The ongoing cost-of-living crisis means that for close to a third of those people, a side hustle is a necessity to make ends meet. For many more though, their side hustle is a legacy of Covid-19 when they were made redundant or furloughed from their main jobs and had time on their hands to explore their passions and turn these passions into a business.

In this respect, the pandemic tore through many of the workplace narratives that had been passed down for generations: the need to work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to be present in the office and even the idea that we are all part of some larger machine. Instead, many would-be entrepreneurs are now turning their backs on the status quo and are finding a way to turn their passions into effective revenue streams and even full-time jobs.

A side hustle is a paid piece of work or a job you do in addition to your main source of income. It can be anything from delivering pizzas or driving taxis to selling handcrafted products or freelancing.

According to a survey by Aviva, the most popular side hustles are selling handmade products and freelancing, while others are turning to art, photography and even trying their hand at becoming social media influencers. The average level of income generated by a side hustle is around $600 per month, although the survey found that 16% bring in more than $1,200 a month.

The pandemic certainly accelerated the increase in side hustles, but the attitudes of younger workers are also playing a part. I find that they are more prepared than those who came before them to stand up to their employers. They’re also less willing to put up with the broken social contract that promised previous generations they would get ahead if they stayed in the same job and worked hard.

Instead, they are increasingly choosing to opt out of these old-fashioned working ideas, and for many, the perfect way to do that is through the side hustle. And, whether for love or money, I think now is a great time to find one.

Platforms like eBay and Etsy make it easy for anyone to buy and sell products all over the world, while Deliveroo and Uber allow people to sign up for instant driving and delivery work with no strings attached. But it’s not just the younger generations who are forging their own path.

With a record number of job vacancies (paywall) in the U.K. jobs market, older workers are also in a sweet spot to find a side hustle that suits them. Whether they want to boost a pension, supplement a salary or just do something they love, they have the skills and experience that many employers value without the ties that many younger workers have such as childcare, which allows these older employees to work more flexible hours.

Often the best place to start if you are considering a side hustle is to think of the areas in which you have a natural flare for something that could add value to others. You should begin by researching whether there is a need out there that you might be able to fill. If there is, that's a good place to start. The beauty of testing the water is that you minimize the risk and govern how much or how little resources you commit (both in terms of time and money). One thing is for sure—if you don't try you will never find out.

According to Elite Business magazine, Gen Z entrepreneurs are leading the U.K.’s post-Covid recovery, and many young entrepreneurs are doing it through their side hustles or businesses started as side hustles. In fact, among the U.K.’s sole traders, only those from Gen Z experienced average increases in annual revenue during the pandemic.

The beauty of the side hustle is that it allows anyone with an idea or a passion to start a business and grow it slowly while still earning an income from their main job. That can free you to grow your new business in a gradual, more organic way without the need to take on external funding. This is exactly what I have done with each of my businesses over the years. The risks are also much lower and so is the pressure, for if the side hustle fails, you still have their primary source of income to fall back on. But all this talk of income and pressure flies in the face of many people’s motivation to start a side hustle in the first place.

Increasingly, society as a whole, and younger workers in particular, are putting more emphasis on well-being and mental health. Yes, it’s important to be financially stable, but modern workers are less willing to put in overtime at the office because some draconian employers expect it. They’re also not prepared to let their financial stability come at the cost of their mental and physical health. That’s why the side hustle is proving to be such a fantastic option, as it gives modern workers the autonomy and flexibility they crave.