The prospect of working independently out of one's own home is appealing, but many people are still wary of taking the plunge for fear of becoming hopelessly disoriented. If this is something you've considered, then you should know that there are resources available to you that will make your working life easier by allowing you to devote more time to specific activities and reducing your overhead costs.

Indeed, self-employment isn't as easy as it may seem. It's just as challenging as any other employment, but we've put together a list of 5 apps to ease your transition into the independent sector. Learn more about:

1. Trello

It's a fantastic tool for organizing your to-do list. Trello is an intuitive app that may be used on a desktop or a mobile device. That way, you can keep tabs on your projects even when you're away. Dates for job deliveries may be set, team members can be highlighted, checklists can be made, images can be uploaded, comments can be made, and much more. Plugins can be used to track time and prioritize tasks in an agile framework.

2. StayFocusd Google Chrome Extension

Trouble keeping your mind on the job? StayFocusd makes it much simpler to block out distractions and get work done. It's a Google Chrome add-on that will show you exactly how much time you've spent on various sites, like Facebook and Twitter, that you could have been using more productively. You see, he gets pleasure out of seeing those terrible guys strive to get a simple break. Value employing!

3. Google Apps: Email, Drive, Documents, and Calendar

If you're a freelancer, setting up a Gmail account will make your life much easier. Some of the services available are email, hangouts, drive, calendar, and documents. The nicest part is that you don't have to go between several programs; everything you need is in one place.

It's helpful to have a service like Google Docs where team members can collaborate in real-time on papers, presentations, and spreadsheets without worrying about who made what changes and when.

Also, Google Calendar is fantastic. Everything and anything can be alerted using it. You have a meeting on Monday at 10 am, right? Remember that day forever! The meeting reminder email will arrive at 9:50 am. What can I say?

4. Hootsuite

Do you use social media and want to work independently? Managing your social media presence and keeping tabs on your favorite brands is a breeze with HootSuite. It also lets you plan postings to social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

5. Slack

Slack is a convenient means of communication when working with a sizable group. The tool allows for centralized communication and even has an app for mobile devices. The interface is straightforward, and you can remove messages at any time. Do you realize that a few phrases got left out of the reply you jotted down while you were on the run?

It's up to you to make a change.

More Tips

• Meet with your freelancers once a week to set goals and priorities. Using a video chat service like Skype or Google Hangout to meet with a client in another city is convenient, but don't discount the value of meeting with them in person;
• Focus on your task and make it a top priority. Find out when you have the most energy and can get the most done. Then, your spare time and freelance work can more naturally coexist;

To what extent does working from home become routine?

Change things around and let your imagination run wild! The two of you should probably get together in a coffee shop and kill some time. Coffee, conversation, and atmosphere all combine to create an invigorating mood. Try it!