Perhaps I'm just too used to the system, but... I have 6 weeks of paid vacation per year and on top of that I take 1-4 weeks of unpaid.

I truly cannot understand how people in cerebral professions can function at all for more than a year without taking vacations all the time. Perhaps they cannot and just think they are productive?

I normally do not take vacations, and I have a very busy and cerebral job. I love what I do.

To do that, I manage my internal battery by being aware of my internal state.. It translates to doing sport every week, doing stuff I like such as cooking, being mindful when I do stuff. Helping others in my job, that's very relaxing for me. I work on programming or learning stuff) (mostly maths) that I'm interested in but that it is not related directly to my main job.

All those activities are productive from an outside point of view, but for me, they are the places where I enjoy the most of the time I spend and refill my mood and energy level.

An important thing, is that if I'm sleepy, I rest, even if I have important and urgent work to do, the output will not be good if I'm too sleepy.

Finally,I manage my stress levels, work is stressful most of the time, good stress management is key.

The main drawbacks for me, and maybe the only things that would lead to taking time off, is administration, administratives tasks drain me.