Here’s how to stop letting “side quests” steal your energy
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As a solopreneur, staying focused can feel like a full-time job. One client recently described a common challenge in the most relatable way—side quests.
Side quests are those interesting, engaging tasks that feel productive but don’t align with your big-picture goals. You enjoy them, but they often leave you feeling disappointed because the important work—the thing you say you want—is left undone.
Let’s talk about why this happens and what you can do to stop letting side quests hijack your progress.
What Is a Side Quest?
A side quest might look like redesigning your website when you said your focus was launching a course. Or researching a new productivity tool when you meant to finish writing your book.
They’re not bad tasks—but they’re not the main path. Over time, they chip away at your energy, time, and momentum.
The result? A cycle where you stay busy, but not fulfilled. Productive, but not progressing.
Start Here: Check Your Goal
Before blaming yourself for being “distracted,” ask: Is the goal I’ve set really mine?
You might find that you’ve been working toward someone else’s version of success. Or, maybe your goal is still right—but it’s lost its emotional spark. That’s when it becomes easy to chase the dopamine hits of short-term wins instead.
Getting clear on what you want—your long-term, soul-aligned vision—is step one. If you need help doing this, reach out. One focused session might be all it takes to get moving in the right direction.
The Role of Dopamine and Habit Loops
Neurodiverse solopreneurs especially crave dopamine—those feel-good hits from small accomplishments. That’s part of what makes side quests so appealing. You check something off and feel a rush. Meanwhile, the big work waits… and waits.
Another factor? Habit. Objects in motion stay in motion. If you’ve gotten into the habit of starting your day with “busy work,” it’s hard to shift into deep focus.
The good news: awareness is the first step toward change.
Try the Diving Board Technique
Task initiation is often the hardest part. Think of it like jumping into a cold pool. Once you’re in, it’s fine—but the lead-up feels brutal.
The “diving board technique” helps you start without pressure. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and just gather your materials. No commitment to do the work yet—just get ready.
It sounds simple, but this small shift helps your brain ease into action. You’ll often find yourself “accidentally” starting once the materials are in front of you.
Want Support? Join the Overachievers Club
If this resonates, you’ll love our next Overachievers Club on April 14 at 12 PM ET. We’ll be diving deeper into this topic—how to break the side quest cycle and move forward with clarity and confidence.
It’s an hour of connection, coaching, and strategies to help you actually start the things that matter.
Bring a friend, bring your questions, and let’s build momentum together.
David had a lot of side quests. He loved being helpful! This compromised the work he could do, and weighed him down….listen here.