Blessed, therefore, is the man or woman with a hobby, with some big, strong, intellectual or artistic interest aside from the main line of work. In the arithmetic of the spirit two things may be less than one. If your life is very much over-burdened with routine work, then add another task, and the strain of the whole is less than that of the part. This cannot be shown in a sum upon the blackboard, but it is easy to prove in life. Every student ought to know that if he has just so many hours to work, and will subtract one hour a day and spend it in healthy play or vigorous physical action, he has more time left for his studies…
Thus in the main path of life it is true that two tasks are often done more easily than one, and the cultivation of some strong interest as an avocation, not only achieves the direct result there, but sends one back to the vocation refreshed, inspired, and so better equipped to attain the great ends of life.

-Edward Howard Griggs

Yes. If your life is very much over-burdened with routine work, then add another task, and the strain of the whole is less than that of the part.  This holds true as well for holidays, vacations, and other times when we need to be refreshed.  Don’t do nothing! Do the something else; something distinct or even opposite of what you usually do.  Like Nabokov who traveled the world to catch butterflies when he wasn’t writing.  Or Lennox Lewis, the heavyweight boxing champ who plays chess passionately to supplement his training.  Chess boxing anyone? (via)