I’m a creative person. People have told me that since I was a young girl. Nevertheless, I used to forget about my creative side all of the time. Maybe I forgot about It because of my 8-5 corporate job, where I never get to think outside the box. Before I found a solution, my first thought every morning was dread for the workday ahead. I craved more: more fulfillment, enjoyment, and excitement in my day. Does this monotonous cycle sound familiar?
*Enter the side hustle.
Webster’s Dictionary defines the term side hustle as “work performed for income supplementary to one’s primary job.” In my case, my “income supplementary” was not purely financial, but also psychological. A side hustle is something that makes you happy, allows you to express yourself, or gives you a sense of purpose. For some, their side hustle might be selling locally grown produce at the farmer’s market because they’re passionate about healthy eating or their community. For others, it could be anything from pet-sitting because they love animals, writing to to express themselves, or thrifting because they love finding treasures. For me, it’s baking.
Let me start by saying that I never saw myself as a baker. I’m not the best cook. However, I love to create things, and baking allows me to explore my creativity. I get to mold with my hands, paint with beautiful colors, and decorate, using my very own personal touch. I get to celebrate my friends and family with my sweet treats at birthday parties, baby showers, and more. Plus, having an additional source of income doesn’t hurt either.
I work my regular job during the day and I bake on my days off, in the evenings, or pretty much wherever I can find the time. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but when you’re doing something you love and feel passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work (even when you’re piping frosting at 1 AM). I love seeing the finished products and delivering them to happy customers.
Though taking on a side hustle might mean “working” on your days off, at night, or on your lunch break, it is well worth it if you are lucky enough to find one that makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning. I promise it won’t feel like work, and if it feels like work, maybe it’s time to discover another side hustle. I’m not alone in the side hustle game, either: over seventy million people in the U.S. have a side hustle. That’s about 45% of the country.
What’s your passion? What makes you excited? What’s your side hustle?