you the wrong way, or meeting someone unexpectedly. Those little “detours” often become the stories you tell years later.

But Isn’t It Just Wasting Time?

This is probably the question many parents ask. From the outside, side questing can look unproductive. Why spend hours wandering around when you could stay home studying or working? The answer is balance. Gen Z isn’t rejecting responsibility, they’re rejecting the idea that every moment of life needs to be optimized for productivity. For years, we’ve been told to turn every hobby into a business, every free hour into self-improvement, and every passion into a side hustle. Side questing pushes back against that mindset. It reminds us that not everything needs to have a measurable outcome. Sometimes, experiences are valuable simply because they make us feel alive. Ironically, these experiences often make people more productive afterwards by helping them return with a refreshed mind.

Why Is Gen Z Embracing It?

Gen Z grew up during unprecedented times. Many experienced lockdowns during their teenage years, saw much of life happen through screens, and entered adulthood during economic uncertainty.  It’s perhaps no surprise that this generation values experiences over routines. Recent surveys consistently show that younger generations prioritize travel, meaningful experiences, and personal well-being over simply accumulating material possessions. Having spent years online, many are now actively looking for reasons to be offline. A “side quest” isn’t really about the destination. It’s about reclaiming curiosity.

Maybe side questing isn’t really a trend at all. Maybe it’s simply a reminder that life doesn’t always have to follow a perfectly planned route. You don’t need to book an expensive holiday or make dramatic life changes. Sometimes the best adventures begin by saying “yes” to something small: taking the scenic route home, trying that tiny café you’ve walked past a hundred times, attending a community event, or exploring a place you’ve never noticed before. Life isn’t only about completing the main mission. Sometimes the side quests become the best part of the story.