By brad2002tj on April 2nd, 2008 (more posts by author)

Most of you work a 9 to 5 job like me and play poker for recreation and extra income. Poker only made up about 10% of my income in 2007 and although I am off to a slow start I hope to best that in 2008. The problem is that poker is an extremely consuming hobby compared to other activities. People who enjoy, say, mountain biking or wine tasting, don't read strategy forums constantly, think about the equity of AKo with an M of 7 during their business meetings, or stay up late at night staring at a computer screen analyzing all the minutia of activity 6 or more tables can provide at any given moment. Most recreational activities also allow a fair degree of socializing during them, while online poker does not. Most nights my girlfriend lays on the daybed watching TV or browsing the net on the laptop while I play 4 to 6 tables. She complains I am like a "zombie" when playing, but how can one not be a zombie when he needs to take note of continuation bet sizing patterns or MP raising ranges? She introduced me to poker, so I remind her that it's all her fault anyway.

Having said that, here are brad2002tj's 6 tips for balancing out your life with poker:

1. Set aside "date nights" for your significant other. Take her out to dinner, a comedy show, get drunk together, etc. Talk about anything but poker. Tell her you like her dress. You know, all that crap you did when you met her.

2. Exercise. I run 15-25 miles a week. It's one of the few things that keep me from truly being a degenerate. Find something athletic you like to do, even if it is just lifting weights. You will live longer, look better, and the afore-mentioned significant other will be much more likely to give you sexytime you after you donk out of all your games. Plus exercising with your SO keeps her in shape, so what's not to like about that?

3. Do non-poker related projects, especially if they can be done with your SO. Landscaping, home improvement, writing, etc. are all good ideas. My SO loves working on the yard, so often our weekends involve trips to Home Depot and working together outside.

4. Set professional goals. Don't be satisified with where you are. The sad truth is that for most of us our mental resources would be better spent applied to our profession than poker. Volunteer for extra projects. Don't even think about "going pro" until you have a year or two of living expenses in your bankroll. Considering that I usually spend my winnings, that will be never.

5. Spend time studing the game away from the tables. Many of us post/read online strategy forums, and I am always reading poker books and magazines (review of [i]Harrington on Cash 1-2[/i] is forthcoming). Dedicate at least a small portion of your day to doing this so that you don't get lost in the minutia of the game and to help see the big picture.

6. Play for fun again. Every now and then I'll open up a $1 STT, especially after some alcoholic beverages, and play like an absolute maniac. It's amazing what moves you can make when you really don't care about the money. You can be the fearless poker player you always wanted to be, and it's actually fun and stress-free. The free games at your local bars can be a great stress reliever as well.

Happy living!