Tips From Teleworkers

"In D.C., I don't think 9-to-5 really exists," she says. "I never worked eight hours a day. It was always overtime, weekends, travel."

The toughest part of being a freelancer is organizing her time, Massey says. She juggles working, marketing herself, writing a book and volunteer activities. Despite Massey's challenges, one perk stands out from the rest: "I really like the boss better now," she says.

Coffee Klatsch meets every other Thursday. The next meeting is Thursday at 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sarah Browning,browning@womenarts.org.

Suggestions From Those Who Don't Commute

· Line up clients before you quit. The top concern for freelancers is getting enough work. "Build up clients before you cut the umbilical cord of a day job," says Cathy Sunshine.

· Prepare to go solo. Get ready for a huge shift when leaving the office environment, says Sarah Browning. "In office jobs, people are always desperate to get home and be quiet," she says. "So it was a big shock to my system when I started working at home. Suddenly, I felt very isolated."

· Remember you're losing more than a salary. Unless a freelancer can latch onto a spouse's plan, they're often on their own for benefits such as health insurance. There's also the loss of paid vacation and sick leave to consider. "You have to earn enough to cover these yourself," says Sunshine.

· Get technologically savvy. There's no information technology department to unfreeze your computer, so if your trouble-shooting consists solely of pressing ctrl-alt-delete, you'll need a back-up plan. Some Coffee Klatsch members use Geek Squad, a "24-hour computer support task force." "Access to a tech person, to a phone, I have to do all of that myself," says Sarah Massey.

· Have a plan. Create structure in your day, whether by working out at the gym or taking a lunch break, says Amy Martin. "It takes focus and self-discipline. If you rely on external structure, you're not going to make it," says Sunshine. And remember what it was like to work in an office. It's easy to "feel chained to your computer" at home, says Browning. Take coffee breaks and call friends for "water cooler" chats.

-- Rachel Beckman

More Practical Advice

Excerpted from "Teleworking & Telecommuting" by Jeffery D. Zbar (Made E-Z Products, 2002, $14.95)

· Some employers still are hesitant about footing the bill to send a worker to a well-equipped home office. Teleworker and manager should negotiate the costs and agree upon responsibilities before the worker heads home.

· Kids, spouses, roommates -- and you -- need boundaries. Use tools like "Do Not Enter" door hangers, an electric red light to turn on when you're not to be disturbed, or even a fake stoplight with red (do not enter), yellow (enter quietly) and green (come on in) . . . You could sour your peers' take on home officing, your clients' perspectives of you as a professional and your company's view of telework, if kids' noise creeps into your work environment.

· Think home office tax deductions are for the self-employed? Think again. Certain teleworkers are allowed to deduct their home offices under certain circumstances.

· With no security guard or chief security officer at the home office, protecting the space -- and your company or client's information is important. Promote work-safe strategies to ensure the home office remains a secure place to work.

· Look at your corporate office and decide what furniture, tools and technology need to follow you home. Look around your home to see what accessories -- candles, lamps, pictures -- should follow you into your home office.

· Off site but on the job, remote workers often are the forgotten souls of the corporate workplace. Staying in the loop is as much the team's responsibility as it is the teleworker's.