The Commute to the Kitchen

We used to complain about the commute. The traffic. The crowded trains. The lost time.

But when the world went remote, we realized that the commute performed a vital psychological function.

It was a transition. It was the airlock between "Home You" and "Work You."

Now, that airlock is gone. We roll out of bed and into the inbox. The boundary has dissolved.

To stay sane, we have to rebuild it. And the best tool we have is the morning cup.

Your brain needs a cue that the workday has begun.

Without a change in location, you need a change in sensation. The smell of grinding beans. The whistle of the kettle. The warmth of the mug.

This isn't just breakfast. It is a ceremony of initiation.

When you pour that coffee, you are clocking in. When you sit down with it, the shift begins.

It sounds trivial, but drinking your morning coffee in pajamas keeps you in "Home Mode."

Try this: Make the coffee. Shower. Get dressed. Then drink the coffee.

By pairing the drink with the act of getting ready, you solidify the ritual. You are telling your body: We are no longer resting. We are preparing.

The most dangerous thing you can do is drink your coffee while reading emails.

That creates an association between your source of comfort (the drink) and your source of stress (the work).

Give yourself a ten-minute buffer. Drink the coffee looking out the window. Listen to a podcast. Read a page of a book.

Reclaim the "commute time" for yourself, even if you are just standing in your kitchen.

Just as important as the morning cup is the evening signal.

When the day is done, close the laptop. Wash the mug. Put it away.

The ritual is complete. You have commuted back home.

Drinks that support this ritual