How to Find a Creative Hobby and Turn it into a Side Hustle

Having a creative hobby is a great way to be a happier person overall. Creativity fights depression, and is a great confidence booster. You may have been told at some point in your life that you aren’t creative. This is far from the truth. I believe that everyone is creative. If you don’t think you are, you just haven’t found the right outlet yet.

So how do you find the right creative outlet? The only way is to try many different things to see what you like and don’t like. Before I got into illustration, I tried writing, photography, dancing (in my early days), rock collecting, ceramics, even knitting. You name it, I tried it! While all those activities were fun, I didn’t find my niche until I got into illustration.

The best way to try different things is to make a list of what you’ve tried in the past and what you’d like to try in the future. Note which activities sound the most fun, and go from there. The best way to quickly try something is to take a class. There’s never been a time where this has been easier, thanks to sites like Youtube and Skillshare.

You’ve found your creative outlet when you enjoy the process of making something more than you enjoy seeing the final product. You must enjoy the process. This is crucial.

Once you’ve found your creative niche, set aside time every week to get better at it. Take classes, watch videos, practice practice practice. Focus on creating as much work as possible, and don’t focus on the end result. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to make money at this point, until you are completely comfortable and confident in your process. I’m talking you are so comfortable, you can do it with your eyes closed.

Once you get to this point, you can think about creating a side hustle around your hobby. This route isn’t for everyone. Sometimes putting pressure on yourself to make income from your creative hobby can take all the joy out of it. My sweet spot with illustration has been to expect a little income from it, but not to treat it as my primary source of income. If it became my primary source of income in the future, great, but I’m not striving for that. I’m very protective of my illustration hobby. I could be making good money by illustrating custom portraits, but I don’t really enjoy this. When someone tells me exactly what to paint, it takes all the joy and creativity out of it for me. I’m very choosy about what I take on when it comes to illustration, because I must enjoy the work and have creative freedom.

Suppose you’ve decided a side hustle is for you. To make money from a side hustle, you have two options - you can sell products, or you can sell a service. Which one you choose will depend on your current work schedule.

If you have extra time in your schedule, I recommend going the service route. It’s easier to get off the ground, because you don’t need to worry about things like supplies and shipping. The best thing you can do to get a service-based business off the ground is to start telling EVERYONE you know about your side hustle. And tell everyone you know to tell everyone they know. It may take some time for work to come in, but eventually word will spread.

If your time is really limited, I believe the product route is the best way to go. Products are a bit harder to get off the ground, but they are easier to work on in your own time. I suggest selling your products on a platform that already exists - like Etsy, Society 6, Minted, etc. The beauty of these sites is that they will bring your shop traffic, without you having to do much work.

The most important thing to remember about a creative side hustle is that it doesn’t just happen overnight. Patience is key. If your side hustle starts to stress you out, you’ve lost what it’s all about. This should be fun. It shouldn’t be another stressor in your life. If it is becoming stressful, remember why you started the hobby in the first place - to be a happier person.