Sometimes, it’s just nice to have a little bit of extra cash on hand. While your daily 9 to 5 covers most of your needs, it can be nice to have a little money to splurge on a treat or save for a bigger expense down the line. This is why you often see people doing side hustles in addition to their main job.
The beauty of the internet allows many people to capitalize on their skills by offering them to others who might need them. Many people are talented in art skills like writing, painting, and drawing, and these individuals can use their art hobbies to offer commissions that can earn them money while doing what they love.
While it is great to earn money from some of your hobbies, you should definitely think twice if you’re considering turning a hobby into something that makes you money. Sometimes, it’s better to let a hobby be a hobby, and here are a few reasons why:
You Follow Your Own Ideas
If you are using your art skills for a commission service, then it is natural that you will be following what your client wants for their work. Your client will give you a clear vision of what they want, and it is your job to bring that commission to life.
Sometimes, it is fun to get an idea from others and explore your hobby from that angle. However, if you find yourself wanting to spend time making the art that you want to make, it might not be the best idea to open commissions for now.
You Are Not Stressed By Deadlines
If you’re thinking of using your hobby to open commissions, you will have clients who expect the work to be done by a certain date. You’ll be offering a service that requires a specific product by a certain time, which might not be the most pleasurable experience.
Hobbies are fun and should allow you to go at your own pace, accomplishing things when you want to. Some people enjoy the pressure of finishing something by a deadline, but there’s no harm in taking a slower pace and finishing things when you’re ready.
You Don’t Need Be Good At It
If you’re offering commissions to create a product, there is an expectation that you should have a decent level of competence to justify the compensation. This may lead to feelings of always needing to improve your skills, which can be beneficial but may also make you feel insecure and anxious about your abilities.
You don’t need to be good at something to enjoy it as a hobby, but there’s a different type of pressure when doing your art for someone else, which could diminish the fun. You don’t need to be an award-winning expert with your hobbies, so try not to add pressure and focus on simply enjoying them.
You Don’t Always Need To Be Productive
There are 24 hours in a day, and some people use their time to accomplish amazing things. This can create pressure to use more of your time productively. However, not everyone has the same circumstances, and you are not a robot whose only function is to work.
You are a person who can take a break and relax when things get difficult. In such times, it’s a great idea to engage in a hobby that you do just for fun. There’s no point in trying to be productive all the time if you’re not in the right mental space, so just enjoy it.
You Can Choose Your Own Time
If you keep your hobby as it is, only you get to decide how you spend your time with it. You won’t be burdened by external decisions about how to manage your time and effort with your hobby. While you can still enjoy your hobby while making commissions, without the need to earn money from it, you can decide when to start or stop.
A hobby is meant to help you enjoy life, not make it more stressful. While it’s not bad to want a little extra cash, consider what the hobby gives you beyond monetary reasons. A hobby should allow you to decompress and enjoy life to the fullest, so think about whether changing your dynamic with your hobby is worth it.
