For me the key is starting your session completely relaxed and refreshed, if you 100% in the correct zone when you start then any distractions shouldnt affect you too much, but if im not in the correct zone then any little distubance can throw me completely off my game, i try to stick to the same routine whenever i know im going to be playing a long poker session..
Exercise (generally a 10min walk to the shop or a quick jog around the local park)
Dinner,
Bath (whack on some candles for a proper treat)
Pint of water
then finally a vanilla latte as i start my session.
the only issue is, if something interupts my pre game routine or i have to do it in a different order etc then i never feel confident when i start, but maybe thats just ocd on my part.
For a player like you who takes his game seriously rather than simply doing it for amusement and a gamble on the side, it is important to focus with as near to 100% attention as possible on the game. Distractions do not allow you to do that....
The reason why I state this simple and obvious point is because Poker is about making money and is unique in the fact that you can lose money as well as win it. That means there is a risk element, just like if you were investing funds in the stock market. Up or down, down or up.
Now, bearing in mind that there is this risk element (and if you are playing mid-high stakes poker then quit a considerable one) then it has be treated as a priority. In other words, it doesn't matter about the wife or the kids, or the dogs, or the postman, or the Jehovah's witnesses knocking at the door. Poker time is poker time and it needs to have a designated time during which there are no distractions (unless of course there is some sort of emergency and you have to rush off).
Lock yourself away during Poker sessions. Try and play your most important sessions during the quietest times when nobody is around or they are busy doing something. If people are around then tell them you are doing the Poker and the priority it is and put ear muffs on if necessary to block out any sound (or headphones/earplugs for music if that works for you).
Only you can know what works for you. So make sure you find some methods, try them all out and stick to the ones that do. For me it is about space and quiet time. I tell people I am busy and I don't even move to answer the door or the phone. I turn off my mobile and I make sure I am not distracted by other things such as social media etc (and if I do look at stuff between games then it is Poker related).
I also find that getting up and walking around my room occasionally as well as stretching off my arms and legs helps my comfort level and allows me to concentrate for longer. Sometimes I splash water on my face and in my eyes to wake me up. Anything to improve my focus.
A combination of things usually works best. Hope something there helps :-)
Comments
Quiet room
Headphones on with some music
Jog round the park (already done the walk round the park with the dogs)
Pint of water (substituted for coffee)
Vanilla latte (substituted for a stockpile of smokes)
Dinner (Cadbury's cream egg easter egg & might throw a sandwich together)
For a player like you who takes his game seriously rather than simply doing it for amusement and a gamble on the side, it is important to focus with as near to 100% attention as possible on the game. Distractions do not allow you to do that....
The reason why I state this simple and obvious point is because Poker is about making money and is unique in the fact that you can lose money as well as win it. That means there is a risk element, just like if you were investing funds in the stock market. Up or down, down or up.
Now, bearing in mind that there is this risk element (and if you are playing mid-high stakes poker then quit a considerable one) then it has be treated as a priority. In other words, it doesn't matter about the wife or the kids, or the dogs, or the postman, or the Jehovah's witnesses knocking at the door. Poker time is poker time and it needs to have a designated time during which there are no distractions (unless of course there is some sort of emergency and you have to rush off).
Lock yourself away during Poker sessions. Try and play your most important sessions during the quietest times when nobody is around or they are busy doing something. If people are around then tell them you are doing the Poker and the priority it is and put ear muffs on if necessary to block out any sound (or headphones/earplugs for music if that works for you).
Only you can know what works for you. So make sure you find some methods, try them all out and stick to the ones that do. For me it is about space and quiet time. I tell people I am busy and I don't even move to answer the door or the phone. I turn off my mobile and I make sure I am not distracted by other things such as social media etc (and if I do look at stuff between games then it is Poker related).
I also find that getting up and walking around my room occasionally as well as stretching off my arms and legs helps my comfort level and allows me to concentrate for longer. Sometimes I splash water on my face and in my eyes to wake me up. Anything to improve my focus.
A combination of things usually works best. Hope something there helps :-)