Poker is an excellent pursuit for both casual gamers and experienced crushers alike. It’s the perfect mix of chance and skill. The learning never stops. And games run around the clock.

Still, too much poker can soon lead to burnout. It’s a mentally and emotionally challenging game that is full of intense moments, ups and downs.

It’s important to regularly take a day off from poker – here’s how.

When to take a day off

There are several situations in which you should consider taking a day off from poker. The bottom line is, you should take a day off whenever you feel like it. Poker should feel enjoyable, not like a horrible obligation.

Here are a few situations when you might want to take a day off:

• As part of your weekly schedule – Regulars will play several days per week as part of their usual schedule. Most will also factor in days off so that poker doesn’t become too much of a chore. Typically, even pros take one or two days per week off, usually on quiet days like Mondays and Tuesdays.
• For balance – Poker’s a great game, but you don’t want it to become your entire existence. Instead, you’ll want to balance it with other aspects life such as socializing, spending time with loved ones, learning new skills or trying new hobbies. If any of those things need attention, it’s time to take a day off poker.
• To catch up – Just as life outside of poker needs to be balanced, so to do chores need to be completed. The house needs cleaning, errands need running, the cat needs feeding. All of this will weigh on your mind if you play poker. If your to-do list starts to run away with you, it’s time to take a day off so that you can catch up.
• When on tilt – One of the main reasons to take a day off poker is because you’re on tilt. This is when your emotional state is preventing you from playing as well as you can. This usually occurs after a string of bad beats or a long term downswing. Tilt can also happen for any number of reasons, another being boredom. If you’re no longer looking forward to your sessions, it’s time to take a day off.

Planning your day off

Your day off is all yours, so you can do with it whatever you please. That could mean doing little other than relaxing, or it could mean ticking off all your other tasks.

It’s helpful if the time you spend away from the tables addresses the reason why you took a day off in the first place. For example, if you have a growing to-do list, be sure to get it done. If you need to take a little exercise, then get out for a jog.

One question that might come to mind is whether or not you should do anything poker related. Is it really a day off if you spend it reviewing hands and watching poker content?

The answer to this depends on your reason for taking the time off. If you’re on tilt, then maybe just leave poker alone for a while. If you’re taking a day off as part of your weekly schedule, then a little training and hand analysis could be useful.

In any case, your day off should leave you feeling rejuvenated so that when you come back to the tables you have a fresh perspective. You’re no longer on tilt, no longer distracted other needs or tasks. You’re once again ready to crush.