There are some regular activities that I enjoy doing almost all the time that help me reduce stress and anxiety. These hobbies have assisted me in learning new skills, leading to improvement in other areas of my life.
Hobbies are fun, yet they can help one make extra cash. Hobbies like event planning, web 3 gaming, crafting, drawing, painting, etc. can generate a decent income for individuals. I have different hobbies that I enjoy doing with ease. Out of them, cooking and writing are the two hobbies I can do for a long time and make money from.
Edited using canva
Cooking is one thing I don't see as a chore but as a hobby. A lot of people assume cooking is tedious work. Perhaps it's because of the way I was trained by grandma that I fell in love with cooking and find pleasure in doing it any time. I never knew I could make money from this hobby of mine until I came to Lagos, Nigeria. This is a state where many people are usually busy with work and stay longer than expected on the road due to traffic congestion. A lot of working-class women who have families to care for do not have time to cook all the time, so many resorted to ordering soups and stews online while they kept them preserved in their freezer. This relieves them and therefore gives them extra time to focus on their job.
It was just like a chitchat with friends at an end-of-year party last year. We discussed our native delicacies, and I told them how I am good at it and find pleasure doing it. One of my friends pleaded that I teach her in her home. I was able to cook (okpa) Bambara nut, which was so tasty for her and the family. This was a kind of food my grandmother made as a business. I cook it with ease; my own mother has confessed several times that I am better than her at that kind of food.
Generally, I enjoy cooking while trying to be creative in discovering new recipes. Cooking is lucrative for anyone who can do it. I am not a professional at this, but if I could turn this hobby into a side hustle, I am sure I would make decent money from it. And it will start by creating a business name, a brand, and a marketing strategy. *I once got an order to prepare ogbono soup 馃嵅 for a bachelor through a friend's recommendation. I made some cool cash from it then but didn't consider turning this hobby into a business;,however, it can be a side hustle.
My first ever online soup order which was delivered to a client.
On the other hand, writing is a hobby I developed when I found myself in the hive ecosystem. Initially, I found it tedious work, but with consistent effort into writing, I keep improving, learning how to write better by becoming a good reader. It baffles me that what I dreaded doing before became my hobby at last. I can no longer go a day without writing; I'm just getting addicted to this hobby.
My writing tools
I'm not yet a professional writer, nor have I published a book yet, but it's amazing how I can put down my thoughts here, get readers to learn a thing or more from it, and earn some cash through this space. I am still nursing the idea of writing on Amazon but haven't reached a conclusion yet.
There are still some people out there who do not know that some of their hobbies can actually fetch them a penny. I was intrigued to help someone monetize her hobby sometimes last year. I usually see this lady play with a yarn 馃Ф, making nice designs out of it for fun. I took my time after watching her do this for a while and the show her a couple of things she could produce with her skill. Today, she got a contract in a school to always supply cardigans for students every new session.
This type of crocheted cardigan made from yarn 馃Ф.
So, here you have it, my two paying hobbies. Something that can easily be done for a long time.
This is my entry to the #hivelearners community contest on the topic titled The Paying Hobby.