How I Make Passive Income Online With Chronic Illness
Living with chronic illness means I’ve had to get creative when it comes to making money. The traditional 9–5? Not an option for me. Infact, I’ve had to leave 3 jobs in about as many years ( if you know, you know). I need rest. I need flexibility. And I need work that doesn’t punish me for having a flare-up.
That’s why I fell in love with passive income — money that comes in even when I’m curled up on the sofa with my hotwater bottle and Netflix.
If you’re like me — tired, overwhelmed, and craving freedom — here’s exactly how I started building passive income streams online (and how you can too).
1. Blogging with Affiliate Links
Blogging has become my safe haven. It lets me share what I know and love — while earning from it at the same time. I write blog posts about side hustles, chronic illness, and soft life living. And inside those posts? I include affiliate links to tools, services, and products I actually use.
Every time someone clicks and makes a purchase, I earn a commission — no extra effort needed.
Why it works for chronic illness:
- I write when I feel good. Rest when I don’t.
- Once a blog post is live, it keeps working in the background.
- I can do it 100% from home — even from bed.
I use Hostinger to run my blog because it’s affordable and easy to manage. (Yes, that’s an affiliate link 😉).
2. Pinterest + Affiliate Marketing
Pinterest changed the game for me. It’s a search engine (not a social platform!), with over 500 million monthly active users – which is crazy ! The majority of those users are women who are looking to buy. I create pretty pins that link to affiliate products or my blog — and let them do the work.
Once a pin is live, it can drive traffic and sales for months. No constant posting, no draining engagement. Just smart strategy.
My favorite affiliate networks:
- Rakuten (get cashback & earn for referring others)
- Awin (lots of wellness and home brands)
- Amazon Associates (super easy for beginners)
3. Selling Canva Templates + Digital Downloads
I started making editable childrens party invites on Canva a while back and its been one of the best side hustles — you can create on your good days and list them on Etsy . Canva is also great for things like Instagram posts, checklists, and planners all which can be listed on Etsy ( another great source of free traffic) and your own website as digital downloads.
Someone buys → they get an instant download → I get paid. No shipping, no stress.
I love this because I can create a product once (when I’m having a good day) and keep earning from it long after.
Tips:
- Use Canva Pro for premium features
- Batch create your designs
- Promote on Pinterest or inside your blog posts
4. Print-on-Demand
This was the first absolute game changer for making passive income for me. I create my own designs using Canva, put them onto products such as mugs, t-shirts, banners ( the list is honestly endless and they are all found on Printify). I then upload the product listings and sell through Etsy. All the orders get printed and shipped for me , I don’t have to keep any stock or even have to post them myself!
Final Thoughts
Making passive income with chronic illness isn’t a quick fix, but it is possible. It just takes a softer, smarter approach — one that works with your energy, not against it.
I’m not here to hustle hard or sacrifice my health. I’m here to build soft, sustainable income streams — from my sofa, on my terms.
And if I can do it, so can you 💫
Want help starting your own passive income journey?
Check out my Soft Side Hustle Toolkit — filled with beginner blogging tips, Canva product ideas, and affiliate marketing resources (all fibro-girl friendly).