Not that you code less outside of work, but that you do other things and meet other (non-programmer) people. As to how that helps: it doesn't help you solve im

Not that you code less outside of work, but that you do other things and meet other (non-programmer) people. As to how that helps: it doesn't help you solve implementation problems, it helps in designing the software to do what the client wants in a way they will like. It is hard to put yourself in the shoes of a different person to design something for them if you only hang out with people like you and only use software built for people like you. As a concrete example: what would a piece of software for artists be like if your only-engineering coworkers designed it vs. you having some input? By the way, it would definitely be either a portfolio hosting service or some kind of art database software. What problem do artists have that could use some software help that they aren't even aware exists?