I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, but for a third party to "justify" anyone's break is less than necessary.
In my eyes a break need not be earned by doing great work. People need time off. They need time to think, develop their interests, and do things beyond what their job or career demands from them.
Ideally for all of us this time would come (many times, and often) before retirement. If you haven't seen this TED talk, a brilliant furniture designer talks about his 7 on, 1 off lifestyle and makes a call for us to rethink the power of time off.
In my eyes a break need not be earned by doing great work. People need time off. They need time to think, develop their interests, and do things beyond what their job or career demands from them.
Ideally for all of us this time would come (many times, and often) before retirement. If you haven't seen this TED talk, a brilliant furniture designer talks about his 7 on, 1 off lifestyle and makes a call for us to rethink the power of time off.
http://www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time...