People are going to say that there's nothing about this that's specific to video games, which I guess is the point, right? You can work yourself to death if you want, but every piece of research I've read says that recreation -- up to a certain point, of course -- is going to be a long-term investment in your productivity.

My new post-work ritual is going for a nice run or lift and then ruining all of that physical activity with a beer/cocktail. On the upside, I'm getting more fit than I've ever been; on the downside, there are significantly less explosions along the Puget Sound than there are in Pandaria or Ivalice.