31 Side Quests: the January challenge kit

Three ways to play

On your own, with friends, or with your team.

on your own

Solo

One quest a day, and a 31-day tracker to pin up and tick off.

with your friends

Group Chat

A shared Squad Board of group quests, to play whenever you meet up.

with your team

Team

A hybrid-friendly guide, a kick-off message and weekly check-ins. No leaderboards.

Four weeks, 31 quests

Small on purpose. Memorable anyway.

Skip, swap or double up whenever life gets in the way. There are no streaks to lose.

Days 1–8
Reset
Clear some space, make a plan for your evenings, invent a new drink.
Days 9–16
Explore
New streets, free culture, the best view in town. Most cost nothing.
Days 17–24
Connect
Walk and talk, cook for someone, a proper letter, a game night.
Days 25–31
Level up
Learn a trick, make something, and keep the habits you liked.

A peek inside

A few of the quests.

Day 2
Sound Walk: 20 minutes, no headphones. Note five things you’ve never noticed.
Day 10
Free Culture: visit a free museum, gallery or market. Find one thing you’d take home.
Day 13
Charity Shop Find: something under £5 that looks like it has a story.
Day 18
Cooking for Two: cook a meal for someone else, any budget, any skill.
Day 6
Name Your Drink: invent a new evening drink, and give it a name.
Day 21
Proper Post: write a letter or card to someone, and actually post it.
Day 26
One Small Brave Thing: ask the question, share the idea, say hello first.
Day 28
Screen Sunset: phone away an hour before bed, something analogue instead.

What you get

Everything for the month, in 12 pages.

The 31-day tracker
One circle per quest, plus four bonus squares of your own. Pin it where you’ll see it.

The Squad Board for friend groups — The Squad Board
Sixteen group quests for friends, with points for lines, and two squares to invent.

The finisher certificate — Finisher certificate
Sign it on day 31, pin it up, and pick your three favourites to repeat in February.

The good vibes rules

No pressure. No shame. No streaks.

1

Skip, swap or double up

Missed a day? Nothing breaks. Do it later, or swap in one you fancy more.

2

Not about alcohol

You don’t need to give anything up. Dry, damp or neither, it all counts.

3

Safe and public

No risky quests. Public places, routes you trust, and photographs of objects, not strangers.

4

Team-friendly

Opt-in only, nothing to disclose, and no individual leaderboards.

31 Side Quests is for fun and ideas. It isn’t medical advice or a treatment. If you’re worried about your drinking or someone else’s, please talk to your GP or a local support service. For adults aged 18 and over.

What people say

Loved in real life.

Questions

Good to know.

What do I get?

A 12-page printable PDF: 31 quests across four weeks, a 31-day tracker, the Squad Board for friends, a team guide with weekly check-ins, and a finisher certificate.

Do I have to be doing Dry January?

No. The kit isn’t about alcohol, and you don’t have to give anything up. If you’re doing a dry or damp January, it gives you things to do with your evenings. If not, it’s a month of small adventures.

How much does it cost to do the quests?

Most are free. A few need a few pounds, such as a hot drink or a charity shop find, and none costs more than £10. Most people will spend about £20 over the month.

Can I start on any date?

Yes. It’s designed for January, but the quests work in any 31-day stretch.

Can I use it with my team?

Yes. The Team guide has a kick-off message, a weekly rhythm and check-in questions, and it’s built for hybrid teams. It’s opt-in and doesn’t ask anyone to share anything personal.