[billybuckwheat]

Yes, they are. Psychologically, physically, intellectually, socially. And it doesn't matter what age you are.

Just be sure that you are actually taking a break and not, as someone once put it, merely jumping back on to the productivity treadmill by replacing one type of work for another. That's not to say you should be spending all of your time watching streaming video, but don't devote all of your time to study or side projects. Add a lot of relaxation to the mix – perhaps a 75/25 split of relaxation and other stuff? Or maybe more.