Read practical tips, creative stories & resources for students, architects & designers - from career advice to hand drawing, sketching & studio life.
Back when I was pregnant with Angus, and in preparation for maternity leave and life with two children, I took some time to plan how I wanted my business to work and grow as my family grew, and my focus understandably got challenged.
Read MoreThey say successful entrepreneurs have eight streams of income. That might sound like a lot to juggle but if you can turn a lot of them into passive income, as in set it up and go, or incorporate them into your lifestyle, then you’re onto a winner. Here are some entrepreneurial ideas for you to consider.
Design and create products and artwork to sell in an online shop like Etsy. I have been running my Etsy shop for years now as a side hustle and it has brought in a nice little income. From offering commissions to selling my paintings, prints, and now Icelandic artwork, it has been something I have kept going and growing over that time.
Avoid postal costs and time by creating digital items like digital download prints, lists, calendars, etc. Etsy can be a fun way to monetize your hobbies, i.e. knitting, watercolour, painting, calligraphy, jewellery, etc. Check out my shop here.
Create digital artwork, print patterns, and lettering to sell on sites such as Society6, CafePress, etc. If you have skills in Adobe then also try 99Designs.
YouTube is a long game and takes a lot of work and dedication to be consistent. If you are thinking of jumping on YouTube to build a channel and earn an income from it, consider more of a tutorial-based channel than a vlog channel unless you already have an audience who you know would follow and watch.
Think about what you can share, teach, offer, and what people are searching for right now. If your aim is to grow and be monetized, make it work for you - smarter rather than harder.
I started my YouTube channel to document my move to Iceland and later, our #IcelandFamilyLife adventures, and so on. I am so glad I did this as it is so fun to watch back and have all these memories literally recorded but it isn’t a big income maker. It takes a lot of work and dedication to grow your channel and build up those watch hours. Check out my YouTube channel here.
The best kind of passive income, in my opinion, is an online course. You can take a skill or experience you have and plan out the curriculum. Film the lessons and edit them into a set of classes. Upload to a teaching platform of your choice and let students enrol and learn over and over again.
Skillshare is great as it already offers a built-in audience of students looking to learn. You can earn a commission when a student signs up and whilst they’re taking your classes. If you already have an audience, offer your course on your website using a site like Teachable.
You could also offer online tutoring via Zoom or Skype. Share what you know, i.e. a language, drawing, music, cooking, etc, and get paid to do so.
This might not make you a load of money quickly but it can be an easy way to use your time and talents. Check out sites like Fiverr and UpWork to pitch for roles big and small like editing and logo design to social media manager and virtual assistant.
Blogging isn’t dead, and although it and Instagram can take a lot of time and effort to build up a following, it can be worth it to help promote your products, courses, or affiliates. You can accept sponsored posts, and adverts, offer freelance content creation on other sites, and check out sites like Freelancer and UpWork too.
Let's all have a big old declutter and clear out. Not only does decluttering free the mind and make us feel better, but it could also earn you some money. Pull everything out and only put back what you want and need. Look at everything you have and see what you could sell either on your local Facebook marketplace, or Facebook groups, rent a stall at a secondhand shop, or list items on eBay, etc. Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves.
There are probably loads of odd jobs you could do if you have some spare time. Think, they don’t need to be groundbreaking. Personal training, styling, personal shopping, dog walking, babysitting, cleaning, food delivery, mystery shopping, answering surveys, help writing or designing people’s CVs, and much more.
If you have a spare room or are heading off for a long trip, why not consider renting out your space on Air BnB? We did this for a year or two here in Reykjavik (before kids) and met some great people from all over. It was fun having them stay, helping them plan out their trip, and giving them the inside local knowledge on things like the Northern Lights.
When we stopped listing our spare room on Air BnB, and it became Mia’s nursery, I ventured into the events space and offered Sketching Walking Tours in Reykjavik. This was a great way for me to get out and about, sketch as we went, and show people around my new home. I would meet them in one spot, show them around and give them some facts about the place, let them sketch for a few minutes, and offer up pointers when needed. We walked around for an hour and sometimes sat in a coffee shop if the Icelandic weather was too challenging. It was really fun - I only stopped due to Covid social distancing.
And finally, here’s a little dump of other things you could try:
Have a transformational story to tell or skill to share, why not try creating an e-book, audiobook, or digital product to sell to an online audience?
Sell templates you already use within your household or business.
Look into dropshipping and create your store.
Become an affiliate for a program, course, and/or product you use and love.
Create an Amazon shopfront and earn a small commission when you link to a recommended item and a sale is made.
I dare you…open an incognito window and Google yourself.
What came up? Was it much, was it good, were there some surprises, are you proud of what you found, and does it represent you accurately?
OK, let’s take a deeper dive into your online presence.
Whether you like it or not, having an online presence is hard to avoid these days but it can be something that works for you. If you are a freelancer, self-employed, or looking for work then you will want to make sure your online presence is as good as your in-person impression. After all, first impressions count.
Take a look at your Google image results. If the images are you and represent you well, great. But if they aren’t you, and you want them to be, you might need to look at where you can work on this. The easiest way to change this and start showing up in results is by adding your name to the alt text on your website, Pinterest, or wherever you have control of SEO.
If you have a public Facebook account, the likelihood is that you are somewhere on the first page. You don’t need to worry too much about this but if the pictures that come up aren’t something you want to be associated with, start adding some images with your name in the file and alt text, and you’ll have a bit more luck with the results.
Make accounts private that you aren’t happy for potential employers to see such as Instagram and consider deleting anything that isn’t appropriate anymore. Go through your Facebook and have a clean-up, consider also updating your security settings if you wish to not be searchable. What you show of yourself and your social life online can give a good insight into you as a person, team member, and potential representative of a company, so consider what your online presence says about you.
YouTube is a big part of our online life and it isn’t going anywhere. Honestly, how many of us have gone to YouTube to look something up and quickly learn something? It is a great platform and, if you want it to, it can be a great way to create community and let people into your life and/or work, aka behind the scenes. Of course, there’s more than just YouTube, you might have been featured in a documentary or interviewed and these show up.
I have a vlog channel and am now working on an Architecture channel. This reaches both aims of letting people get to know me, and connect with us as a family #IcelandFamilyLie and also helps build my business through video tutorials and more. Professional and personal, I have control of it and it works for me. I’ve found that it’s a good way to reach people, clients, and customers - but it is a lot of work.
READ: HOW TO START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL
I can remember when a student once pointed out that it was obvious where I lived because Instagram had tagged my location on a lot of my recent posts (this feature has now been removed) but it was alarming that they could easily look at my feed and see where I had been, and where I’d posted a majority of pictures; ie at that time, my ‘home studio’.
It can also be scary, and very annoying, when contact details are slipped into the public realm like your email or phone number, and you start attracting spam. Be very careful about where your details can be seen, and by whom. If you don’t want your email out there, take it off your Instagram bio and remove the contact button as it takes people right to an email page where they can copy your address. People can always DM you if you want them to contact you.
Search now and then to check what comes up. Having your contact details online can be a useful thing, especially if you have a brick and mortar but for obvious reasons, protect yourself and your family. Don’t list your home address, or show clear pictures of where you live unless you want people to know and be able to visit.
If you sell items, have a return address you’re happy to list and if you want to receive samples or gifts, opt for something safer like a PO Box.
Check all account Bio’s and update info
Update profile pictures to reflect the way you want to be seen, i.e a clear, professional headshot
Check over videos and add any that will help your online presence and better represent you
Build a simple website and add a portfolio section to show examples of your work (add your name to the alt text of images)
Check over the contents of any websites that you are associated with, i.e. current employer, previous employers, etc.
Being online is almost inevitable. It’s wild to think back to the first time I went online and dialled up, or that I once attended a training on how to set up an email account - I’m sure my daughter will laugh at that. She will possibly just think that the internet was always around, what did we do before it?! And she will likely end up in a job that hasn’t even been created yet.
We have no idea where it’s all going, it’s good and bad, scary and wonderful but at the end of the day, safety is important. Yes, you can block certain websites in your control, in the safety of your own home, but don’t be put off by this.
I’m sharing my thoughts on turning 40 and opening up about life in my 30s and what I want to achieve in my 40s as a Wife, Mum, and Entrepreneur.
Society and the pressures it puts on us - how we're supposed to feel at the age of 40 - I think that's what puts a lot of pressure on people and is why people start getting scared of it or emotional, feeling like they haven't achieved enough in their life.
It's that idea of being ‘over the hill’, although that implies that your life is on a downhill spiral. It also means that your struggle to get up to the point in your life where you've maybe achieved your career, you've got your family, you have achieved the goals you've been working towards, you can start enjoying it and enjoy the fruits of that labor. And by that personally, I mean, my experiences.
I've worked very hard at university to become an architect. It paid off. I became an architect. I traveled a lot. I managed to do my Masters in Japan, and I have a lot of things that I feel, yes, I worked blooming hard for, but there are amazing things that I've achieved and I achieved them by working really hard for them, and then became an architect, which is a career I still can't believe I even managed to get to. It wasn't however, a career that I necessarily enjoyed when I finally became it, and that's just something that happens in life.
I learned in my late twenties, thirties, that life is short. And I learned that in a very hard way by losing my dad. I lost a lot of people in my family and in my personal life in my twenties to thirties where it really did teach me that life is short and you have to value and appreciate and be grateful for what you have. And if you want things in life, you got to work for them and that's what I've done.
Fast forward to me being in India teaching architecture, which is what I really love doing and in a crazy place. It just made me appreciate all of the opportunities and the upbringing that I had that gave me that down-to-earth work hard mentality that meant that I could put myself forward and achieve things and face challenges and enjoy the benefits of them.
I don't feel like I'm 40 and I don't feel like I look or act forte as well, because, in my mind, I can remember a surprise birthday for my dad when he turned 40 and I remember being picked up from school by my auntie and going home to either make or decorate the birthday cake to surprise my mum who was coming home from work on her 40th birthday. So to me, I remember my parents being 40, turning 40, and I guess life is very different these days. I mean, I had Mia at the age of 37. When she is 40, I will be 82, which is crazy. And I really hope that I am there to get to go party with her and celebrate it.
I definitely put my career first and I achieved a lot. I have no regrets and having a family was very important to me, but things just came in a different order. And I don't think that that's something that we should stress or worry about.
I was in India, I had a great career, a great life. I was having so much fun, but I was living in a bubble when I really, really thought about it. This was not my real life. It wasn't what I actually wanted. And so at the age of 30 or 32, I took a good, hard look at that and I faced the reality that India was fun, but it wasn't where I wanted to be and I wasn't meeting the kind of person that I wanted to be with and I didn't think that I would necessarily find my Mr. Right there.
I made the hard decision to move back, found a job in the UK and I taught in the university there. And on a strange weekend back in Edinburgh, I happened to bump into Ingimar and we met, and that was our paths crossing and the rest is history.
I did spend a lot of time when I lived in Bournemouth worrying that it was too late and I was 34 or something at the time. I was working very hard. I was traveling back and forth to India and doing lots of different trips to the British Council as well. I was living a very, very busy life and I probably was making it busy so that I felt fulfilled, but it wasn't the chapter in my life, the area in my life that I wanted that fulfillment. And I knew I wanted to meet someone and I wasn't really putting myself out there. And when I met Ingimar, it wasn't down to me, it wasn't down to him. I really do think it was someone else who got our paths to meet. And they did.
We worked hard to stay in contact with each other. It was a year or more before I moved over here of long-distance dating. At that time, I was so worried that I'd left it too late to meet someone. I was too old to meet someone and for them to want to be with me. I did worry that meeting in our mid to late thirties, there would be baggage. Of course, there's going to be baggage, but I did worry what that baggage might be. It's very different than meeting someone in your twenties. And I also worried that maybe I wouldn't be able to have kids and I'd left it too late and maybe the person that I met wouldn't want kids or would already have kids. And although that would be fine and I would accept it, I did really want to have children of my own.
I was also in a very crazy stressed-out position where I hadn't actually had a period for numerous months and a part of my brain was telling myself that I was getting too old. And so maybe every month when my period didn't come or came late, I was worried that that was it, and I was starting menopause mid-thirties, which thank goodness it wasn't and it was just stress and I needed to look after myself and get my priorities back in line. And I did.
When I met Ingimar, I really focused on, "Okay, you've done your career, but if you want to settle down and make this work with this Icelandic guy, then let's do that." And so that's what I did. Fast forward a year or so, we got engaged. I moved to Iceland, planned our wedding, and then we fell pregnant. So actually, I have to say, I got it all and I'm so incredibly grateful for that.
We now have this amazing little family and a great life here. And it's so different from what I was doing 10 years ago. I'm totally fine with that, and I think that's what happens when you turn 40.
Everyone says you get this perspective, you calm down, things don't worry you as much, which I'm going to be enjoying that. But I do think that I've gained a bit more perspective and inner peace, and I'm very grateful for what I've achieved in my life and what I built in my life, what we've done together.
I have changed careers, I had moved to three countries and I'm very happy to say that now I live a positive and very creative life. I know where I want to be, and I know what I want to achieve and I'm just working towards those goals.
A lot of people tell me that in my forties, I'm not going to sweat the small stuff, worry about the small things, and I'm not going to care so much about what people think of me. Now, this is something I'm really looking forward to because I worry way too much about people's opinions, what people think of me, what people think about what I do if they think that I'm earning enough money and contributing enough. I worry about so many things and it's such a waste of my time and my energy and it creates negativity. I want to care about Mia and about Ingimar and about my family and friends, obviously, I want to care about myself, but I want to focus on the right things and use my energy for the right stuff.
We're very lucky here in Iceland, The pools are open so I managed to go for a swim on my birthday, which was an absolute treat. Ingimar and Mia were both out at school and work and so I had the day to myself to pamper myself, do some reading, do some journaling, call some friends.
I wrote a pop quiz, a kind of Zoom quiz for the evening time. We had dinner together, just the three of us and then we popped on a Zoom call with my family and we did a little quiz, which was just fun questions. There was a picture round, kind of a facts round, travel round, an architecture round, and so on. I can't remember who won, but it was definitely good fun. And then I sat on the sofa with a slice of cake that I bought for myself because I knew if you want a piece of cake on your birthday and everyone's too busy, you got to look after yourself and just get that piece of cake. But it was a lovely day and just very chilled out.
I was very, very lucky that two weeks after, we managed to have a little girl's weekend away. So it was just me and three close friends. We went away to a local town here called Hveragerði and we had an apartment for the weekend. We just did walks, went for coffee, went to flower shops, and just chatted over some good food and some nice bubbly and just had a really, really good time.
I definitely notice more wrinkles or maybe I'm just more aware of them. I know that I have grey hair right in the smack center of my fringe and it's poker straight compared to my usually curly hair.
On my mum's wedding day a year ago now, yep, I noticed my first grey eyebrow hair. I didn't even think that was really a thing, but of course, it's going to be.
I have also noticed that in my eyes, I need to go for another optical checkup because when I'm looking at the menu on the TV now, I have to squint my eyes to see. So yep, as they say, when you turn 40, your eyesight starts to really go.
As a mum of a toddler who takes up quite a lot of time and energy and attention, I don't actually have a huge amount of time to work on my own things. At the moment I am working towards creating my legacy. And I know that sounds really dramatic, but for the last, I don't know, five, six years, which is a long enough time, I have really wanted or had this idea of creating a place for architecture and interior design students to go to, to feel like they're supported and that they can get access to tools and advice. And just somewhere for them to go that isn't an Architect but isn't also their lecturer.
I feel like this is something I would have really benefited from and I feel like I have the experience and I have all those stories, I've been through it myself, and that's what I want to share now, that's my legacy that I want to build. And I want to do it, not only for me, and for Mia to look up to her mommy and all of that kind of thing. But I think deep down inside because my dad passed away when I was younger and I looked up to him.
I want to create something for those students and those young designers, entrepreneurs, but I also want to give it to Mia and any siblings that she might have in the future. And so that's my legacy that I want to work towards. And I think that when you are in your late thirties, forties, you're not quite thinking about yourself anymore.
In your twenties and thirties, you're working so hard on your career and your achievements and your goals and it's all about me, me, me, or not all about me, me, me. But in your late thirties, forties, you want to think about what was it all for? And I suppose this is like the forties to fifties, maybe. I really feel the entrepreneurial thing, the spirit, and I think I got loud from India, but I want to give back and I want to create something that we can be proud of as a family. And this is it. So watch this space to see what I create and achieve.
Do you agree with this idea of thinking about your purpose and what it is you can give back in life and leave as a legacy as well?
Self-employed or not, you are your most valuable asset. When you work for yourself, you are your own boss - perhaps the only employee so this is especially true. You might be feeling this, that the work just doesn’t get done unless you are working on it (or in it); creating the vision, planning out the ideas, moving the needle, and hustling. For this, and many other reasons, you’ve got to take care of your physical and mental health.
This is something I thought I had down, but it turns out I didn’t and I’ve been struggling recently with valuing myself.
If you want to be happy, you have to make yourself happy. If you want to get back into shape, you have to make it happen. If you have a dream, you have to make it happen. You need to take responsibility for your life and the direction it’s going in. You owe it to yourself - the cold, hard truth is that no one else is going to do it.
Seek out motivational materials and courses, podcasts, events, and so on. Read actual books, highlight them, and write out takeaway points.
Listen to your fave podcasts as you drive, or better still, as you take a walk and reconnect with nature.
Surround yourself with people who energize you and make you feel inspired, these people should not drain you of energy. People who have the same goals and understand you. They are your tribe.
Don’t be afraid to cleanse your friendship group and start to distance yourself from certain people. Protect your time, your energy, and your focus.
The best investment is to invest in yourself.
The best way to recession-proof yourself is to better your value; your skills and knowledge, and what you can bring to a role, a job, a project, a person. Learn that software that you have been meaning to, and go take a course in it if you know it is what your job will require soon, if not now. Brush up on a language or skill, or whatever it is.
I know that learning Icelandic will only serve to help me in my life here in Iceland, in my family, and to feel more settled living in Iceland. I could enroll in an evening class or an online course. In my business, there are always new skills I can be learning and working on; design software I need to brush up on. It’s all about prioritizing.
That being said, you are worth the investment and it will only help you grow.
Whether for fun or as a networking opportunity. Don’t be shy. Don’t back out at the last minute. Show up. Meeting people in real life beats social media connections any day.
Show up as yourself and be genuine. Ask the questions, take the notes, introduce yourself and make real connections - listen to the people you meet and try to remember something about them. Networking is not about letting people know about you but it works both ways. Would you recognize that person the following day and remember what you first talked about?
You will meet a lot of people but, much like dating, when you meet people that fall into the interesting category, they might just become part of your ‘tribe’. Pay close attention to them as you probably have a lot to learn from them.
And if you are still chasing that number on social media - if you want followers, be someone worth following.
Don’t hold it back like it’s some special secret. If you aren’t sharing it then it doesn’t exist and so it doesn’t matter.
People who are self-employed are often misunderstood by family and friends. For example, I honestly think my family thinks I’m just sitting at home waiting for their facetime calls, but that’s on me more than them. It’s up to me to explain what I do and when I do it. To share my work and its process. Easier said than done.
The way you talk about yourself and your work has a huge effect on how people feel and understand you. Don’t be shy but don’t show off. Learn where that happy medium is for you and for your audience. The same works the other way round. The way people feel and understand you will affect your work so be very aware of how you are showing up and talking about yourself and your work.
And if you can’t talk about yourself or your work, or feel like you don’t deserve to, then you really need to address this before you can go anywhere.
We all need to express ourselves and it’s healthy to talk, to let it out. Yes, therapy can be pricey but there are online options that are more affordable and possibly fit into your lifestyle a little more. Start small, speak to your partner or a good friend first. Letting someone in, especially your partner is a healthy step in your relationship. It might feel awkward, and you might get emotional, but you will likely both benefit from it.
Yes, we all feel stressed at some point. Be aware and know that this is normal. It’s not ok but it is normal. We also feel sadness, anger, joy, happiness, and everything in between. But be aware that stress, like other emotions, manifests in us, in our bodies, and in our relationships, and you want to keep any personal issue from leaking into work.
Stepping back into the self-employed working Mum life as a family of 4; a toddler and a newborn, with very little family support around us, has been incredibly stressful. Of course, there are highs, and they are often very high, but the lows can be very low. Mix in a global pandemic, a potential recession, and all the struggles of the last few years and you have one exhausted self-employed working Mum (said with a grateful heart).
Be proactive and find a productive way to manage your stress.
And whilst I’m here, get the calm app (or similar) and give meditation a try
We all know this but are you doing it? Look after your body so your future self can move.
I recently got an apple watch, haha, but it’s actually helping me move a little more. I obey the message that pings and suggests I stand up, and I love a good challenge so you know I’m working to complete those rings every day.
I’m not here to tell you to get a gym membership or start t train for a marathon, maybe try ‘couch to 5k’ first. Every time you workout, your body releases the natural hormone of endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good, they help with pain relief and can actually reduce stress and improve your mood, so why not get them flowing.
You only have one body so look after it. Exercise often isn’t a priority, especially when growing a business or juggling a full-time job with a side hustle. But being sedentary and working at your desk all day just isn’t good for you. Get a standing desk, take breaks and go outside - do whatever it takes to start moving your body and incorporating that into your day.
As a designer or creative professional, finding the perfect balance between staying productive and boosting creativity can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you are managing multiple projects or seeking fresh inspiration, maintaining a steady flow of creative energy is crucial.
In this post, I’ll share my top strategies for unlocking creativity and improving productivity, with simple changes you can make today.
Looking for a deeper dive into creative growth? Join the waitlist for my Creative Roots Retreat.
You’ve probably heard me talk about time blocking before. Time blocks are incredibly effective for organising your day and getting more done. Just like batching similar tasks, structuring your day into time blocks allows you to focus fully on one type of activity whether that is brainstorming, designing, or admin.
By dedicating specific blocks of time to different activities, you reduce distractions and boost productivity.
Be sure to schedule tasks based on when you are most creative. For example, I’m more creative in the mornings, so I reserve that time for design work (Canva, sketching, commissions, copy). Later in the day, I focus on tasks like emails and meetings.
Taking breaks is just as important as working, especially if you want to maintain long-term creativity.
“Creative breaks” are short, intentional pauses from your work that give your brain a chance to recharge. Take a walk or grab a coffee to reset your mindset and help you approach your work with fresh eyes.
One of the best habits you can develop is keeping a sketchbook or creative journal. Documenting your thoughts, sketches, and ideas regularly is a fantastic way to nurture creativity. Even if an idea feels rough, having it written down provides a bank of inspiration you can revisit whenever you’re feeling stuck.
Big projects can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially when juggling multiple tasks. To prevent this, break larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Setting small goals keeps your momentum going, gives you a sense of accomplishment, and reduces the risk of burnout.
Creativity thrives on inspiration.
To keep your ideas flowing, regularly expose yourself to new sources of inspiration. This could mean visiting an art gallery, exploring new places, or even following creative accounts on Instagram (hint hint).
A change in perspective can work wonders for your creative mindset, sparking fresh ideas you can bring into your own projects.
Sonia Nicolson is a Chartered Architect (ARB) and former University Lecturer turned Creative Educator. She helps aspiring architects and design students master hand drawing, portfolio preparation, and creative confidence through her online courses, eBooks, and mentoring.
Follow Sonia on Instagram or explore her free resources library.
Architect & former University Lecturer turned Entrepreneur. I help female Entrepreneurs successfully Design & Build their Creative Businesses in Interior Design, Architecture & Urban Sketching.
Architect & Creative Educator helping you design & build your career, and creative business in interior design, architecture and urban sketching
Architect & Former University Lecturer | Mentoring the Next Generation of Architects to Succeed from Day One
Follow me @sonianicolson
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