[ismarc]

I have a similar (but longer) way of getting into the zone and obviously my own way of getting out of it. However, none of it is about what you actually do. It's about the "ritual", the only time you do it is in preparation for the work and after enough repetitions it snaps you straight in. For snapping out, any time I spend a significant (or feels like it) amount of time trying to solve an issue and can't, I save everything, hit compile and get up from my desk. I prefer to step outside, relax for like 10-15 minutes not doing anything work related except maybe chatting about work with folks, and then go back. Getting up, away from the computer and letting the brain relax is what I consider the most important part. Sitting in the same place where you had the problem never let me relax enough to get through it without lots of effort/time. Getting away from it, up out of the weeds and when I sit down next time the problem becomes trivial.