30 Side Hustles to Make Money While You Sleep
Imagine waking up, checking your phone, and boom, there it is: “You’ve received a payment.”
No meetings, no traffic, no begging your boss for a raise. Just your side hustles making money while you sleep dreaming of jollof rice and vacation.
I know, it sounds like one of those “too good to be true” ideas people throw around on the internet.
But trust me, passive income is real, and once you taste it, there’s no going back.
I’ve seen people go from stressing about bills to waking up with a smile because their phone keeps buzzing with alerts they didn’t have to suffer for.
The magic? Side hustles that don’t need your constant attention and makes money even while you sleep.
Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home mom, a 9-to-5 warrior, or someone who’s just tired of depending on one stream of income, this post is for you.
These side hustles don’t need you to work 24/7, and some of them don’t even require you to show your face.
Just set them up, be patient, and let the money do its thing while you sleep, gist, or binge-watch your favorite series.
1. Sell digital products on Etsy or Gumroad
Let’s be honest, there’s a special kind of joy that comes with seeing “You made a sale!” while you’re still rolling around in your bedsheet, hair messy, face crusty, and dreams still fresh.
It’s one of those little financial benefits of working from home moments that make you want to hug your pillow a little tighter.
Digital products are one of the easiest ways to earn money without having to show up every day.
You can design simple things like meal planners, budget spreadsheets, wedding checklists, affirmation cards, or even digital journals using tools like Canva or Google Docs.
Once you upload them on platforms like Etsy or Gumroad, that’s it.
People from anywhere in the world can buy your product and instantly download it, no packaging, no delivery, no stress.
I know someone who made a one-page money tracker and priced it at just ₦2,000.
One hundred people downloaded it in a week and she didn’t have to send anything manually or answer any questions.
The sales just kept dropping like blessings. That’s the kind of soft life we’re all praying for.
2. Start a blog with affiliate links
If you enjoy writing and sharing your thoughts, starting a blog can be more than just a hobby,it can be your ticket to earning while you sleep.
And no, you don’t have to be a professional writer with fancy words.
Just write like you’re talking to your friend, and once your blog is live, you can start adding affiliate links.
These are links to products or services, and when someone clicks on them and buys, you get a commission.
For example, let’s say you wrote a blog post about “how to glow up spiritually and physically.” In that post, you could link to your favorite skincare products, devotionals, books, or even online courses.
Each time someone clicks and makes a purchase, you get paid.
3. Create a YouTube channel with ad revenue
YouTube is no longer just for influencers and vloggers with perfect lighting and high-end cameras.
These days, people just want authenticity, entertainment, or help with their daily struggles.
If you can talk about things like relationships, life experiences, cooking, faith, productivity, or even random gists, you can start a channel.
The real power of YouTube is in its long-term value.
A video you post today can still make you money years later.
Once you reach the required number of subscribers and watch hours, you can monetize your channel.
That means YouTube starts placing ads on your videos, and you get paid for every view and every ad watched.
4. Publish a Book on Amazon KDP
If you’ve got a story to tell or something you’ve learned that could help someone else, publishing a book might just be your golden opportunity.
Amazon KDP lets you self-publish without paying a dime. Yes, zero naira.
You can write a short book maybe on healing after heartbreak, building confidence, finding purpose, or surviving long-distance love.
Upload it as an eBook or paperback, and Amazon takes care of the rest.
You don’t need to beg someone to print it, ship it, or explain payment details. One-time writing can turn into lifetime income.
Imagine sleeping peacefully while someone in the US, UK, or even South Africa is downloading your book and paying you.
That’s money and ministry flowing at the same time.
5. License your photos online
Before you delete that beautiful sunset you snapped on a random evening or the cute flat-lay of your Bible and cup of tea, wait o, you might be sitting on content gold.
Websites like Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock are constantly looking for photos to add to their libraries, and people all over the world are willing to pay to use them.
Bloggers, brands, and online creators need these images for their projects, and if your photo fits the vibe, you get paid every time someone downloads it.
And let’s be real, we all have that one friend who takes aesthetic pictures of EVERYTHING, from their breakfast to their empty slippers on tiled floors.
Why not turn that habit into coins? Once the photo is uploaded and approved, you don’t have to do anything else.
It could be downloaded today, next week, or next year while you’re fast asleep.
This proves that sometimes, your daily habits to make you happier can also make you richer.
6. Make Your Home Work For You by Renting Out Your Space on Airbnb
You know that extra room you’re using to store old clothes, plastic chairs, and boxes from 2012? It could be someone’s weekend escape or business trip spot.
If your home is in a safe area, near a university, tourist attraction, or busy city center, people are already looking for a cozy place to stay.
Airbnb lets you list your space, set your rules, and control your schedule.
I have a friend in Ibadan who listed her small guest room for just ₦15,000 a night.
She was shocked when bookings started flying in faster than her bank alerts.
Sometimes, guests check in while she’s out running errands or even attending a wedding. She doesn’t need to be around, and the money still enters.
That’s how your quiet, dusty corner can turn into your steady stream of passive income with just a few good pictures and clean bedsheets.
7. Build an online course on Teachable
Everybody knows something that someone else wants to learn.
Maybe you’re great at saving money, designing with Canva, cooking egusi soup without lumps, or even teaching children how to read.
You can package that knowledge into a course, video lessons, PDFs, worksheets even something like creating your personal brand worksheet, and host it on platforms like Teachable or Thinkific.
Once it’s uploaded, people from anywhere in the world can enroll and learn at their pace.
You don’t have to teach live or answer calls. I once saw a woman selling a course on how to organize your life using Google Calendar.
Just imagine, and every time someone signs up while she’s offline or fast asleep, she gets paid.
Your gift can literally become your stream. Don’t sit on it.
8. Sell Print-On-Demand Merchandise
This one is for the creatives and the funny ones among us.
If you have a knack for catchy phrases, quotes, or beautiful designs, you can upload them to print-on-demand platforms like Teespring, Redbubble, or Printify.
These sites will print your design on t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, phone cases, whatever you choose.
You don’t buy anything upfront, no inventory, no delivery stress.
When someone places an order, the platform prints and ships the item to them, and you collect your profit.
I know a girl who put “I’m not angry, I’m just Yoruba” on a tote bag and started getting sales from Nigerians abroad.
While she’s sleeping or scrolling through TikTok, her store is doing its job.
If you’ve ever cracked a joke or made a design that people loved, this might just be the softest side hustle for you.
9. Invest in dividend-paying stocks
I know “investment” sounds like something only rich uncles talk about at family meetings, but hear me out.
Dividend stocks are shares of companies that pay you just for owning them.
No, seriously. Every few months, they send you a piece of their profit just because you’re one of their investors.
Even if it’s ₦5,000 you start with, apps like Trove, Bamboo, or Rise let you invest in small bits and grow slowly.
One lady started with ₦10,000 and reinvested her dividends. After two years, her money had not only multiplied, but she was getting consistent payouts.
It’s like your money quietly working night shift while you sleep in peace. You won’t see instant wealth, but give it time, it builds into something sweet.
One of the many reasons why discipline is better than motivation.
10. Build a Membership Community
Do people always come to you for advice, motivation, or prayer points? If yes, why not create a space where they get that regularly in exchange for a small monthly fee?
Platforms like Patreon, Substack, or even WhatsApp groups with payment access can help you build a loyal tribe that supports your work.
You can offer exclusive videos, group discussions, live calls, devotionals, or anything that brings value.
Once people are in and your system is set, you don’t need to show up every single day.
You could be enjoying a weekend getaway, running errands, or even napping, and your members are still subscribed.
Someone I know started a membership for Christian women, charging ₦3,000 a month, and within six months she had over 120 members.
That’s over ₦300,000 monthly income, just from showing up in your purpose and building a safe space. Passive and purposeful.
11. Design and sell website themes or templates
If you have an eye for design or you understand how websites work, creating templates for WordPress, Shopify, or Canva is a money-maker that works quietly in the background.
Small business owners and content creators are always looking for quick, professional-looking templates they can just plug in and use.
It’s the kind of setup that fits perfectly into a daily routine for success and happiness, because once you create and upload them to platforms like Creative Market or your own site, people can purchase and download them without you lifting a finger again.
You earn over and over from a single design, and each sale can happen while you’re sleeping, working, or just minding your own business.
12. Build a Dropshipping Store
Dropshipping is like running an online shop without ever touching the product.
You set up a store, list items from suppliers, and when a customer places an order, the supplier ships directly to them.
No packaging, no inventory, no delivery stress. You keep the profit in between.
It works best when your store targets a specific need or interest like beauty items, home gadgets, or accessories.
If you set it up well, your store can run on autopilot and make sales while you’re doing completely unrelated things, even dreaming.
13. Sell audiobooks on Audible or ACX
Audiobooks are becoming more popular every day, and you don’t need to be a professional narrator to enter the space.
You can either write your own book and record it, or work with someone who needs a voice for their book.
Once your audiobook is listed on platforms like Audible or iTunes through ACX, you earn royalties from every download. People can discover and buy your audiobook any time of day, whether you’re working, resting, or following your best morning routine ideas for energy.
This way, your income is not tied to your presence or effort after the initial upload.
14. Create and license music or sound effects
If you’re musically inclined or good with sound editing, you can create soundtracks, beats, background music, or even sound effects and upload them to libraries that license content to creators.
People making videos, games, podcasts, or advertisements need music all the time.
Once your track is up, each download brings you royalties.
Whether it’s morning or midnight, your music can be getting used across the world while your bank balance quietly grows.
15. Build and Sell a Mobile App
If you have an idea that solves a small problem, like helping people track goals, memorize Bible verses, or even plan their day.
You can turn that idea into a mobile app and it could easily become one of your own surefire ways to make money from home.
You can either build it yourself or hire someone to do it.
Once it’s up on the App Store or Google Play, you can earn money through in-app purchases, ads, or subscriptions.
The app runs 24/7, so you keep earning even when your phone is off or your data is gone.
16. Write and license songs for royalties
Every time a song is played on the radio, at an event, in a commercial, or on streaming platforms, someone earns royalties and that someone could be you.
If you know how to write lyrics or create melodies, you can register your work with a performing rights organization and start earning whenever your music is used.
The beauty is that once the song is out there, the money keeps trickling in with zero extra effort from you.
17. Build a Niche Website With Ads
A niche website is focused on a specific topic like meal planning, skincare tips, faith-based encouragement, or parenting advice.
You create content around that topic and attract readers through search engines.
Once you start getting consistent traffic, you can place ads on your site using networks like Google AdSense or Ezoic.
Every visit and every ad view earns you money.
You don’t need to update daily, and your old posts can keep working for you non-stop, leaving you more time to explore ideas to have a successful morning routine.
18. Create digital planners and journals
Digital planning is a growing trend thanks to tablets, phones, and apps.
If you’re good at design or organization, you can create templates for daily schedules, goal setting, Bible study, or money tracking.
You upload them once to Etsy, your website, or Gumroad, and people can buy and use them digitally.
These products don’t need shipping or printing, and every sale becomes instant income.
You can go about your day, and your planner can be making sales all on its own.
19. License your art or illustrations
Your drawings, patterns, or hand-lettered quotes don’t need to stay locked in a sketchbook.
Upload your art to platforms like Society6, Spoonflower, or Creative Market, and license it for use on products like stationery, fabric, phone cases, or wall prints.
Once it’s available for purchase, buyers can use it and you earn royalties or profits from the sale.
You don’t handle anything physical. The platform manages the printing and delivery while you rest or relax.
20. Use Cashback and Rewards Apps 
While it may not bring millions, using cashback and rewards apps is a smart way to earn money passively from what you’re already doing.
Apps like Honey, Rakuten, and Dosh automatically give you money back on purchases when you shop through their links or use a connected card.
You can earn gift cards, points, or actual cash with no extra work.
It’s not flashy, but it’s consistent, your normal spending can quietly reward you every single time.
21. Monetize a podcast with sponsorships and ads
Podcasts have become one of the most powerful platforms for passive income.
Once your episodes are recorded and uploaded, they live online forever.
That means people can discover your content at any time weeks, months, or even years later.
As your audience grows, brands may offer to pay you for sponsorship slots, and platforms like Spotify or Anchor can place ads automatically.
Each listen brings in money, and your podcast can keep working while you’re eating, sleeping, or offline.
Now imagine an episode titled Best Morning Routine Ideas For Health
That kind of topic sparks curiosity, invites debate, and keeps listeners coming back for more.
22. License your videos as stock footage
If you enjoy filming things like city views, daily routines, or aesthetic backgrounds, you can turn those clips into passive income.
Upload them to stock video platforms like Shutterstock, Pond5, or Storyblocks.
Content creators, marketers, and editors are always looking for fresh footage to use in their projects.
Every time your clip is downloaded or licensed, you get paid.
Once uploaded, your videos sit online and quietly generate income around the clock.
23. Build a Self Service Print Shop For Local Clients
Designing and offering ready-to-order print items like flyers, posters, or banners for local businesses is another way to earn consistently.
You can set up a simple website, connect it to a trusted print provider, and let customers place their orders directly.
From business cards to event invitations, clients simply choose a design, customize it, and checkout.
You earn from every order, even if you’re not online when the sale happens.
24. Create an audiobook summary website or channel
People are busy and looking for shortcuts to knowledge.
Creating summaries of popular books in audio form can attract a wide audience looking for bite-sized learning.
You can upload these summaries to YouTube, a podcast, or your own platform and monetize through ads, affiliate links, or subscriptions.
Once your content is live, people can access it any time of day, turning your summaries into round-the-clock income generators.
25. Start a niche Instagram page and work with brands
You don’t need millions of followers to earn from Instagram.
A page focused on a specific interest whether it’s skincare tips, inspirational quotes, or remote work advice can attract a targeted audience.
Brands looking to reach that audience may pay you to create sponsored content, share affiliate links, or promote products.
Even while you’re resting or away from your phone, your posts keep circulating and working for you.
And just like learning the essential tips for navigating major life transitions, growing on Instagram is about consistency and adapting over time.
26. Create and Sell Notion Templates
Notion is a productivity app people use for managing everything from daily tasks to business plans.
If you’re good at organizing, planning or aesthetic layouts, you can design templates and sell them.
Popular ones include goal trackers, study planners, business dashboards and bible reading templates.
Once listed on your site or a marketplace, they’re downloadable instantly.
Your buyers get value, and you get income, even if you’re offline.
27. Set up a digital product bundle for email subscribers
Email marketing may sound technical, but it’s one of the most reliable ways to make passive income.
You can create a bundle, like a set of mini-guides, checklists, or devotionals and offer it for free in exchange for email sign-ups.
Then, use automated emails to gently promote your paid products, courses, or affiliate offers.
Everything runs on a schedule, so your email list keeps growing, and your sales funnel keeps working while you’re focused on other things.
28. Create a Quiz That Leads to Product Sales
People love quizzes that tell them something about themselves, and you can use that interest to guide them toward products.
Build a quiz around a specific topic like skincare type, personality style, or business mindset and at the end, offer a product, service, or digital download that fits their result.
Tools like Interact or Typeform help you build and automate the quiz.
Once it’s live, it can attract leads and make sales on its own.
29. Build and flip niche websites
If you enjoy building websites, you can create small, content-rich websites around specific topics, grow their traffic, and then sell them for profit.
These “niche sites” attract buyers who want a ready-made income stream.
While you’re working on other things, the site can still earn from ads, affiliate links, or product sales.
When it’s valuable enough, you list it on marketplaces and walk away with a lump sum.
It’s a mix of passive income and long-term payoff, and one of the smart ways to stand out for a job as a website designer.
30. Offer a Digital Subscription Box
A digital subscription box is like a bundle of value delivered monthly via email or through a private platform.
It could include devotionals, wallpapers, planning tools, templates, or helpful tips based on your niche.
Subscribers pay each month to receive your content, and once your system is in place, it runs on autopilot.
As long as the content is fresh and useful, people will keep subscribing and your income will keep flowing, whether you’re active or asleep.
Wrap Up
Whoever said you have to work 24 hours a day to make a good living clearly hasn’t tasted the sweetness of passive income.
These side hustles are not just about making money even in sleep, they’re about freedom, peace of mind, and having options.
And if you’re running a business alongside your hustle, resources like how to increase small business profits can help you grow smarter, not harder.
Whether you’re trying to add something extra to your monthly income, save for something big, or just want to stop depending on one source, you’ve now got thirty real ways to make it happen.
