The main idea is to force myself, or remind me (when I see my colleagues going to get their drugs) that I need a brake.
Even if I don't go out with them on the balcony, I walk around, help other peers, play a game or make a cup of tea.
Another advantage is that I force myself to exit "the zone" and realize other stuff that I may overlooked or find a solution I couldn't otherwise (because I was too deep into it).
I am a self-taught programmer, my first language is RPL.
I love to learn cool maths and facts about creation.
I am currently the tech leader for an open-source project
The main idea is to force myself, or remind me (when I see my colleagues going to get their drugs) that I need a brake.
Even if I don't go out with them on the balcony, I walk around, help other peers, play a game or make a cup of tea.
Another advantage is that I force myself to exit "the zone" and realize other stuff that I may overlooked or find a solution I couldn't otherwise (because I was too deep into it).
Stepping back and taking a fresh look at a problem is always a good idea. It doesn't apply just to programming either.