The role of mundane activities is interesting: A cup of tea, reading the newspaper, taking a walk, smoking a cigar, etc.
People who have trouble sleeping are, among other things, supposed to establish a routine. Repeating mundane activities (brush teeth, lock doors, turn down thermostat, etc) in the same way every night seems to prime the brain for sleep.
I suspect it doesn't matter what you do before you settle in to work, simply that you establish some "it's time to work now" cues and then take advantage of them.
People who have trouble sleeping are, among other things, supposed to establish a routine. Repeating mundane activities (brush teeth, lock doors, turn down thermostat, etc) in the same way every night seems to prime the brain for sleep.
I suspect it doesn't matter what you do before you settle in to work, simply that you establish some "it's time to work now" cues and then take advantage of them.