One thing that I’ve noticed that a lot of my SNG poker friends and myself have in common is that we go through moments of being “burnt out” on single-table tournaments. The classic definition of being burnt out on something is when you have lost most to all of your enthusiasm for the thing in question, whether it’s a hobby, job, project, relationship, etc. This is typically the result of having spent too much time intensely focused on the issue, which in our case is when we’ve been sitting at dozens of SNGs every week, week after week for months even years. In order to keep our mental performance at its peak, we have to stay hungry and motivated when we enter these events, which occasionally requires a self-imposed break from the action.
Making The Break
Taking a break from SNGs sounds simple, and for many it is, but for some it means giving up on an important (sometimes main) source of income, which can be difficult to walk away from. Still, you need to have the discipline to recognise when you’ve had trouble staying focused for multiple SNGs in a row. My suggestion is, if you can, take a complete break from poker in general. Hopefully your bankroll is at a point where you can support yourself financially from a one to two week hiatus, during which time you fill your day with whatever enjoyable distractions you prefer.
The Comeback
In my own experience, it takes at least a full week before I can safely say that any frustrations or feelings of burnout subside. Normally what gives it away is that I’ll actually start to feel the itch of wanting to jump back into the SNGs, meaning that I physically and mentally “want” to play, instead of feeling like I am being forced to. I may start off a little slower than my normal routine, such as by playing fewer tournaments in a day than usual, which helps me integrate back into the necessary mindset more easily. Everybody is different though, so it may take you a few breaks to begin to notice what process of rebuilding works best for you.
Chris
- Chris Laquinta is a magazine editor, content specialist and poker fanatic with 10+ years writing experience and over 1,500 published articles. Chris is a naitive of Southern California, where he spent his entire life learning gaming concepts and theories from relatives that had been former professional gamblers. He currently resides in Torrance, CA where he works as a professional content writer and part-time SNG professional.
