Sleepless in Solitude: Did Any Of It Work?

Did Any Of It Work?

Sleeplessness is a strange companion. While the world sleeps, I am awake, with my special daughter, I have 3). I have been a stay at home mum for so long that I can't even begin to contemplate returning to the rat race that is called 'work' — alarms, traffic jams, awkward office small talk — my brain freezes just thinking about it. My reason, you ask, maybe I'll share it in my next story. My husband is the only one working, and, although he has a well paid job, I can't help but feel like I should contribute something.

So I have been researching for months now on ways to make money working online from home. I am always awake at odd hours because of my daughter's struggles with sleep and while I’m up, my brain goes into overdrive: “What can I do from home that doesn’t involve waking up at 6 a.m. or leaving the house?” Cue me, at 3 a.m., binge-watching YouTube videos about making money online, reading endless blogs, and convincing myself I could earn £000's with a laptop and a cup of tea. (Spoiler alert: I didn’t.)

But I tried. Oh, did I try. And here’s my brutally honest review of 10 “make-money-from-home” ideas that I discovered, tested, or — at the very least — laughed my way through:

1. Freelancing

The internet loves to tell you that freelancing will change your life. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr are full of people offering services like writing, design, and virtual assistance. I signed up, but it felt like filling out job applications all over again — and I left that behind for a reason! I’ll admit, this works for many people, but right now, my brain and soul just aren’t ready for rejection emails at 2 a.m.

I think my younger brother is more suited to this because he is very good at graphic design, web dev, etc. I told him about it so I hope he is doing something about it. If he makes millions, I’ll remind him who gave him the idea!

2. Online tutoring and teaching

I have a soft spot for this one. I love teaching — I’m that person who reads something once and then explains it like I’ve been teaching it for years. Platforms like Tutor.com and VIPKid looked interesting, but I haven’t taken the plunge yet. Maybe one day, when life isn’t so chaotic, I’ll try it. For now, I’ll just stick to being my daughter’s personal tutor (which pays in hugs and lots of love).

3. E-commerce

The idea of selling cute physical or digital products on Etsy or running a shop on Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) had me feeling inspired. I even tried it for three months. The result? Well… let’s just say my sales dashboard looked like a ghost town. It’s definitely possible, but it takes time and a bit of marketing magic that I clearly don’t have yet. If you can make things like bracelets, other jewellery, bespoke or one of a kind products, this is a good idea.

4. Affiliate marketing

I found out that you can promote products or services through affiliate links and earn a commission for each sale made through your referral. It sounded easy — promote a product, earn a commission and there are various companies or networks like Amazon Associates, ClickBank, or ShareASale. But when I signed up with ClickBank, I realized something: I’m terrible at convincing people to buy things. I can barely convince my kids to eat vegetables. Needless to say, my affiliate links went nowhere fast sooo...yeah.

5. Creating Contents

I have huge respect for people who confidently post videos on TikTok and YouTube. The editing, the energy, the dance moves! But me? The thought of talking to a camera makes me cringe. I’m not ready to go viral for the wrong reasons, so this one’s on hold… indefinitely.

6. Blogging and content writing

Hey! I am doing one now! Now this — THIS — is where I finally felt like myself. Writing has always been my quiet way of processing life. I never kept a diary (mostly because my teenage self was too scared someone would read it), but blogging feels like therapy. I get to vent, share my thoughts, and maybe earn a few coins along the way.Writing a blog or contributing articles to online publications and monetize through display ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, or selling digital products like e-books or online courses. So far, I like this idea. I get to share all the emotions pent up over the years and release them in a healthy way because I have never been one to keep a diary. So it helps to be able to have an outlet where you can share whatever is within you and still get paid whilst doing it.

7. Selling your photos and videos

Some people said you can sell your photos and videos to stock photography websites such as Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images. Yup, I could have done this when I was a teenager taking lots of photos/videos. But now? Between exhaustion, zero social life, and my camera roll being 90% blurry kid pics, this just isn’t happening. If you’re passionate about photography, though — go for it! That shouldn't stop someone else who is interested and passionate about it though so...go for it!!!

8. Work From Home

I tried this before. Yeah, so I tried working from home when I got my CeMAP (for Mortgages), tried with two companies. Oh my giddy aunt! Let me tell you… stress! Clients, bosses, lenders, deadlines, etc., were just not something I could have taken on at that time. The whole thing with my daughter was at its peak, still very fresh and highly emotional then, I couldn't have. My BP was through the roof! Some people thrive in remote jobs, but for me? It was a hard no, but...maybe later in the future.

9. Online surveys and market research

Ah, surveys — the “cup of coffee” money. I’ve tried Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and even Nielsen (they reward you just for tracking your devices). I'm getting the points here! It’s fine for small treats, but if you’re dreaming of quitting your job on survey money, forget it.

10. Investing and trading

Crypto. Stocks. Forex. I’ve tried them all — and let me tell you, I am not the next Warren Buffet, not even close. I made a bit of profit, but nothing compared to the hype I saw online. I seem to prefer watching C- and K-movies, hahaha! Maybe I’d do better if I spent less time watching short dramas and more time studying charts!

So… Did Any of It Work?

A little. I didn’t find a magic “get rich quick” button (does anyone?), but I did learn a lot about myself. I realized I enjoy writing the most — which is why I’m here, sharing my story. Even if I don’t make big money yet, this feels like the right step.

If you’re on your own journey to find something that works for you, my advice is: try everything, but don’t beat yourself up if you fail a few times. Each step gets you closer to figuring out what you truly enjoy.

And who knows? Maybe next year, I’ll be that success story on YouTube — “Mum Earns £5,000 a Month From Home!” (Okay, maybe £50. Let’s start small.) I hope someone else had or will have better luck than me. I wish you good luck in your trials!!!

But if I’m honest, these sleepless nights aren’t really about finding the next big side hustle. They’re about keeping my mind busy, so I don’t spiral into the memories that still feel raw. Memories of when life flipped upside down, when I was supposed to be meeting my baby girl under happy circumstances — not bleeding, terrified, death knocking and praying she would survive.

That’s another story — the story of Jojo. And maybe it’s time I tell it, starting from the day everything changed…