Nothing ever goes as planned. Well, rarely.

Whether you're a freelancer or working in-house somewhere,

you can't guarantee that you have complete control over your schedule,

resources, project scope, or any other variable that affects your work.

The real world is going to throw obstacles in your way, so adapting to the environment is how you survive.

What truly defines success in these cases is the ability to remain flexible and still get the job done.

Learning how to properly manage your time makes this possible.

With many jobs, your hours are defined for you,

so working with your team or boss to prioritize your tasks and projects allows you to focus on the right things first.

It creates expectations for them and for you, and it makes getting work done a lot easier.

If you're a freelancer, time may seem unlimited, but we all have lives to lead. We can't work every waking hour on our projects.

There's got to be a balance, and prioritization is even more vital when nobody's telling you what to do.

You have to ensure that things get done on your own.

In both cases, in a company and as a freelancer, it's crucial to define a schedule and task list for yourself.

Even if all you can do is come up with what you're going to work on that day,

at least you have a direction to start with and something to work on.

Maintaining your focus is key.

Now, at any given moment, something might happen to interrupt things.

New projects, new crises, and changes to existing requests,

they can and will arise. The first thing to do evaluate the importance of this new information.

Does it delay you in any way? Can you work around it or do you have to take care of something first?

Once you've decided what to do, spread the word. Make sure everyone is on the same page

and that those affected by change are aware of it and understand why.

This brings us back to our effective communication point.

Don't leave stakeholders wondering where a project deliverable is.

People would rather get honest and direct information than be left guessing where their website or app is.

Over time, the more projects you work on, the better you'll become at adapting to change.

In doing so, you can gain a reputation as someone that can work under pressure,

can adapt to variable situations, and can get results.

So, how does flexibility and time management benefit you?

Flexible workers can do more than inflexible ones, and they'll be offered more opportunities.

Being able to set realistic expectations on your work allows you to focus and achieve a work-life balance.

Your value as a worker, freelancer, or team member will be increased

if people know that you can manage time and expectations effectively.