Taking a break

[PShabi]

I'm right there with Bdawg then. Except, with me, I just have no desire to NOT play.

I want to play everyday. I can play everyday (pretty much). So, when I want to do something and I have the means to do it, that's what I do.

I just can't see myself ever wanting to take a week or a month off.

[Boobie Lover]

I once tried to take a month off from poker. I lasted about three days. I'm an addict.

[MAYHEM45]

Haha, yeah this first day is going pretty rough. I kinda threw the month thing out there a little early. I've changed my statement to 2 and a half weeks. My last exam is the 27th, I move out on the 28th, and our housewarming kegger is the 29th. So I will be nicely drunk for three days, when the hangover wears off and the 3 girls in my bed go home on april 30th, watch the fuck out for me in the sunday tourney, im coming back with a WIN.

Oh yeah, and I came up with a plan for my play once I return, I'll let you know once I get it all written out.

[Talking Poker]

I didn't WANT to take the month off. I NEEDED to. For me, I wasn't happy with the idea that I could be an addict, and I needed to know that I wasn't.

I don't like the thought of letting something control me.

[MAYHEM45]

I also NEED to, but for more reasons than that, I cant fail another class this semester, so I have to focus on exams. I am a chronic procrastinator, and poker was just the means to the end. Hopefully I dont find something else to steal my time away from my studies.

[JDMcNugent7]

Same here, and if any1 is even thinking about doing it I def. recommend it. I took prob 2 and a half to 3 weeks off, and it just helped me put everything back into perspective, and I came back running hot as ever, which is always a plus. I never really turned down goin out with friends to play poker, but i did turn down working out and playing guitar in order to play more poker, which is something I won't ever let myself do again.

[SirFWALGMan]

Just echo'ing what other people have said.. taking a break can be a good thing. Good luck. Its all a personal thing and if you feel you need a little break you do.

On the other side I have seen you play and heard of your exploits and you are a damn good player and I look forward to hearing of you triumphant return.

[badblood44]

It is very hard indeed to just go cold turkey for any extended period of time. At least for me and from what I'm reading, a few others.

I'll probably butcher this, but often times you need something that you can do to push that "reset" switch in your brain somewhere. Sometimes, it's as simple as a good night's sleep. Sometimes, it's a strenuous workout. Whatever it is, you need to find it and use it whenever you get into the "zone."

The zone that I'm talking about is that place where you're incapable of objectively looking at your own play. Under normal circumstances, most, if not all, good players can detatch from themselves and analyze their play objectively. As soon as a series of bad beats changes your thought process one bit, you need to reset yourself.

When you sit down to play, you need to focus on the current hand. And that's it. As soon as a previous hand's results become the focus of your attention, you need to re-focus. I'll say it again: Your first priority is to play your current hand the best you know how. If your thoughts are lingering on anything else, you're not playing your best poker.

Getting up from the table during those times takes discipline with a big fucking capital D.

[PShabi]

In summary:

MARIJUANA