You might remember a time when you loved poker. You couldn’t wait to join a table (either in person or in online poker), have some fun. But more recently, you might not be having as much fun when you play, and this may be due to poker burnout.
What is poker burnout? And how do you know if you have it? Learn all about poker burnout, the signs you may be affected by it, and how to help manage it.
What Is Poker Burnout?
Burnout, whether from a game like poker or other sources in your life, is an unshakeable feeling of exhaustion. You feel mentally, physically, and emotionally wrung out. While this is typically associated with work or personal issues, burnout can occur as a result of poker.
What Causes Burnout?
Multiple factors can cause poker burnout; for example:
- Playing long hours and not getting enough sleep.
- Having unrealistic expectations or goals and being upset when failing to achieve them.
- Feeling like you don’t have any control over the game, even though you understand the principles of how to handle variance in poker.
- Experiencing long periods of stress when you play.
- Lacking a balanced lifestyle.
Signs of Poker Burnout
Not sure if you have poker burnout? Here are some of the signs of burnout that you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
1. Lack of Interest in Playing and a Lack of Focus When You Do
Where you previously would be excited for your next game, now you feel it’s more a habit, or you’re simply going through the motions when you play. And when you do play, it feels like your mind is somewhere else and not in the game. Quite simply, your motivation to play and play at your best is at an all-time low.
2. Not Having Fun When You Play
When you played poker in the past, it was fun. Now, when you play, it feels more like an endless grind filled with bad beats without any enjoyment. You’d rather be doing something else than playing the game.
3. Easily Getting Upset During a Game
Even worse, you might be experiencing tilt in poker if things don’t go as planned. Anger, frustration, irritability, and other negative emotions have become the norm when you play. As a result, you might even be betting emotionally in poker games rather than thinking things through.
4. General Feeling of Exhaustion
One of the most obvious signs you’re burnt out is constantly feeling tired. Even after a full night’s rest, you wake up feeling like you haven’t slept well or possibly even feel like you haven’t slept at all.
5. Friends and Loved Ones Notice You’re Moodier than Usual
Another important sign that you may be burnt out is that the people around you have picked up that you’re more irritable and grumpier than you usually are and have told you about how they’ve noticed this change.
How To Manage Poker Burnout
While poker burnout can be concerning, there are ways to help deal with it. Here are some suggestions on how to deal with burnout caused by poker.
Ensure You’re Getting Enough Sleep
If you find that you’re not getting enough sleep, you’ll need to be proactive to ensure that you’re getting enough rest. Start by setting reminders on your phone that it’s time for bed. And, if that doesn’t work, you may want to limit the time you spend playing using the poker site’s responsible gaming controls.
Take a Break
When you find yourself not having fun or getting frustrated when you play poker, it’s time to take a break. Whether this means playing another casino game, watching your favorite series, going for a walk, or hitting the gym is up to you, but these breaks will help you manage burnout in the present and avoid it in the future. This advice is especially true if you’re looking for ways to overcome a bad beat where luck isn’t on your side.
Make Sure You’re Eating Properly
When you’re in the middle of a poker session and hunger strikes, it’s all too tempting to reach for a bag of chips, order some fast food on your phone, or maybe even skip a meal so that you can keep playing. A lack of good nutrition is not only detrimental to your well-being, but it can also have a negative effect on your poker games.
Either eat a healthy meal before you start your poker session or have one prepared in advance that you can eat during a break. Also, consider keeping some healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt, or popcorn when you need a quick bite to eat.
Do Some Exercise
Exercise is proven to have numerous benefits for your mental health. When you exercise, your body releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and serotonin that can help reduce stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions. Generally speaking, it’s an excellent way to help improve your mood. Whether you prefer to go for a brisk walk, hop on your bicycle, or even just jam out to your favorite music at home, it’s essential to get moving to help reduce burnout.
Try Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness practices are another way to help reduce the effects of stress and, therefore, the risk of burnout. You can consider more traditional mindfulness practices like breathing, meditation, or yoga, or you could even try activities like taking a stroll in nature, coloring-in activities, or even lighting scented candles to help lower your stress levels. These activities could be critical in helping you reset your poker mindset, which is vital if you want to have fun and win games.
Have a Great Time Playing at Borgata Online
When you’re ready to play some fun online poker, find a virtual seat at a table at Borgata Online.
Borgata Online offers players a chance to dive into quick and exciting cash games or put their skills to the test in online poker tournaments. These games are available in two thrilling variants: Texas Hold’em and pot-limit Omaha. You can even enjoy these games while taking advantage of great poker promotions, making the time you spend playing even better.
And when it’s time to take a break to ensure you don’t burn out, you can also try many other exciting gambling games available at Borgata Online, including slots, roulette, blackjack, bingo, live dealer games, and more.
Register at Borgata Online to find excellent poker games online and have fun playing other games of chance.