Just because the "office" is closer doesn't mean you need to spend more time at work. A key to getting set up as an effective telecommuter is to find ways to create some separation between your work and the rest of your life. Ideally, a separate room at home - with a door that can be closed - is the best way to do this. If you don't have that luxury, then you need some kind of visual separation so you can "close" the work area off from the rest of your home - perhaps a folding screen that can act as a movable "door."

It also helps to set some time limits. Many telecommuters say they won't do any work after, say, 8:00 at night. If they get that late-night brainstorm or they remember something they should have done, they can just jot it down on a piece of paper and leave it for the morning - just as they would if they got that same late-night idea at home and had to wait until going into the office in the morning.

2. My spouse will be at home when I'll be telecommuting - is this a good idea?

It depends on what's going on between you and your spouse or significant other. In some relationships, having more time together is a plus; in others, it isn't. It also depends on how well the two of you can define and agree on boundaries and roles when you're telecommuting. If your spouse expects that you'll be available to play tennis, go shopping, or do housework because you're "home", that could be a problem.

In many relationships, telecommuting is a real benefit because it gives the couple just a bit more time together than normally is available in today's busy households. It can be something as simple as a chance to have breakfast or lunch together, or take an afternoon break and go for a walk together - or take an afternoon break and do other things together.

It's best for you and your partner to discuss what's likely to happen when the two of you spend more time during the day at home. As with all else about telecommuting, a little time invested at the outset can head off a lot of problems later.

3. I keep hearing about people who gain lots of weight when they work at home - is that really true?

It happens, but it's definitely not the norm. A key to helping employees self-select for telecommuting is to encourage them to think about their own self-discipline and habits, and decide for themselves if frequent trips to the refrigerator might be a problem. This self-discipline issue extends to other household temptations as well - ranging from the ones most people want to limit or avoid (e.g., smoking, alcohol) to the ones that are more benign but can still be problems if overdone (e.g., the television, the exercise equipment, the hobbies). The biggest risk is using any of these as escapes when it's hard to get down to work. It hasn't been proven that attacking a pile of cookies will add to anyone's motivation.

4. If I telecommute, my spouse (who works at home) and I will share an office - is this a good idea?

It depends on several factors - how large is the office, will you have to share any of the desk space or the PC, how many days will you be both be working at home at the same time, and (obviously) how well you get along. Some couples do very well in a shared office at home and others can't be within fifty feet of each other. All those little annoying habits (like clicking a pencil, chewing gum loudly, or whatever) that are bothersome when co-workers do them are just as annoying when your significant other does them. In short, proximity can breed contempt - or it can be a terrific arrangement as long as you both give it careful thought at the beginning.

5. How can telecommuters avoid feeling isolated?

First, make sure that the right people are selected for telecommuting. It's not for everyone - those who thrive on the social contact of the office should continue going to the office. But for many people, the chance to work at home one to three days a week (the typical range) is a good compromise.

Second, be sure that telecommuters have appropriate voice, fax, or email access to the office and vice versa. Just because you're working at home, there's no need to be out of touch.

6. How can telecommuting be used for dependent care?

With great care. Telecommuting is definitely not a substitute for full-time dependent care, especially for young children. This is one of the great myths of telecommuting. But telecommuters who work part-time, and who have the spouse or another care-giver available to take care of the child while working, can blend telecommuting and parenting very well. Also, telecommuting can be helpful for certain types of elder care where the older relative needs occasional care and companionship but not full-time attention.

7. It seems there's a lot of discussion about all the potential problems of working at home - isolation, working too much, eating too much, and so on. I thought that one of the appeals of working from home was that people really enjoyed doing it and being there. Isn't that really true?

It most certainly is - in cases where the telecommuter has made an informed choice about becoming a telecommuter. The list of benefits and lifestyle improvements they cite is long and varied - everything from simply being able to work without having to get dressed in office clothes (including putting on makeup, shaving, putting on stockings, and so on) to just being more relaxed by avoiding the stress of the commute.

There's also the very real benefit of being able to blend together one's personal life and work life more easily - or at least, to the extent that the job allows. This can range from just being able to sleep a little later to being there when the kids come home from school, as well as being able to put a load of laundry into the washing machine instead of letting it all pile up for the weekend.

When we listen to successful telecommuters, we get the feeling that they would do just about anything to protect their privilege of telecommuting. They value it very highly, but they don't see it as a mini-vacation. In fact, one of the main reasons why telecommuters enjoy it is because they can finally get their work done away from the noise and distractions of the office.