Remote work sounds ideal until you're on a video call with a UK client and NEPA takes the light. Or your data runs out in the middle of uploading a design file. Or you've been working from bed for three weeks and your back is hurting.
Here are 10 practical tips for Nigerian freelancers who work remotely.
Everything else on this list depends on having power. Options, from least to most expensive:
Many successful Nigerian freelancers invest in an inverter setup early. The productivity gain is worth it.
Don't rely on a single internet source:
Keep data loaded on at least two networks. When one fails, switch immediately.
The flexibility of freelancing is a double-edged sword. Without structure, you'll either work all the time or not enough.
Pick your working hours and protect them. Tell your household. Put them in your calendar. Start and end at the same time each day.
Even if you live in a single room, create a specific spot that is your "work area." This could be a desk in the corner, or even just a specific chair with a tray table.
Your brain starts to associate that space with work mode. This is a well-documented productivity technique.
If you work with UK clients (UTC+1) or US clients (UTC-5 to UTC-8), know what their working hours mean in Nigerian time.
A UK client's 9am is 10am Nigeria time. A New York client's 9am is 2pm or 3pm Nigeria time. Schedule communication accordingly.
Remote clients can't see you working. The only thing they see is communication and deliverables.
Update your clients regularly — even if it's just "I'm 80% done with the logo, will send by tomorrow." This builds trust and prevents the "how's it going?" messages.
Text messages and emails can be misread. For difficult conversations (scope changes, payment issues, feedback calls), request a video call.
Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams all have free tiers that work fine.
Identify your most productive hours — for many people it's 6am-10am before the day gets noisy. Protect this time ruthlessly. No social media, no WhatsApp responses, no calls.
Use the rest of your working hours for communication, admin, and lighter tasks.
One of the biggest time wasters for remote freelancers is chasing payments. Set up automatic invoicing and payment reminders so this happens in the background.
With Soloist, you can set up recurring invoices for retainer clients and automatic reminders for overdue payments. You focus on work — the billing handles itself.
A good chair, a decent monitor, proper lighting for video calls, and a reliable headset make a real difference to your daily experience and productivity.
These are business expenses — track them for your tax return.