Walking away from the computer and going outside can be incredibly beneficial to solving problems you're stuck on. You keep thinking about the problem even while you're away, and the problem drifts in and out of your consciousness as you're off doing non-programming things, but somehow this "light" thinking ends up stirring some extra understanding or breakthrough. Many other people report similar experiences, see Rich Hickey's Hammock Driven Development talk for a related but slightly different take.
Other than that, I don't think there is any new wave, unless I'm out of touch and you're not. Most of my peers and colleagues hack through the weekends, on their own work, or something fun and new, like learning a new language, a new app platform, or something hardware related like 3d printing and Arduino tinkering.
I agree 100% about spending some time in a different headspace than one that is getting you nowhere - but to point just fingers at the 2 posts today that tipped me over the edge, this is the mentality I am referencing:
It just seems strange to me someone asking "how do I become a better programmer" is "Exercise". This mentality of "Be a better programmer by being less of a programmer" confuses me.
I think you're just overreacting. The first link is really more about labor issues, and one employer being very generous to their employees. The second was about a 17 year-old. That's not general advice for all programmers. Honestly, my advice to someone 17yo who knows how to program would be similar! That's just age talking to youth, and sure maybe some of the commenters went off topic but I can't blame them. I would tell any 17yo to broaden their horizons too, because getting well rounded at 17 is going to be more valuable in the long run. The advice in that thread wasn't all "go exercise", that appears to be only one comment. Certainly not a "new wave".
Hank Scorpio: Uh, hi, Homer. What can I do for you?
Homer: Sir, I need to know where I can get some business hammocks.
Hank Scorpio: Hammocks? My goodness, what an idea. Why didn't I think of that? Hammocks! Homer, there's four places. There's the Hammock Hut, that's on third.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Hank Scorpio: There's Hammocks-R-Us, that's on third too. You got Put-Your-Butt-There.
Homer: Mm-Hmm.
Hank Scorpio: That's on third. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot... Matter of fact, they're all in the same complex; it's the hammock complex on third.
Homer: Oh, the hammock district!
Hank Scorpio: That's right.
Other than that, I don't think there is any new wave, unless I'm out of touch and you're not. Most of my peers and colleagues hack through the weekends, on their own work, or something fun and new, like learning a new language, a new app platform, or something hardware related like 3d printing and Arduino tinkering.