Burn Out?

[Vito_Nuccio]

I went 10 months without a break, maybe a day or two here or there, but for the majority I played most days. It seemed right about a week and a half ago to take a break. I took about 6 days off in a row and did not worry about online poker. I returned last Sunday at the month end tourney at Nordica and it felt good. Had a good cash, but better yet I feel refreshed and re-energized at the tables. I also reminded myself how much I do enjoy playing this game.

I feel like the time frame was good for me. I am not going to try and schedule future breaks but I will not hesitate to take one if I feel it is time. The next one may be a year off, maybe sooner. I will get the signal when it is time to rest and I will. I was not burned out, but did not want to get there, nor do I ever want to feel that way about poker.

How often do you take a break from poker and for how long?

Thanks.

Bye

[HeyKidMove]

I don't really schedule a break. I didn't play a whole lot this summer because I had work and moved, so there wasn't a whole lot of time. I will usually take a couple days off when I've had a bad run of cards and beats. This way I can clear my head and be back to playing the best I can.

[liladypokerpro]

I'm in the midst of a break as we speak

[Wyte22]

I break from poker when I am sleeping or at my JOB! =P j/k

I take breaks when I feel my play has declined to the point where I am playing completely -EV in any game (whether it be razz, NLHE, Limit, Stud Hi.....etc).

I don't like the idea of Scheduling break times because what if your in the middle of a massive rush/hot streak? Your not gonna take a break and this affects the rest of your schedule because you never took the break!

[gorden71]

I dont schedule breaks, although I did take an extended break this summer. We moved to the middle of nowhere and it took a while to get internet again. The whole time I was waiting was like having withdrawals, Ive never been so happy to see a poker table in my life.

[iceveins0901]

Originally Posted by gorden71 I dont schedule breaks, although I did take an extended break this summer. We moved to the middle of nowhere and it took a while to get internet again. The whole time I was waiting was like having withdrawals, Ive never been so happy to see a poker table in my life.

lol, nice post, I hate poker withdrawals, sometimes I get them during work after not playing for 12 hours, talk about an addiction, even as I am writing this I want to jump back on to full tilt and dive in to a bunch of tables! (looking at the smileys to the side, where is the one feening for his fix?)

as for time for a break, i want to say NEVER!!! but that is not the case, I will take a break when I feel like it, and I work 5 days and play hockey 4 nights, so I am not able to play cards every day anyways, I would take a break for a longer while than a day or two if I felt I was playing horrible. Currently I am having so much fun playing and watching cardrunners videos and reviewing my pokertracker stats for my sessions I wish I didnt have to work tomorrow so I could open up PT and rummage through some hands before hitting the tables again.

[Fictive]

I don't really schedule any specific breaks, but then again, I don't play everyday. For example today, I just don't have the time to play, because once I start, I need a minimum of 2-3 hours. Basically, I play around 18-20 days per month, 2-5 hours per session, 5 tables at a time, so I don't really need a break.Somedays I just don't feel like playing, sometimes I don't have time, and sometimes I really go out of my way to find time to sit for a session. I only have taken an intentional break from poker (vacation trips excluded) once a few years ago when I was on a horrible cold streak. Took a break for a few weeks, then continued playing. Did the trick, too.

[Royal Puppy]

i gave myself 5 breaks in the same day once. LOL i guess it depends on if your giving yourself a break because of poor play and anger? Or you want to take time too stop some bad tendencies you may have developed !! Puppy YIPE YIPE

[liladypokerpro]

I agree setting yourself to a specific schedule isn't really a good idea when it comes to poker being that it's just so unpredictable, as will be your emotions. Knowing when to take a break and being able to recognize those times is very important, and cannot be learned if you put yourself on a strict routine.

[LyndaNova]

I find there to be a variance in taking breaks from poker.
I will play for days, but I will not play for days as well.
Life is too busy to do any one thing for a long period of time.
I also find that this keeps my interest, as well as my playing, fresh so to speak.