Remote Work: Choosing Work Locations

Here we go again with my series on remote work! This week I'm thinking about all the different places that I edit and write when I don't have to be in a specific office space.

Of course, as my first remote work post showed, I do love working from my home desk. For me, a home office space is a great place to start the day. I can get to editing right after my morning routine, surrounded by familiar objects and all the writing supplies I could possibly need.

But look at this view of Montréal! There are other places to be, both to find great new locations and to keep up the creativity that both academic and business writing need.

(A view of Montreal at sunset: a community centre with patio lights is in the foreground, while the downtown skyscrapers are in the background.)

There are two main types of places where I like to work, especially in the afternoon when I'm already out and about. And, if you happen to be in Montréal, I have some specific recommendations for workspaces where I've found I can enjoy myself while still getting work done.

The first type of place that I like to work is, obviously, a cafe. Like many people, I enjoy the mix of focus and energy. I can have a table to myself - or shared with a few friends - that feels like just as dedicated a workspace as my own desk. But there are also always people coming in and out, so it feels like an active place where my brain can do work and then take a break to people-watch. For me the one danger can be the music: if the cafe plays music that's too loud or too enjoyable, I can get distracted from the text in front of me. A couple of my favourite places that balance good vibes with non-distracting sounds are:

Les Sans-Taverne in Bâtiment 7 (Pointe-Saint-Charles)

L’Anticafé (Place des Arts)

Amea Café (Centre-Ville)

The other type of place that I like turning into my temporary editing space is a common work area. Places like libraries and dedicated coworking areas can provide the quiet needed for a particularly difficult writing or editing project. When I have to proofread, for example, I like choosing a place that's full of books or where there isn't much movement. It's time to get down to business! My top places to dig into the details of a text include:

Westmount Public Library (Westmount)

The National Archives of Montréal (Vieux-Montréal)

Notman House (Centre-Ville)

I enjoy spending time at all the places I've mentioned, but the real trick for me is to keep up a balance between my home office, favourite spots, and new locations. Having a mix of familiarity and novelty is a small aspect of remote work that keeps my mind sharp, enabling me to pay attention to both the fine details and the big goals of a piece of writing.