You planned to hit the gym after work. Or cook. Or learn Mandarin. Whatever.

But instead you ‘Snack n’ Scroll’; kind of like Rock n’ Roll, only with a lot more slumping on sofas.

Fatigue is clearly a factor, but it’s not the only reason…

In a series of experiments, the researcher Sabine Sonnentag showed that the key to recovering after work isn’t just what you do, but whether your mind has mentally detached from work.

In one daily diary study, people who mentally detached from work were far more likely to follow through on recovery activities, like exercise.

Sonnentag’s research suggests that recovery is a two-part process. It’s not just about what you do after work, but what state you bring into your non‑work time.

In my next series of posts, I’ll explore the third stage of a High Performance Routine: Warm Down.

Just as better Preparation leads to better Focus, so Warm Down is essential for optimal Recovery.

As with so much about being a human, what you do matters, but the intention with which you do it also matters.