Living with chronic pain and/or chronic fatigue will restrict the sort of job you can do. For many of us it makes working outside the home impossible. Having very limited energy and constantly varying symptoms (which usually get worse when we are physically/emotionally tired) means that it is very difficult to retain a job or even run a business that involves contact with clients/customers.
Earning passive income could be your solution. How to create passive income online is an even better solution.
‘Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.’
What is Passive Income?
Passive income is a source of revenue that continues after the initial work is complete. You invest your time, skills and experience, and the goal is to achieve a steady flow of income.
It certainly isn’t easy – or immediate. It requires a lot of your precious time. However, it can be hugely rewarding – financially and emotionally.
Why you need passive income
The main advantage of passive income is that it is very flexible. When your energy levels and symptoms allow, you can put in the hours and see your bank balance grow. If you need to turn off the computer and rest, there won’t be any clients trying to contact you or customers needing a delivery. It is the only way to earn an income whilst still allowing pacing.
There are lots of opportunities to work from home, but many still require you to work specific hours and keep to deadlines. For instance, I used to do Tarot readings for clients via email/Zoom. It became impossible to work with appointments, and I hated having to rearrange if my Fibromyalgia had flared.
Creating passive income online means that you can work from anywhere with an internet connection. Perhaps you have to spend time in hospital regularly or want to go away to a holiday home. Checking on emails and drafting a blog post kept me sane whilst waiting for test results at a clinic recently.
Passive income ideas
- Self Publishing (whether zero or low content books on Amazon KDP, higher content E-Books, Childrens Books or even a novel).
- Skillshare
- Udemy
- Print on Demand
- Selling stock photos
- Designing digital products, ie for Creative Fabrica
- Affiliate marketing
- Printables for Etsy or your own site
- Canva templates
What I am doing
Currently I am concentrating on this blog, and the affiliate marketing that goes with it, plus Amazon KDP.
I intend to publish a children’s book this year, convert some of my books into digital products/printables and do more Print On Demand.
After reading through the above sentence again, after a gap of a few days, I realised that I am not able to achieve it all. A children’s book may happen – or not. I might do some digital products/printables – or not. More Print On Demand has already happened (it is relatively simple to add images from my book covers to RedBubble), so I can cross that one off as done!
I need to balance my time carefully, so not putting any pressure on myself. I am very happy with what I have achieved already.
I counted up how many books I have got published on Amazon KDP – and it is 38 now, which is amazing. I am proud of the books I have created, and my next challenge is learning all about creating puzzle/activity books. Do you love to learn new skills/tech?
(I have been successful with Matched Betting in the past, but as I progressed it was taking up more time and I wanted to concentrate on creative opportunties/blogging. I definitely recommend that as a non-passive way to make money online, as long as you do not have any problems with gambling. Click on this affiliate link to find out more.)
What can you do today?
Think about what really attracts you. There may be an obvious choice, ie selling stock photos if you are a keen photographer.
Go and do some research. Watch YouTube videos, read blogs, speak to people who are already making passive income online (email me if you have any questions ali@balancinglifewithchronicpain.com).
Get on Pinterest for more information and inspiration.
Take a look at classes on Skillshare and Udemy.
Comment below with what you are intending to do in the following week. (I am continuing with the training on Wealthy Affiliates and getting more books published on Amazon KDP.)
I keep choosing blog subjects that need more than one blog post, and I will return to this in the coming months, especially some of my recommendations for YouTube channels.
Until next time.