Life stress screwing up my game

[nawhead]

I have some stuff going on in my life right now, nothing life or death, but just feel like a big foot is on my chest all the time now.

When I feel bad, I take a lot more breaks. But today I had some good news, so I got on tables after a 2 day break. I was tentatively hopeful, but at the end I was down 2.5 buys. I'm not gonna make excuses, I just played bad.

I know life beats will affect my in-game decisions, but I just wanted to get on the tables and hoped all that other stuff would just disappear and I could enjoy playing the game. I wanted for things to be normal again.

I wasn't even consciously thinking about my troubles, but just... my rhythm was gone, my sense of calm, my ability to just put a guy on a reliable range. The thing that I call my spidey sense wasn't there today. I never felt it, ever. I felt blind and confused a lot.

I believe our unconcious has a lot to do with our ability to play this game well. Maybe my unconcious is full of those other troubles trying to figure them out so there's very little processing power left for a hand of poker.

What to do? What to do?

[postoakpoker]

taking a break until you can get your head clear sounds like a good option. I try and avoid playing when I'm not feeling so good (although apparently I play or run very well when I'm extremely hung over, who knows why tho)

[nawhead]

I start sentences with "I" a lot. I usually write better.

I'm gonna try out your advice postoak, or I am.

[given1982]

I tend to not play if I'm not feeling 100%--if life issues are on my mind or I'm sick or whatever. At first it was hard, but it's pretty painful to be sick or depressed and add to it by dropping 5 buyins.

[dansiek]

i feel ya nawhead was in the exaxt same situation, took 2 weeks off and got back to it.

[postoakpoker]

hopefully you're taking my break advice and not my playing extremely hungover one, although by all means go get piss-drunk, as long as you don't play during or after

[Aji89]

Originally Posted by postoakpoker

(although apparently I play or run very well when I'm extremely hung over, who knows why tho)

So you effectively drink for free. Sick life imo.

[postoakpoker]

Originally Posted by Aji89

So you effectively drink for free. Sick life imo.

if I go to a bar, not even close, unless I go on the biggest heater possible in 1k hands. if I go to a friend's house I'm usually classy and bring a 30 of good old natty, so then I'm drinking for free

[nawhead]

I'm taking a break (and drinking too, but not like depressed "gimme another shot bartend!" but my normal 1-2 beers before dinner, Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, great IPA!).

I can read over and take notes on Ryan Fee's 6max guide like I wanted to. Catch up on some movies. Relax myself from the daily poker grind, deal with this stuff in my life. Yes, it will be OK.

Thanks for the concern, guys.