Not my comment, but I can answer for me. About 8 months into the pandemic I started renting a private office, and leaving my computer there, to avoid WFH. It wa

Not my comment, but I can answer for me. About 8 months into the pandemic I started renting a private office, and leaving my computer there, to avoid WFH. It was the best decision for my mental health I ever made, and I think the commute is an important part of this, because of the transition effect described. So why not just go on a walk every morning, for that same transition effect? Because for me that would require sustained (or even increasing) effort over time to keep up, whereas the commute requires decreasing effort over time. Skipping the commute is a non-starter, because it has immediate consequences that my morning brain wants to avoid (having to email my boss/client to say I won't be working today). So over time it becomes a mindless, autopilot activity. Skipping the walk is too easy - if I'm in a rush or just not in the mood, I'll justify skipping it, just this once... The mental health consequences of skipping the walk are too long-term and nebulous to concern my morning brain. I do also love going for walks by the way. But taking pleasure in an activity isn't a reliable motivator for long term habits, because it's so mood-dependent, and also because things get old when repeated daily.