How I Make Passive Income With Canva Templates (Even With Chronic Illness)
Want to earn passive income from bed? Discover how I make money online selling Canva templates—even with chronic illness. A soft side hustle that actually works.
How I Make Passive Income With Canva Templates (Even With Chronic Illness)
Some days, I can barely move from bed—thanks to chronic illness. But that doesn’t stop me from making money online. One of the gentlest, most fibro-friendly income streams I’ve found? Selling Canva templates.
No tech skills. No customer meetings. No pressure. Just quiet creativity… and passive income that trickles in while I rest.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I started making money with Canva, how you can too (even if you’ve never sold anything before), and why it’s the perfect soft side hustle for chronic illness warriors.
What Are Canva Templates?
Canva templates are pre-designed graphics or documents (like planners, Instagram posts, workbooks, and more) that people can customize with their own text, colors, and branding.
I create digital templates once, then sell them over and over again on platforms like Etsy, Payhip, or my own blog. It’s a create-once-sell-forever kind of income—and that’s what makes it so magical.
Why Canva Templates Work So Well for Passive Income
If you’re dealing with fatigue, brain fog, or unpredictable health days, Canva templates are ideal. Here’s why:
- ✅ Low-energy workflow – Design at your own pace, from bed or the sofa.
- ✅ No physical products – No packaging, postage, or inventory to manage.
- ✅ Scalable – One template can sell hundreds of times.
- ✅ Beginner-friendly – Canva is free to use and easy to learn.
- ✅ No audience needed at first – You can start selling on Etsy or through digital marketplaces.
How I Got Started (From My Sofa, Literally)
I started small.
I created a simple party invite template for birthdays and listed it on Etsy. I used free mockups from Canva, wrote a short description, and uploaded it.
I didn’t expect much. But within a week, I had a sale. Then another. Then a bundle order. 🎉
Once I saw how easy it was, I started making more:
- Social media packs
- Mini planners
- “Lazy girl” business resources (because… hi, it’s me)
- Done-for-you lead magnets
- Even templates to help other people sell their own Canva templates!
Tools I Use to Create & Sell Templates
Here’s my cozy toolkit:
- Canva Pro – I use the paid version for access to better elements and fonts.
- Etsy – My starting point for selling. Easy and low-cost.
- Payhip – I now use this to sell directly from my blog with instant downloads.
- Pinterest – I drive traffic by creating gentle, dreamy pins that show off my templates in use.
💡 Template Ideas to Get You Started
Not sure what to sell? Try these low-effort ideas:
- Social media post templates
- Weekly planners or to-do lists
- Journals or self-care trackers
- Business card templates
- Lead magnet checklists
- Coaching worksheets
- Blogger media kits
Start with something you already use yourself. If it helps you, it’ll likely help someone else.
Final Thoughts (Because Rest Matters Too)
This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. But it is a gentle way to build up income over time—without burning out.
Selling Canva templates gave me a sense of purpose on hard days. It showed me I could still create, still contribute, still dream—even when I was in pain. And now, it gives me the freedom to rest without stressing about money.
If you’re craving a soft, simple income stream that respects your limits, Canva templates might be the perfect fit.