Remote work sounds like a dream, right? No commute, working in your pajamas, endless coffee… But let’s be honest, it’s not all sunshine and Wi-Fi! Nigerian freelancers, we’ve got our own unique struggles when it comes to working from home, and they’re both hilarious and downright frustrating. From the constant battle with NEPA to explaining to your relatives what exactly you do all day, here are 10 remote work struggles only Nigerian freelancers can relate to. Let’s laugh (and cry) together!
- NEPA: The Ultimate Villain
You’re on a Zoom call with an international client, and everything is going great—until NEPA strikes! One minute, you’re discussing deliverables; the next minute, you’re plunged into darkness with no Wi-Fi, no power, and a client left wondering if you’ve been kidnapped. Pro Tip: Always have a power bank ready. NEPA doesn’t care about your deadlines!
- The “Can You Hear Me?” Struggle
You finally get your client on the phone, ready to pitch your services, and just as you’re making your most important point, your network decides it’s time to give you the silent treatment. “Can you hear me now?” you ask for the 20th time, waving your phone around like you're signaling a spaceship.
The Jollof Rice Temptation
Working from home has its perks… like always being near the kitchen. But let’s be real, focusing on your tasks is very difficult when the smell of jollof rice is calling your name. One moment you’re replying to emails, and the next, you’re at the stove, promising yourself "just a small plate"—we all know how that ends!Family: The Unofficial Co-Workers
Try explaining to your relatives that working from home does not mean you're available to help with every little thing. “You're always on that computer, can’t you take a break and help me with something?” Aunties and uncles have a special talent for interrupting at the worst possible times.Wi-Fi: The Faithful Betrayer
Your Wi-Fi is working fine all day, but the moment you’re about to hit “send” on a big project or log into a client meeting, it decides to take a small break—without notice. Let’s just say, Nigerian freelancers have learned to pray to the gods of internet connection before every meeting.
The “Quick Nap” That Turns Into a Full Sleep Cycle
Ah, the freedom of working from home! You tell yourself, “I’ll just take a quick nap, 15 minutes tops,” but you wake up 2 hours later, disoriented, with your laptop still open and your task list untouched. Who needs productivity, right?Too Many Tabs, Too Little Focus
When you start the day with every intention of being productive, but somehow, you end up with 37 browser tabs open—half of them YouTube videos on how to be productive. Spoiler alert: watching productivity videos doesn't actually make you more productive. Who knew?Clients Expect You to Work 24/7
Since you’re working from home, clients sometimes assume you have no life and are available at all hours of the day. Midnight messages like, “Can you send that file now?” aren’t exactly uncommon. Excuse me, sir, I have to sleep too!The “Perfect Workspace” That’s Anything but Perfect
Sure, you’ve set up a nice little workspace with a desk, chair, and some inspirational quotes on the wall. But in reality, you end up working from your bed half the time, with your laptop balancing on a pillow and your productivity balancing on a thread.
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- The Never-Ending Battle of “Explain Your Job”
Explaining freelancing to your Nigerian relatives is a battle you can never win. “So, you just sit at home, press your computer, and people pay you?” they ask, with suspicion in their eyes. The more you explain, the less they understand. Eventually, you give up and just say, “Yes, I press computer for a living.”
Conclusion
Remote work is a rollercoaster of emotions, from the highs of working in your pajamas to the lows of dealing with power cuts and Wi-Fi betrayals. But despite the struggles, being a Nigerian freelancer is rewarding, hilarious, and sometimes downright chaotic. So, next time NEPA strikes or your kitchen calls, just remember: you’re not alone in this struggle. Hang in there, freelancers—we’ve got this!