Sometimes I think to myself 'holy crud, I'm sat here writing when the sun is shining and the day is glorious and I should be outside enjoying my life rather than wearing out my fingertips against this keyboard' and I pick myself up (no, not literally) and I set myself outside and tell myself not to come back for a good long while!

I think that it's good to take a break every now and again, but I'm wondering if it's okay to do that, providing I do things to keep the razor sharp whilst I'm out and about - you know, like carry a notebook and pen, or listen to the chatter of strangers, or chase down the street with arms outstretched like an aeroplane whilst making a eeeeeerrrrrrrrr type noise so that I have new experiences to ... you know.

Hold on - I am going somewhere with all this. :)

My question is (and this has been on my mind for a while): is it better as a writer that I get out more in order to get new ideas and refresh my palette or is it better for me to clear my desk, room, house, life so that I have no distractions and can thus concentrate on my writing? In other words - blinds and head down, or smash the window and climb out - which is the most productive approach in terms of enabling my creative writing?

And just to be clear - I don't want your opinion if that's all you have available - I want the fruits of your experience as dedicated writers. I only want facts, references and specific expertise in this area. Papers out there that have written up experiments that have lab-tested writers in both these circumstances? Tell me about them. Books that advocate one approach or the other that you have read and have implemented and can report on with scientific accuracy? Give me the low-down. Writerly lives honed to a fine point on one approach or the other? Share with me your learning!

I thank you in advance.

I often have trouble deciding whether (or how often) to take breaks from writing, or to "double down" and try to write, and try to eliminate anything distracting me from that.

I am not looking for unsupported opinion; I'd like to see data, research, personal experience, or well-regarded advice from pros.