Samuel MooreThe coronavirus pandemic has altered how we live and work. Remote working is one of the experiences that became popular at the peak of the pandemic. Now that we have crossed over into 2022, the question that begs an answer is “what is remote working in 2022?”
To be sincere, the idea of remote working may not change. However, your habit as African Freelancers to remote working and the trends may change. In this post, we will look at both to help us define remote working in 2022.
Remote Working Trends in 2022
Remote working is becoming the order of the day. Even though we are past the first wave of the pandemic, more and more companies are engaging in remote work. The question is what are the trends that freelancers in Africa should watch out for in 2022? Check out some of them below:
The need for time-tracking apps
It is no secret that it is twice as difficult to be disciplined when working from home. This is probably why most African freelancers find it difficult to deliver on time. To help avoid distractions, many businesses will make use of time-tracking apps.
These apps will help to monitor the activity of workers and freelancers in real-time. As such, these individuals can focus more on work and avoid distractions while enjoying the benefits of remote work.
Video Conferencing will become more popular
Without meetings, it is difficult for companies to achieve their aims. This is because they would find it difficult to communicate goals and objectives. Remote working requires workers to work from different locations.
How do companies organize meetings? They’ll make use of video conferencing apps. Already companies are making use of Google Meet, Zoom, and Skype. Some of these apps even allow for live recording for future reference. In 2022, you’ll see more video conferencing apps being developed and used.
Security and privacy tools are becoming commonplace
Data security is paramount with the rise in hacking and online crime. Since African freelancers and other remote workers will be working from home, there is a need for more security tools. These tools will help in protecting client and company data while being transferred from one point to another online.
There are several tools that you can use to achieve this including 1Password. Teams can share these tools so that wherever they are, they are assured of data security.
A rise in the use of Communication tools
Without communication, it is impossible to do business effectively. Even if you get freelance jobs from freelance websites, you’ll still need communication tools. They are necessary to keep communication ongoing regardless of each person’s location.
Before now, it used to be difficult to find the appropriate communication tool. Thankfully, more tools are on the market today because of technological advancement. Examples are Zoom and Slack and they make communication among remote teams seamless.
Remote Working Habits Freelancers Must Develop in 2022
Now that you have a picture of the remote working trends in 2022, what habits do you need to develop? The habits you develop will determine how efficient you will be working from home. In this section, we have put together a list of habits that are necessary for African freelancers in 2022.
Professionalism
The fact that you are working from home doesn’t mean that you should drop our quality of work. While many people believe professionalism as a remote worker means dressing well for Zoom meetings, there’s so much more. Everything about your work ethic should be professional.
The easiest way to determine what is professional and what isn’t s putting yourself in the shoes of the client. How would you feel if a freelancer you hired doesn’t respond to emails or deliver projects on time?
This should paint a picture of what is expected of African freelancers when it comes to remote work. Your work ethic and sense of responsibility must be 100 per cent. Don’t neglect competence, service delivery, and integrity as well.
Self-motivation
Without self-motivation, remote working is almost unachievable. Why? There are loads of distractions at home. From your spouse and kids to the television and your bed. Let’s not forget how distracting your smartphone can be.
You need to find ways to keep yourself self-motivated since no one is there to push you to work. Self-motivation ensures that you push yourself to achieve what you must regardless of the situation. What keeps you motivated?
Time management
Without proper planning, you are heading for failure. It may take some time, but in the end, you’ll crash. This is why time management is an important habit that every remote worker must develop in 2022.
There are several apps to help you manage your time properly. When you see any successful freelancers in Africa, you can tell that they are keen on time management. Proper time management boils down to properly planning your schedule. This involves:
- Listing your daily tasks.
- Organizing them in an order of priority.
- Follow your list judiciously.
It takes some discipline to stick to your list. With time, you should get accustomed to doing this. Soon, your remote working experience will yield amazing results.
Self-care
This is one habit that many African freelancers and remote workers all over the world neglect. Since you are working from home, it is very easy to sit down almost all day. This is not healthy for you at all.
There is also the tendency to mix up your meals or continue eating all day long. When staying at home, you need to work out more than you used to when commuting to work daily. Without this, you’ll end up developing certain physical and health challenges.
Meanwhile, you also need to give yourself a treat from time to time. You need it to remain creative and productive. There are several ways to care for yourself, check them out, and use them appropriately.
Conclusion
In the end, remote working involves allowing workers to work from different locations outside the traditional office. We have shown you different trends to expect in 2022 as well as habits that African freelancers must adopt. Share some of yours with us in the comments section.
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Ekene Eziagulu