Depending on who you talk to, telecommuters live a pretty nice life. They can work in their pajamas, take time off, even sleep late. But, there is one aspect of work at home life that rarely receives attention.

There are different types of telecommuters. You have the traditional telecommuter who’s likely a self-employed business owner or independent contractor. They primarily work off-site and complete projects/assignments for companies. In contrast, you have actual company employees who have the privilege of working from home. Their freedom is limited. Hence, they usually have to submit weekly time sheets and check in with their employer throughout the day.

When making the decision to work from home, a few people explore the option of becoming a telecommute employee. True, you give up a measure of freedom and flexibility. However, you’ll enjoy several employee benefits such as paid vacations, paid health insurance, and disability insurance.

Every work at home telecommuter knows the importance of having some type of health coverage, and they are prepared to pay this cost out-of-pocket. It doesn’t have to be the best…anything is better than nothing. Yet, many telecommuters skip disability insurance.

If you were to become pregnant or seriously injured…could you survive financially?
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Is there a space in your home that seems to spark creativity? I have one…well actually two. I don’t know what it is about my bedroom, but I can work for hours and create quality content fast.

Before buying a laptop, I wrote primarily in our home office. Although the room included all the essentials - work desk, file cabinets, computer, printer, etc - it just didn’t work for me. Besides, the room’s location was a hotbed for distractions. I’m a little nosy, and since the room faces the street, I would watch my neighbors leave for work, mow their yards, walk their dogs, and so on. Plus, I like to keep the windows open when the weather’s warm, and the sound of children playing breaks my concentration.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered my work zone - or shall I say “creative zone.” It’s the place where I feel the most inspired and imaginative. Consequently, the ideas emerge and I’m able to accomplish much - whether it’s morning, noon, or night.

Every telecommute professional needs to find their zone. It doesn’t have to be an actual location, but rather a time of day. For example, Addicted to Writing author Opal Tribble accomplishes a lot of her work before sunrise. Other work at home mothers may likewise feel the most productive before the children awaken. The house is normally calm, and it’s the perfect time to look for job leads, finish assignments, or get a head start on the day.

Technorati Tags: work at home, telecommute, work zone, freelance, WAHM

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Even though telecommuting jobs are becoming progressively popular, it’s tough to find a legitimate break. A lot of people prefer to work from home. This way, they can attend to personal obligations, live life according to their agenda, and avoid day-to-day office annoyances.

There are many ways to approach finding a telecommute job. A few corporations look for independent contractors, which keeps their business costs low. However, if you can’t find legitimate work from home employment in your local area, online job sites feature a multitude of opportunities.

Here is a list of five great websites for telecommute professionals.
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I applaud every WAHM who can actually work from home and care for their children at the same time. There was a time when I juggled kids and a freelance career. I don’t have any children, but I worked in my mother’s home daycare for several years. It takes time to grow a freelance business, so I multi-tasked as a childcare provider and writer. It was hard, but I did it. Of course, my mother and sister were also in the house, wherein I could disappear in 30 minute increments to complete writing assignments.

Still, the laughter, crying, and constant movement was a huge distraction. A mini crisis occurred every time I got into a writing zone and I would have to abruptly stop my thought and care for the children. Staying on schedule was impossible. I would plan to write ten articles a day, but I was fortunate to complete four or five.

How do work at home moms do it?
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A strong, regular client base is one way to ensure enough work. I like to have at least three or four regular clients. Yeah, it gets hectic at times. But if one client pulls the plug, I have three to fall back on.

Although multiple clients provide a sense of security, it can be difficult to keep up with varying payment schedules. Some clients pay every week, bi-weekly, or once a month. Likewise, clients have different preferred methods of payment. You may be able to negotiate a payment method. But in most cases, the client will decide a payment method for you, in which you can either accept or deny the assignment.

Shai Coggins from Just Make Money Online offers a list of five online payment systems for telecommuters. Paypal is my personal favorite. It’s quick, easy….and with my Paypal debit card, I can immediately access funds in my account. Yeah, it sucks when a client pays with a credit card. If you haven’t noticed, Paypal keeps approximately 3.5% of each credit card payment. I guess it’s a small price to pay. This way, I don’t have to stalk the mailman.

I realize the pros to paper checks. This method is easier for some companies. Telecommuters get paid the same time as on-site employees, and the payroll clerk doesn’t have to manage multiple payment methods. Plus, paper checks allow for easy record keeping. Still, I’ll take modern technology over paper any day. Electronic payments eliminate weekly bank trips. I have a busy schedule, and my sanity depends heavily on keeping minimum items on my daily to-do-list.

Technorati Tags: work at home, Paypal, telecommute, freelance

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