This is the third part of my Setting Effective New Year’s Resolutions for Poker Success series. If you haven’t already, please check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Goal 4: Create the Conditions for Success When I Play
One outcome of my recent peregrinations was an increased appreciation for the important of place, space, and atmosphere. Experiencing so many different places, as well as reading books like Tommy Angelo’s Elements of Poker and Travis Steffen’s Peak Performance Poker, made me realize that it’s not all the same and that environment can have a big impact on how you think and feel. Thus, one of my goals for this year is to be more conscious of the conditions in which I am playing and to be more active about creating conditions that are conducive to playing my best.
Design and Invest in an Ideal Work Space
I need a home first, but once I do, I want to have a comfortable chair, a desk at the right height (also need to figure out what that is), an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, healthy snacks, good lighting, and plants.
Design 1 Playlist Per Month, January-May
I often listen to podcasts while I play, because I am sick of my music and my Pandora stations. I love the 2+2 Pokercast, but it probably does divert some of my attention from the tables, and there are plenty of experts who claim that listening to the right music can increase your brain’s performance. I’m not sure I buy it, but it’s not going to be terribly expensive to try, and it doesn’t have to be a certainty to be a good investment. I want to create playlists, 100+ songs each, with different types of music for different types of situations: Classical, Hip Hop, Relaxing, Energizing, and Songs That Make Me Happy.
Be ready: I’ll probably solicit your input here. Should make for some interesting blog fodder and conversations.
Update Playlists
To refine my playlists and keep them fresh, I will re-evaluate and update them before the WSOP Main Event and before the start of the WCOOP. In months when I’m not doing that, I’ll continue creating new playlists and sharing my choices and findings with you.
Take Regular Stretch Bags
My mother is a yoga teacher and Fitness Gandhi (like a Fitness Nazi except that she leads through example and gentle but firm nagging), and she’s finally gotten to me. I will stretch quickly at my desk every 20 minutes and for 5 minutes every hour. If don’t have the discipline or wherewithal to self-enforce this, then I will set automated reminders.
Pre-Game
This one is straight out of Peak Performance Poker. I will create a pre-game routine including stretching, meditation, and visualization. I will employ it every time before I sit down to play to help me get “in the zone”. If I really get carried away, I might create a post-game routine as well where I analyze big hands, blog, post on forums, etc., but that’s only if I find the pre-game routine really helpful. Right now it’s still very much on probation.
What am I missing? Any suggestions? What do you consider essential to play at your best?
I will listen to music usually when I play as well. I have tried to listen to different podcasts but I usually am so focused on the game I am playing that I lose track of what they are saying and have to go back and listen again, so no more podcasts! As for music I listen to, I can jam on to just about any “great guitarist” play. From EVH to Joe Satriani, Hendrix, Clapton. These are my favs when playing poker. I also do the walk/stretch thing. I have done this for a few years while playing and while at work (If I am at my desk.) Keeps the limbs awake and is good overall for the mind and body.
Andrew if you want to play with your brain .You can try “brainwave synchronization”.
http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/np/.
But be carefull because you can become zoombie.
I tried it.This is powerfull stuff for sure .It can improve your poker game or very opposite.
Sounds scary. I’d never heard of this until you mentioned it, but then a few days later one of my students mentioned it as well. Feels like I’m being synchronized already!
re: music, of course it’s all subjective but for me i have found that a playlist or mix of some deep dub-techno puts me at ease and helps me focus quickly. it may not be your cup of tea but the atmospheric sounds and minimal changes really help me stay fresh while at the same time keeping my head away from the music and into the game. if you’re interested i can offer some stuff to look for or just send you some. another plus to this style of music is that mixes and such are readily available for free all over the internets.
re: plants, 100% agree. very strong opinioned that thay help create a better environment and i think you’ll be pleased with the results of your new plan. best of luck!
Thanks, I’d be very happy to see some suggestions.
This may be of help: http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/how-to/a-trick-to-set-your-ideal-desk-height-136307
Awesome, thanks!
being comfortable and having a good work space while playing is huge. it will be well worth the investment cost for you.
i used to have a great setup and could play for hours without issue, but now i don’t have a desk or any kind of ergonomic workstation. if i can’t get comfortable then i can’t concentrate…therefore i barely play.
for music, i like something long that helps me to get into a zone. something like The Wall…or Dark Side. For newer stuff, I’ve been enjoying Broken Bells lately.
Cool, I’ll check out Broken Bells. As I recall, you’re the person who first introduced to me Kings of Leon, before they’d really taken off.