I agree 100% about spending some time in a different headspace than one that is getting you nowhere - but to point just fingers at the 2 posts today that tipped me over the edge, this is the mentality I am referencing:

http://www.fullcontact.com/2012/07/10/paid-paid-vacation/ http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4215912 (the comment which begins "If you're 17 and already a decent programmer, my best advice to you is to have some fun and exercise")

It just seems strange to me someone asking "how do I become a better programmer" is "Exercise". This mentality of "Be a better programmer by being less of a programmer" confuses me.