I couldn't agree more with the article. A break (a real one with zero to minimal contact and no email) is absolutely important. It gives us a chance to unplug and relax. While I really do enjoy my work, I find that I need a clean break every once in a while. I come back refreshed and ready to go, ready to solve problems, ready to take a un-jaded and fresh look at pending work. This is, of course, after going through hundreds of emails sent by people who knew I was on vacation but decided to send them anyway. After that, then I'm ready to go.

The mental clearing out of buffered thoughts often leads to a fresh perspective, which is what we could all use from time to time. It usually comes at a great time because I find that the busiest week of the year is normally the week before a vacation.