Making The Most Of Your Free Time: From Earning To Entertainment
We all have a little bit of spare time at some point during the day. You might have a couple of hours before or after work or over your lunch break. What you do with your free time is up to you, but there are ways to use these precious minutes productively or to rest and recharge.
Read on to discover how to make the most of your free time, like earning extra cash or unwinding before bed with some online entertainment.
1. Take Surveys For Money
There are several online platforms where you can sign up and start taking surveys in exchange for money. Although the earnings per survey are meager, these surveys only take a couple of minutes so you can do quite a few.
It is easy to start and free to sign up for (check out Survey Junkie or Swagbucks), but just be aware that not all surveys may apply to you based on your demographics.
2. Write And Publish An E-Book
If you’re good with words then writing and self-publishing an e-book is a good use of your free time. Whether you have a series of poems or a story in your heart, publishing and selling your books through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing is free and easy. Once your book sells, you can earn up to 70% of the sales price.
Writing a book is not the easiest thing to do, but if you carve away at it whenever you have spare time, you will be able to reap the monetary benefits.
3. Take a Chance Online
Online casinos blend entertainment and earnings into a single accessible experience. There are plenty of online casinos available where users can earn real money, like Wild Casino, Betwhale, and Bovada (source: https://www.cardplayer.com/online-casinos).
These platforms provide a wide range of casino games, including slots, table games, dice, and bingo. They’re convenient and accessible, providing the complete casino experience at home. If you have just a few minutes, try a couple of slots, or settle in for a few hours with a live poker game.
4. Walk Dogs In The Neighborhood
If you love dogs but don’t have the space or time to get your own, then walking dogs in your neighborhood is a good use of your time and you can earn some money. There are several dog-walking apps available, like Rover or Wag, or you can start knocking on your neighbors’ doors and offer your services.
It can take time to build up a reliable client base, but with dedication, you’ll be able to gain the trust of dog owners. Should you have the space (and time), you can even offer overnight dog-sitting services.
5. Join TaskRabbit
Are you handy with tools and DIY? Or do you enjoy standing in a line at the DMV, chatting to your fellow line-standers? Then you should consider signing up to TaskRabbit. This platform links people who need help with those with the necessary skills to help. It can include cleaning, packing, and moving, as well as doing DIY jobs and online tasks like data entry.
It is flexible, making it a good use of your time whenever you have some available.
6. Find A New Video Game
Video games are a popular pastime for many who have free time available. It helps you relax after a stressful day and dissociate from life for a while. Surprisingly, video games can also boost cognitive function as it helps with memory, problem-solving, and task prioritization.
Multiplayer online games also have a social element to them, which can be great if you live alone and work remotely.
You can also earn money from video gaming, by monetizing your Twitch streaming or competing in eSports tournaments.
7. Lift People Or Make Deliveries
People with a roadworthy vehicle can use it to make money on the side. This can be done by lifting people to their destinations, via platforms like Uber or Lyft, or to make deliveries. The former requires a car in a good, clean condition and you will have to complete a background check for both human and parcel deliveries.
Parcels and packages can be delivered for Amazon, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, or Instacart. You can even use a motorbike or scooter if you’re only delivering smaller packages over short distances.
The best part about this arrangement is that it is flexible. You can be on the clock when you have free time available and set yourself offline if you’re busy.
8. Sell Your Preloved Clothes Online
Selling gently used clothes and items is a great way to clear up space in your wardrobe and earn money for a rainy day. There are plenty of apps where users can sell preloved goods, with Facebook Marketplace being the main one. Poshmark is another good platform where you can list photos of your clothes or items, along with descriptions.
The reason you should do this in your free time is that it takes a while to take photos of all your items, upload them to the app, deal with buyers or bidders, and send the items via UPS. It is a great side hustle to manage when you have time off work or over a weekend.
9. Start Exercising
Going for a run or a walk might not be a way to earn money, but it is great for your physical and mental health, which can pay off in your work life. Exercise increases your energy, reduces stress, and helps improve your mood—all factors that can help you to be more productive.
If you’re really dedicated to exercising and you become familiar with the muscle groups and healthy living, it is possible to earn some money on the side. You can create exercise programs for friends and relatives, or post workout videos on social media. If you build up enough of a following, you can monetize your posts.
10. Learn A New Language
Learning a new language can be daunting at first, but it holds many cognitive advantages. There are plenty of language-learning apps available, as well as YouTube videos or online courses.
Once you become more proficient in your selected language, you have the opportunity to use it to earn a bit of spare cash. You can offer tutoring or translating services in that language, through apps like Fiverr, Freelancer, or Upwork.
Getting familiar with a completely new language will take a lot of time, and you will have to work on it every day. But it will be worth it as you improve your communication skills and memory, and improve your brain’s plasticity.