How To Keep Work-Life Balance As A Freelancer & Avoid That Awful Burnout

Freelancers are a part of the rising gig economy which is all set to take over at least half of the jobs by 2020. Apart from the obvious benefits that make freelancing lucrative such as flexible work hours, attractive pay and being able to work from anywhere, studies also show that 82% of remote employees report lower levels of stress. Perhaps, it has to do with not being in the midst of office politics or spending hours a day commuting which can contribute to stress significantly.  

So, does that mean being a freelance designer or an independent professional comes with no risks and only perks?

Absolutely not. While being a part of the gig economy lends a certain level of autonomy to freelancers, there are a few hurdles.

The pay scale is not the same in every country which can lead to say, a freelance WordPress developer getting paid differs depending in which country he/she is catering to. It can also lead to a freelancer taking up multiple gigs and meeting hard deadlines in order to make ends meet which can put them under extreme duress.

In certain situations, this culminates in a state of chronic stress otherwise known as burnout.

The good news is that as a independent freelancer, there are several ways to avoid dreaded burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

5 ways to strike a healthy work-life balance to avoid a burnout as a freelancer

1.  Update your skills: This might seem counter-intuitive at first because it seems like putting in more work than taking it easy. But, being a highly skilled remote worker can actually help you cut down on your hours and give you more time to spend on your other hobbies because you can get paid handsomely for the gigs that you do take on or like the most. Whether you take online courses or join a school, upgrading your skills or diversifying your portfolio will always work in your favour. Interestingly, 61% of freelancers specialize in more than 1 area and have 2x opportunity in hand.( source: Glassdoor).

It may also be prudent to indulge in skills that are in high demand. For instance, Artificial Intelligence, Brand strategy, Instagram marketing and Machine Learning were in high demand in 2017-18.( source:Inc report)  

2. Jump-start your career by choosing a well-paying niche: While more money does not equal more happiness beyond a point, it definitely does not hurt to inculcate skills that can land you a well-paying gig. For someone who is considering a career in freelancing as a part time or a full time or someone who is looking to branch out, this is of prime importance.

For freelance web designing jobs and work from home programming jobs, rake in no less than $1000/hour ( Source: Report by FreelanceHacks). So, you can definitely consider becoming a web developer if you have the inclination.

Copywriters who take up work from home jobs are also in luck because they can make up to $250/hour ( source: survey report by INC).

A designer who dabbles in illustration, graphic design, 2d or 3d modeling is also in high demand and can earn more than $85/hour by listing his/her skills on major freelance websites like Missionkya.

And, that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are several other targeted gigs that require highly specialized skills which ultimately results  and better pay which means lower levels of stress. This also allows you greater freedom over the kind of work that you wish to take up instead of scrambling to meet several deadlines that can turn you into a nervous wreck. You can also put away the extra cash towards a long-time goal or treat yourself to something nice.

3. Successfully navigating your way through freelance portals: Major freelance websites have similar user interface wherein a self starter can either  register for a gig or bid for the jobs. The competition can be quite cut-throat especially for a beginner. It is important to understand how different these websites work and the best way to do that is join online forums. Use discretion when it comes to posting gigs and experiment with different ways of acquiring a job. Steer clear of websites that ask you to pay for tests or for membership.

4. Take mini-breaks and some time off periodically: Mini-breaks while working, especially if you have taken up independent job, is crucial. You do not want to work yourself to the point where you end up experiencing the painful symptoms of carpal tunnel. This is true for other intensive freelance work as well. So, even if you are a web developer or a interior designer (anything that requires repetitive motion) demands that you take a break every now and then.

A great way to break your work down in intervals is the Pomodoro technique which means that you work for 25-minute intervals and take a 5-minute break.

Although it can for sure reduce the risk of burnouts, it is still important that you take a holiday and pause all freelance work. On most freelance websites, you have the option to pause your gig and let your regular clients know that you are on a well-deserved vacation. It is also essential that you recognize how much you take on instead of accepting every project that comes your way. Say, for data entry jobs from home, the task itself may be simple but there is a limit to how many entries you can get done in a day error-free. No matter how much you enjoy your work, monotony can creep in and you might see a slight dip in your productivity.

5.  Consider working in co-working spaces instead of at home: One of the perks that come with taking up a freelance job is that you can work from anywhere. But, working from home might mean that you are limiting human interaction which isn’t necessarily the best thing for mental health. For instance, if you were to take up data entry jobs from home, you might very quickly get bored. If you were to do the same thing at a co-working space, the solidarity and basic human interaction can help keep things fresh. Co-working spaces also come with a ton of amenities that you can use to take your mind off work. Not to mention that co-working spaces can be a great way to expand your network, career and mind.

The future is freelance

Whether you are a freelance accountant or a software developer, the key is to play to your strengths and keep yourself abreast of what’s new and in high demand. More companies are working with 100% remote teams which signals that the future indeed belongs to the gig economy. As an independent remote professional, all you need to do is build your personal brand and maintain consistency while ensuring you do not put your mental health on the backburner by ensuring that you do not let your work take over your life.

Common Challenges Faced By Android App Developers

First, there was an evolution of smartphones and then came the revolution of mobile applications along with it. The most dramatic introductions into the market were a high-speed internet, touch screen, and social media engagement. These revolutions are further divided into iOS and Android app development. The recent mobile operating systems have been transformed into an updated version irrespective of the platform it is meant to be built for. According to recent statistics, the android application has covered about 83 percent of the mobile application domain.

Companies can easily create their own business apps in the Android app platform by hiring a website designer who can meet their needs. Android is a platform which facilitates an enormous user base to the mobile app owner. When it comes to apps, open source is suited for everyone because it is a free platform that allows people to collaborate with the developing technology and it also adds to and refines peoples’ ideas together. Keeping this statement in mind, Google App engine also lets developers build their own scalable mobile and web backends on the Google Infrastructure in any language. Google made the decision to make Android an open source, gave software developers the leverage and the momentum that they needed to become a strong force in the global application market.

However, there are many challenges that can be faced by them. Mobile app developers around the world struggle to create intuitive and advanced software for the Android platform today. Even if they were to hire a professional freelance web designer, they have little chance of rising to the top. Let us look at some of the top reasons:

·        Software fragmentation Issue- The slow pace of Android adoption is one of the biggest challenges in Android versions. Software fragmentation means that the developers are not really equipped with the latest technology. They need to focus on the bugs and the security updates, and that means that they cannot fully concentrate on the latest version of the operating system as their customers have not upgraded their device. According to a recent survey, an estimated 1.2 percent of the mobile devices run on Android Marshmallow, 36 percent run on KitKat, 35 percent on Lollipop and the rest are using miscellaneous version. Manufacturers of these devices play a key role in the configuration of the OS of phones so it is difficult for an Android app developer to attempt to solve the software upgradation issue.

·       Security issues- The hardware and software fragmentation issues are responsible for intensifying the security troubles faced by the developers. As there is a lack of software and hardware standardization, that results in Android security flaws. Due to the lack of governance, there is hijacking and hacking which makes the apps less trustworthy.

·        Issue related to Patent- When it comes to strict governance, Apple has got it covered because of their dissimilarity. On the other hand, has no such governance and the main reason for that is the lack of quality-check the guidelines while uploading apps on the Android play store.

·        Vulnerable Android search Engine- There might be a million apps out there which are just as similar as yours and getting your app a considerable position in the marketplace can be quite challenging. If the app developer is not serious enough about advertising and promoting the app, your app could disappear from the play store permanently

·        Hardware Features- The Android operating system is different from any other OS out there. Android is an open source system and the parent company Alphabet gives manufacturers a way to customize the operating system according to their own requirements. Moreover, there are no regulations on the same device being releases from different manufacturers. As a result, you can find many Android devices with different hardware features and the same software. For example- if two smartphones are running on Android, they may have different screen resolutions, screen size, camera, and other hardware structures. When a developer is creating an Android app, he needs to make sure that the application delivers a personalized experience for each of the app’s users.

·        API Incompatibility- Many application developers use third-party APIs to enhance the interoperability and the functionality of their apps. However, not all their party API are of the same high quality as Android. There are some APIs which are specifically created for Android versions and may not work on devices that are running on a different version of the operating system. App developers generally have to come up with ways to make a single API work on all the version of Android which can be a challenging task.

·       Search Engine Visibility- The latest statistics show that the Google play store has the highest number of mobile apps than any other. Moreover, a large number of users who download apps, prefer the ones which are free over paid apps. This is why you need to hire a freelance website developer who can promote your mobile applications and increase the download numbers by employing application monetization options. It is very easy for a newly developed app to get lost in the play sore just like that. So, the best way to promote the app to reach your target audience is to use special comprehensive digital marketing strategies. The aggressive promotion has become the most necessary aspect of app development.

Google Is Shutting Down Google+ For Its Customers Following Security Lapse – A Big Step Towards Cyber Security

Recently, Google announced that due to some major security concerns, it will shut down the customer category of Google+ for the upcoming 10 months. This decision came after the case of previously undisclosed security defect that revealed the profile data of many users which were said to be remedied in the month of March this year. Not only Google, but there are plenty of reputed companies as well which are facing this problem of the cyber threat. So, the question arises – How to make sure that the data of your users remain protected from any unpredictable online danger? Moreover, you should make sure that the privacy policy of your website is clearly able to describe the utilization of the customer data so as to confirm the transparency factor.

Right now, Google+ has “little engagement and usage” and more than 80% of its user sessions do not last more than 3 seconds which is why it is planning to stop the operation for some time. Nonetheless, this service will still be in service for the enterprise consumers who use Google+ for facilitating the conversation among their co-workers. Now, the main focus of Google is to promote a corporate social environment which is absolutely secured from any threat. It is very important for ensuring proper protection of users’ data so that they can fully rely upon the services of your website. Furthermore, Google is actually very concerned about the data protection of its users and that is why it has also decided to make some necessary amendments to the privacy policies of other Google services as well. The developers will no longer have the liberty to receive the call log and the SMS permissions on the android devices which is a rather firm step towards creating a safe corporate network.

One of the most important and well-known services of Google, Gmail has also undergone some significant changes for safeguarding the data of its users. For example, its privacy policy will be modified for improving the services and which will ultimately limit the applications and their access to the user data. It is vital for an established and well-known company like Google to maintain its reputation in the market or else it will adversely affect its image among consumers.

There are many reasons that explain how these major changes in the privacy policies of some Google services will change the perspective of their customers for better –

1. The consumers will start trusting the services of Google more firmly as they believe that it is taking some significant steps in the direction of customer security.

2. Google will be able to generate more goodwill among it's existing as well as the potential clients which is beneficial for its proper growth.

3. There will be some major important modifications in the privacy policy of Google which will help in including a few more guidelines regarding the security of users’ data.

4. There is no doubt that it will help Google in creating more leads as well since people will not hesitate to rely on its services which is a good sign for the company.

One of the major reasons why even a reputed and well-established company like Google is so concerned about ensuring the safety of their users’ data is because it has become an important issue in today’s era. The fact that Google has decided to shut down its 7-year-old service because the data of its users is in danger is enough to tell the seriousness of this situation. Earlier, Google was unable to find out the number of users who got affected by this security breach but the approximation was that more than 4,50,000 accounts of Google+ users were affected.

As of now, Google is aiming to provide their consumers with a better and protected social network so that they feel safe while using its services. Another major change will be that in spite of showing all permissions needed in the single screen, you will get to see every requested permission one-by-one by the applications. This will help in giving adequate knowledge to the customers of what they are giving their permission to. So if in case, the developer has requested access to drive documents as well as the calendar entries, then it will be your choice to decide which will be the one to get shared.

Google understands how important it is to retain the trust of its consumers and how it can affect its repute which is why it is trying its best to ensure that this problem gets resolved as fast as possible. Nowadays, there have been so many cases in which the data profile of users is at risk and that is why consumers are so much concerned regarding the protection of their data. This not only poses a grave threat to the users, but the marketers are also so much worried about how to make sure that they are absolutely away from the threat of hackers. This security threat affects the relationship between the company and its consumers as the customers are unsure about the safety of personal data. This is the main reason why Google has taken such an appreciable step towards modifying its privacy policies so that the trust of its customers remains unaffected. It is the high time that every company should take a look at its privacy policies and improve it for gaining better results and assuring absolute data protection of its users.