Reconciling work and nature

For Hélène Philion, the answer has long been self evident. The territorial development specialist does a fair amount of walking for her job, but even when she's working from home, she enjoys the great outdoors. "I organize my agenda according to the weather!" exclaims the sports enthusiast, who more often than not starts her day by climbing Mont Orford with her dog.

Working in nature is a true way of life. She takes every opportunity to combine work and the outdoors, depending on her day. "For me, how to handle my job comes naturally. If I know I'm expecting a call, instead of staying at my desk, I put on my headphones and go kayaking." And when her smartphone rings, Hélène Philion stops in a quiet corner to work. "I don't have fake wallpaper behind me. I have the most beautiful desk imaginable!"

Social worker Laura Ducharme also appreciates her "offices" in nature. "For me, the best way to work is outdoors," stresses the founder of MAÏKANA, a pan-Québec organization that aims to optimize everyone's potential and mental health through nature and adventure. So this young woman is well placed to appreciate the benefits of teleworking in the great outdoors!

Although she has an indoor office, she much prefers the workspace on her patio overlooking the Saguenay fjord, in Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, where she recently moved. "I can concentrate better here and I don't even feel like I'm on the job. My brain works differently. I'm more creative, more efficient."

Speaking as a mental health specialist, Laura also points out that various studies have measured the reduction in stress levels that can be achieved by simple contact with nature. Whether teleworking in a cabin, on the banks of a watercourse, or in a park, this way of working offers all sorts of advantages.

"And nowadays teleworkers aren’t just tolerated –  they’re envied!" proclaims Hélène Philion. "Telework is the way of the future," she believes. For this consultant, there's no doubt that four hours' work in a less stressful natural setting is far more effective than eight hours in a neon-lit office.

A guide to follow

The phenomenon is so important that an ever‑increasing number of organizations are giving it a great deal of thought. Some even have a policy for what are often called "workations,” a short‑form combination of “work” and vacations."

Valérie Beaudoin‑Carle co‑wrote the policy for a consulting firm specializing in communications, public affairs, and government relations. The brainchild of team members scattered across Québec and abroad, the Tact remote working policy (Politique sur le travail hors de son cadre habituel) sets out guidelines for the art of teleworking, to a greater or lesser extent away from home.

First, there's access to an efficient, fast, and secure Wi‑Fi or cellular network. Otherwise, you need to organize your activities accordingly and plan off‑grid work, which can sometimes be an advantage for those looking to be more focused and creative.

"For me, teleworking doesn't mean always being online," points out Mathieu Brunet, a strategic development consultant in the outdoor and tourism sectors. "Sometimes you can stay offline for a stretch and just send off documents or emails at the end of the day."

He stresses that more and more technological solutions exist for connecting to the rest of the world for people working off‑grid, even when far from the beaten track. Satellite internet, Wi‑Fi in campsite common areas, extensive cellular networks… the tools are being put in place, even though there's still work to be done before the technology is perfected everywhere, according to Mathieu.

Insufficient data transmission speed or an overtaxed Wi‑Fi network are often problems to watch out for.

The key: good communication

For Valérie Beaudoin‑Carle, becoming a successful open‑air teleworker largely depends on learning to give colleagues and customers an early heads‑up, as required, a key step to be taken in this different professional context. As is adjusting expectations according to the pace and possibilities of the change of location.

An automatic email signature and a voicemail message with the requisite details can work wonders!

Security is another factor not to be overlooked. Sensitive data, combined with theft, loss, or breakage of equipment… you need to think about the consequences and, above all, the solutions. Should I bring a second computer just in case? Do I need a secure VPN access point? Can I lock my equipment and documents while I'm out on the trails? These are all questions that require a bit of thought and planning before leaving the office.

In the compagny where Valérie Beaudoin-Carle works, employees are asked to choose telework locations where certain services are available within a reasonable radius. In the event of a problem, in‑town troubleshooting will be simplified. But otherwise, as long as work assignments are moving forward, where the work is done matters little these days in many spheres of activity. “Bosses and customers alike rarely take notice," points out Valérie Beaudoin‑Carle.

An office… away from the office

When Valérie Beaudoin‑Carle takes time out, she ensures that she can set up a real physical office at her destination, for the sake of efficiency. "I even bring my second screen, because I'm used to working like that." A dedicated space will be all the more important if the stay is longer, or if it's in the company of other people, whether colleagues or friends.

The strategist also thinks about the people with whom she'll be spending her workation, if she's not going alone. After all, it can sometimes be difficult to resist temptation, or to stay in one's own bubble, if  fellow adventurers are not clued in or follow a completely different agenda.

Mathieu Brunet doesn't hesitate to camp out in a tent during his business trips. The picnic table is then home to his portable workstation. His first priority is to find sites with electricity to power his equipment, an essential service that’s becoming increasingly common at campsites, he notes.

"For me, it’s a matter of combining business with pleasure," sums up the man who in another life was the director of Parc national de la Jacques‑Cartier. For him, telework in the wilderness is not only a good way of isolating himself from the distractions of a more standard professional setting, but also a source of motivation: getting closer to the places and outdoor activities that restore and replenish him.

Because what could be better for a fly‑fishing enthusiast than to spend a few hours of angling for salmon on a Gaspésie river after writing a report? If you ask Mathieu Brunet, the answer is a no‑brainer.

Working on a hike

Above all, telework provides a whole new perspective on working life. Hélène Philion believes that just because you're not sitting in front of a screen in an office doesn't mean you're not working.

"We underestimate the effect of working in nature, but when you're hiking, for example, your whole brain is working all the time. Fresh air gets the creative juices flowing!" Creativity is unleashed in nature. Solutions emerge. "The nice Google‑style campus under neon lights is no longer the solution for workers," she affirms.

As he approaches fifty, Mathieu Brunet agrees. "At this point in our working lives, we don't want more money, we want more time." Open‑air telework offers a compromise solution and could also become one of the keys to keeping young ‑ and not so young ‑ employees happy, he believes.

Knowing that you can go paddling, walking, or climbing nearby after a period focused on the files of the moment offers a good dose of motivation. "It makes you feel like you're on vacation, even if you’re not," points out Valérie Beaudoin‑Carle.