Everyone has varying degrees of chaos in their lives. And when you work from home, it can get to unbelievably difficult levels. But when you’re able to manage the chaos, even slightly, it can make a difference in how you perform.

Now, there are a number of ways you can manage the insanity that is your day-to-day life. Today, though, I’m looking at maintaining a schedule and how it can improve your productivity.

And it’s one of the many things I wish I would have had in place when I started freelance writing in 2012.

Let’s take a closer look at managing our time and what we can do to improve productivity overall.

Can You Manage Chaos with Proper Scheduling?

One of the more attractive features of working from home centers around freedom. The freedom to spend more time with the family, flexibility in a schedule, and not having to dress up is ideal for many.

But it doesn’t always work out that well. In reality, it depends on the types of clients you get, when they need you active, and when you need time to yourself.

As most of my clients are businesses, I needed to be available during normal business hours. So it made sense to schedule my day to accommodate those who were paying me.

And as I added more and more to my daily routine, trying to juggle everything by the seat of my pants wasn’t working. That’s when I decided that having a more permanent and stable schedule is the most ideal.

So, what kind of tools do I use to manage the chaos in my life and balance the multitude of projects that are going on?

Using Asana

One of my larger clients uses Asana for the majority of their workload. It’s a great, team-based tool that keeps everyone connected to various projects. And, it works exceptionally well to plan out your week.

Although my client pays for the premium version, I found using the free Asana scheduler has helped me manage my personal projects. I can add up to 15 team members, and it comes with a slew of tools.

It’s easy to set up tasks, add notes, upload needed files, and more. And, it helps me keep focused on what I need to do on any given day.

Using Mindomo

I love mind mapping and planning out visual flows for projects. To do this, I use Mindomo. It’s an easy-to-use tool that helps you plan out just about anything you can think of.

For example, I often start with an ultimate goal. Then, I’ll break down those goals into smaller tasks. It’s a great way to brainstorm.

In fact, I use Mindomo to plan out every website I’ve built, my YouTube channel, and even the games I plan on developing in the future. The most important aspect, though, is that it lets me focus and manage the chaos of creating anything.

Ah, Yes…the Whiteboard

Mind mapping aside, still a common piece of office furniture I use is the whiteboard. It’s something I can look at every morning when walking into the office with reminders for various tasks.

And that’s perhaps my biggest failing at the moment; remembering to do certain things. Between age and chaos, I forget quite often.

While the whiteboard doesn’t have as much to do with my schedule as Asana, it does help me remember important things I need to do on any given day. For me, it’s a vital addition.

How I Manage Chaos in My Life

Now, I still have quite a way to go before I can say that I’m a scheduling master. There are still quite a few things I need to learn about myself to really manage the chaos.

However, these steps have made profound differences in my life and has made things far easier to accomplish.

Changing My Mindset

The first thing I did a long time ago was to change my mindset about freelancing. As soon as I started thinking of it as a business and not just working from home, it was easier to view myself as a professional.

I’m not just some writer working in a home office in his pajamas. I am a professional writer who has helped thousands of small businesses around the world.

And the more I tell myself that, the better I feel. Which helps tremendously as I often suffer from impostor syndrome.

Creating a Proper Work Environment

Instead of being able to just pick up my laptop and work from the kitchen table, I found a proper work environment helps me stay focused and make more money. It also helps me keep sane to manage chaos in many forms.

For example, I once holed myself up in a dark basement room. The end result was extremely bad (long story) and it led to a myriad of emotional and physical problems.

My point is having a good work environment and a scheduled workflow can ultimately save yourself an incredible amount of grief.

Setting the Ground Rules in My House

Part of maintaining a good work schedule is setting the rules of the house…and sticking with them. If you live by yourself, then it’s not too difficult as no one is there to bother you.

For example, when my daughters come to visit, they know that when my office door is shut, pretend I am out of the house and at work.

When working from home, disruptions of any kind can throw your schedule off and make you less productive. This leads to a loss of income for that particular day.

Adapt to Needs

One of the most important aspects of working from home is learning how to adapt to various needs and situations. Don’t expect that everything will go awesomely from day one.

It takes an incredible amount of willpower to manage chaos in your life, especially when you have young ones. And having a schedule for your day is incredibly helpful.

For instance, I am taking on a lot of side projects throughout the week. Because I want all of these things to succeed, I need to adapt and manage my time. I’ve changed my schedule a lot over the past two years and am finally in a good groove. ..ish.

Never Underestimate the Value of a Good Schedule

Out of all the things I’ve learned since starting as a freelancer in 2012, a good flow for productivity is among the most important. Without a schedule to help manage chaos, it’s far more difficult to stay motivated and focused throughout the day.

Now, I’m not saying that you absolutely need a good schedule to be successful. I know plenty of people who run things a bit more haphazard who do exceptionally well.

But why not give yourself a better chance to succeed?

It might take a bit of time to assemble the best time frames for whatever you’re doing. In reality, I’m still working on revamps and testing workflows on a daily basis.

But the moment you find that key element and discover the perfect moments throughout your day for work, success tends to fall into place.

How Do You Manage the Chaos in Your Home Office?

Success is often determined by an individual’s own ability to adapt. Keep in mind what works for one person may not work for you. That’s why it’s ideal to discover methods that help you manage chaos in your life.

Because everyone is different with varying situations and needs. Hopefully, the above can help set the foundation for finding a path that works best for you.

What do you do to keep yourself focused when the kids are screaming in your ear? Perhaps we can share notes. Leave it in the comments down below as I’d love to hear from you.