Weird Side Hustle: I Made $8 Pretending My Lamp Was a Therapist

Have you ever considered that something as ordinary as a lamp could help you make money? Sounds absurd, right? But that’s exactly what happened to me. In this article, I’ll take you step by step through my hilarious, unconventional, and surprisingly profitable experience of talking to my lamp as if it were a licensed therapist. By the end, you’ll see that sometimes the weirdest ideas can turn into real opportunities.

How the Idea Started

It all began on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I was sitting in my living room, staring at the soft glow of my desk lamp, and feeling… well, stressed out. Between work deadlines, personal projects, and the endless scrolling on social media, I was mentally exhausted. Therapy seemed like a great option, but my budget at the time was nonexistent.

Then, a random thought crossed my mind: “What if I just talked to the lamp?” At first, it was meant to be a joke, a way to vent my frustrations. But as I spoke aloud, something surprising happened: I felt lighter. The act of expressing thoughts, fears, and even silly complaints to the lamp triggered a sense of release.

Here’s where things took an unexpected turn. I had recently come across a quirky app that paid people to complete unusual tasks for entertainment content. One of the challenges? Pretend an object is your therapist and document the experience. My “aha moment” hit instantly.

Setting the Scene: Turning My Lamp into a Therapist

Before diving in, I needed to make my lamp “therapist-ready.” Here’s what I did:

Positioning: I placed the lamp at eye level on a small table, ensuring it “looked” at me when I sat down.
Ambiance: I dimmed the other lights and added a few cozy pillows to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Naming: Giving my lamp a name made the experience more authentic. I called it Dr. Lumos.
Rules: I treated the lamp as a professional—no interruptions, full attention, and honesty.

It felt absurd at first, but that’s exactly what made it fun. The more seriously I took the lamp, the more amusing and insightful the experience became.

The First Session: Opening Up to a Lamp

The first session lasted about 20 minutes. I started with simple thoughts:

“I feel stressed about work deadlines.”
“I’ve been procrastinating a lot lately.”
“Why does my cat insist on sitting on my keyboard?”

Oddly enough, vocalizing these thoughts to an inanimate object helped me process them. My brain began to organize my worries, and I could almost hear myself coming up with solutions.

During this session, I also recorded my experience for the app. I narrated my thoughts, my funny reactions to talking to a lamp, and even captured moments of awkward laughter. The app moderators loved it. Within 24 hours, I received $8 in my account.

Why Talking to a Lamp Works (Surprisingly)

You might be wondering, “Why would anyone pay for this?” The answer lies in psychology and human behavior:

The “Empty Chair” Technique: Therapists often use an empty chair to have clients speak to someone they imagine is present. Talking to a lamp replicates this technique.
Mindfulness and Reflection: Expressing thoughts aloud forces reflection and clarity. Even absurd setups can improve mental focus.
Novelty Factor: People enjoy entertaining, unconventional content. Apps and platforms want stories that are funny, relatable, and shareable.

The Financial Aspect: How $8 Turned Into a Lesson

Eight dollars might not seem like a fortune, but it taught me several important lessons about income, creativity, and the modern economy:

Micro-tasks add up: Small, unusual tasks online can supplement your income.
Creativity is currency: Platforms reward people who think outside the box.
Fun is profitable: The more genuine enjoyment you show in a task, the better the outcome.

Expanding the Experiment: Making My Lamp a Regular Therapist

Encouraged by the $8, I decided to schedule weekly sessions with Dr. Lumos. Each session included:

Mood Check-ins: I rated my mood from 1 to 10.
Problem Solving: I spoke through challenges, brainstorming solutions aloud.
Reflection Prompts: I asked Dr. Lumos questions like “What would you advise me if you were human?”

I also kept a journal of each session. Surprisingly, the combination of talking out loud and documenting results improved my productivity and mood. My focus on daily tasks sharpened, and I started completing projects I’d been delaying for months.

Turning the Lamp Therapy Into Content

The next logical step was sharing my experience online. I created posts, videos, and short stories about “Lamp Therapy.” The reaction was incredible:

Followers loved the humor and relatability.
Some tried it themselves, sharing their own experiences.
Content creators approached me for collaborations.

The $8 initially earned became more than just money—it became a spark for creativity, engagement, and even side income from social media.

Lessons Learned from Lamp Therapy

Here’s what I learned from talking to my lamp and monetizing it:

Creativity pays: Unconventional ideas often attract attention and opportunities.
Engagement is key: Sharing your experience authentically makes it relatable.
Mental health doesn’t need to be expensive: Simple, playful approaches can relieve stress.
Document everything: Recording, journaling, or sharing your journey adds value.

Step-by-Step Guide for Your Own Lamp Therapy

If you want to try this at home or even earn a few dollars, here’s a simple guide:

Pick Your Object: Any lamp, chair, or stuffed animal will do.
Create a Comfortable Space: Good lighting, cozy setup, minimal distractions.
Name It: Personalization makes it more engaging.
Schedule Sessions: Even 10–20 minutes daily works.
Document Your Experience: Write notes, record videos, or make posts.
Upload to Platforms: Look for apps or online communities that reward creative tasks.
Reflect and Adjust: Keep track of what works, what’s fun, and what brings results.

Why This Works in Today’s Digital Economy

The digital economy thrives on engagement, novelty, and shareable content. Brands and platforms look for:

Unique ideas that capture attention.
Humor and relatability.
Real-life experiences that audiences can connect with.

By treating a lamp as a therapist, I tapped into all three. It’s proof that sometimes the smallest, silliest actions can create opportunities.

Real-Life Applications and Benefits

Beyond earning $8, lamp therapy had surprising benefits:

Stress Relief: Verbalizing thoughts releases mental tension.
Creative Boost: It inspired me to explore more unusual ideas.
Connection: Sharing the story built connections with online communities.
Self-Reflection: I gained clarity on personal and professional goals.

Common Questions About Lamp Therapy

Q: Isn’t this ridiculous?

A: Yes, it’s absurd, but absurdity can be therapeutic and profitable. Humor makes people pay attention.

Q: How much can I realistically earn?

A: Earnings vary. Some tasks pay a few dollars; viral content can bring larger rewards. The key is creativity and engagement.

Q: Does it really improve mental health?

A: Talking aloud, even to an object, is a form of expressive therapy. Combined with journaling or reflection, it’s surprisingly effective.

Conclusion: $8 Well Spent on Creativity and Fun

What started as a joke became a lesson in creativity, reflection, and small wins. My lamp, Dr. Lumos, wasn’t just a source of light—it became a therapist, a muse, and a tiny paycheck. Eight dollars might not change my life, but the experience changed how I see opportunities around me.

Tapping into humor, imagination, and simple tools can be surprisingly rewarding. Sometimes, thinking outside the box—or lamp—leads to unexpected benefits.

✅ Sources:

Psychology Today: Empty Chair Technique
Forbes: Creative Side Hustles in the Digital Economy
Healthline: Expressive Writing Benefits

Try it yourself: My experiment with lamp therapy was hilarious and surprisingly rewarding. And you? Share your fun, weird, or creative experiences in the comments!

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Written by the author, Fatima Al-Hajri 👩🏻‍💻