A decade or so ago I met with a client who had a garden office and worked exclusively from home. At that time, both of those things were an alien concept to me (and I guess most people). How times change.
I clearly remember him telling me how every morning before he started work, he left the house by the front door and walked a mile or so around the block, coming home and using his gate to access the garden and his office. Once he'd finished his working day, he'd repeat the procedure in reverse, leaving the garden gate, walking around the block and arriving back at home and letting himself in through the front door. He said it helped him separate work and home and gave him the sensation of a commute by physically leaving for (and arriving at) work. To boot he benefitted from the physical exercise at either end of his day.
His story stuck with me for years and when the pandemic hit, and I worked from home instead of commuting by bike into work, I (sort of) followed his routine. I would run before starting work (often only 3k or so) and then at the end of the day, I'd go out on the bike. It wouldn't be a monster ride, more often a blast out with some sort of utilitarian excuse such as a trip to the shop or to the offy for delicious cold beer.
Even if it were two quick blasts out somewhere on the bike at either end if the working day I think you'd feel the benefit. Maybe if you do this 'pseudo commute' at either end of your day, you might find you're not that bothered about mixing the route up. If you're anything like me, I bet you've probably commuted to/from work the same way thousands of times over and still weirdly looked forward to it every day!
Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you
