Forbid the thought of taking a break from poker, but it is inevitable. It happens to everyone. To pros and amateurs, alike. The day that comes when you finally admit to yourself that you are overdue for a break.
When your mind has gotten fuzzy, when your bankroll has started sliding, when nothing has gone right, when everything you have tried has failed, and when you have blamed everyone but yourself, that is when it is time for a break.
Simply put: you have been working too hard. Your mental circuits have grown weary. Your mind and body need some time to recover.
Think of a break as nothing more than a well deserved vacation.
And, we all need vacations, no matter how much we love our jobs. Whenever you take a vacation, remember how you return with that feeling of being able to conquer the world? It is the same way when you take a break from poker.
I am on a two-week break right now. My mind had gotten all mixed up. After a nice, long winning streak, suddenly I started backwards. The harder I tried to stop the fall, the worse it got. Finally, I threw in the towel, and put myself on the injured list.
Today, a large part of poker weariness is a consequence of on-line play.
There are great hazards of playing too much and too often. And, of taking for granted declining performance. Some faulty reasoning circuit tends to overlook the obvious in favor of hope.
Especially, when hope is presumably only a mouse click away. When you add lots of other issues, like neglect of family, neglect of exercise, and eye strain, it should be easy to appreciate the result: poker mental meltdown.
I am pretty sure that that was my condition when I began my break. But, it is hard to know for sure, because our rascally minds can play so many dirty tricks.
For example, when we are losing badly, our minds will convince us to keep playing because we are due or overdue to start winning. Or, convince us that a weak hand is really strong, since we have not had a decent hand in hours.
And of course, if you are not thinking clearly, how can you possibly know that you are not thinking clearly? That must be the ultimate poker conundrum.
So, what will I be doing with all of this extra time?
For one, I have started reading a new poker book. And, that is already proving to be my next best recent poker decision. (My best recent poker decision was to take a break.)
Not only have I been enlightened about several of my playing mistakes, I have also learned some new ways of thinking about my game. Probably, any good poker book would suit this purpose. I suppose that it is merely the changed perspective that helps most.
Of course, I did not realize I was making any mistakes at the time.
Or, perhaps I did, but not consciously. Anyway, hindsight is 20-20, and that is what really matters. The process of becoming mentally able to sort through everything is what is important. It is a form of healing. And, the deeper the wounds, the longer the healing process.
The good news is that eventually one will recover. Of this I am certain, because over the years this is not my first break. There have been many before, and some lasting for months.
So, do not be hesitant or remorseful about taking a break from poker.
You will not forget how to play, and the games will darn for sure still be there when you get back. Indeed, I can promise that you will return with more energy, and a clearer, sharper mind.
More importantly, you will return as a mentally and physically stronger player than before you left.
As a test, ask yourself this: right now, am I playing because I feel compelled to play, or simply because I enjoy and want to play? If your answer is the former, then it is time for your break, too.
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Visit this article to read the rest of the story - how the break really helped my game.
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Read my Article Review of this article, Taking a Break From Poker.
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Copyright 2009 R. Steve McCollum
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