Whether it be by virtue of personal choice or unwelcomed circumstance, we can all work at (or beyond) the "maxed-out" level, but...

Perhaps we don't take breaks seriously enough...Perhaps we're wrong to expect all learning to occur on the job. Perhaps an important part of learning in general, and in jobs and at school, is occurring during breaks.

Apparently we learn and perform better when information (and tasks that require retrieving it) aren't crammed up against each other. It's a good reminder about something I think most of us are already aware of but choose to ignore at times. It also brings to mind a more thorough article that Justin pointed me to: Why Crunch Mode Doesn't Work: 6 Lessons.