Personally, I don't like going out during the holiday season in December because it's too crowded; I prefer to go out twice a year during the off-season. In Mexico, I recommend Puerto Vallarta and Cancún—they have absolutely beautiful beaches
I definitely do. I love poker, but if I play too much without a break, I notice my focus and decision-making start to slip. Even taking a week or two off can make a big difference. When I come back, I feel refreshed, more patient, and less likely to force spots that aren't there. Ironically, some of my best sessions have come right after a vacation from poker. The game will always be there, so I don't mind stepping away once in a while.
Good morning, everyone.
I started playing poker in 2018, and since then, the longest I've ever gone without playing was about 4 or 5 days. I've never been very disciplined with my bankroll management. Whenever I won $200, $400, or even $800—which is still my biggest cash to this day—I made the wrong decision of cashing out the money and spending it. I would only come back to play after I had spent everything. Since the money usually lasted only 4 or 5 days, I was back at the tables pretty quickly.
However, I've never taken a break from poker or gone on vacation by choice. I truly love playing this game.
Before I started playing poker, I used to sell grilled cheese on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. At first, I made good money, earning the equivalent of about $140 in a single day at today's exchange rate. Over time, though, the price of cheese kept increasing, and more and more people started selling it as well. By 2018, my profits had dropped significantly. To give you an idea, a kilogram of cheese cost around $2 back then, while today it costs about $10.
That's when I started looking for ways to make money online, and I discovered poker. Today, I earn more playing poker than I ever did selling cheese. To put it into perspective, my best day selling cheese earned me about $140. My best day in poker earned me $800. In that tournament, I finished in 96th place. If I had finished 1st, the prize would have been $60,000.
The biggest difference is that, although poker is an extremely difficult game, it gives you the chance to have an incredible day and win a life-changing amount of money—something that is almost impossible in a regular job. That's one of the things I love most about poker.
I started playing poker in 2018, and since then, the longest I've ever gone without playing was about 4 or 5 days. I've never been very disciplined with my bankroll management. Whenever I won $200, $400, or even $800—which is still my biggest cash to this day—I made the wrong decision of cashing out the money and spending it. I would only come back to play after I had spent everything. Since the money usually lasted only 4 or 5 days, I was back at the tables pretty quickly.
However, I've never taken a break from poker or gone on vacation by choice. I truly love playing this game.
Before I started playing poker, I used to sell grilled cheese on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. At first, I made good money, earning the equivalent of about $140 in a single day at today's exchange rate. Over time, though, the price of cheese kept increasing, and more and more people started selling it as well. By 2018, my profits had dropped significantly. To give you an idea, a kilogram of cheese cost around $2 back then, while today it costs about $10.
That's when I started looking for ways to make money online, and I discovered poker. Today, I earn more playing poker than I ever did selling cheese. To put it into perspective, my best day selling cheese earned me about $140. My best day in poker earned me $800. In that tournament, I finished in 96th place. If I had finished 1st, the prize would have been $60,000.
The biggest difference is that, although poker is an extremely difficult game, it gives you the chance to have an incredible day and win a life-changing amount of money—something that is almost impossible in a regular job. That's one of the things I love most about poker.
I am a recreational poker player, I just play for fun. I take a lot of time off from poker and very frequently. I find it quite refreshing. And when I come back I have a renewed interest in poker and play just for fun. I think everyone should build other interests outside of poker. There are so many interesting subjects you know nothing about.
Yeah, I think it's healthy to take a break every now and then. Even if I'm enjoying the game, stepping away for a few days or a couple of weeks helps me avoid burnout and come back with a clearer mindset. I usually find that I play better after a short break because I'm more focused and less likely to force the action. Poker isn't going anywhere, so there's no harm in recharging once in a while.
I dont really ever take a complete break from poker, but thats mostly because I keep my volume pretty low. These days I mainly play freerolls and maybe a handful of Spin and Gos each day. Its enough to stay involved with the game without feeling like it turns into a grind or starts draining me mentally. Since Im not putting in huge sessions or chasing volume, I have never really felt the need to disappear from poker for weeks or months.Leandro Moecke said:
I think its a different story if you are playing seriously with a big bankroll, constantly battling through long MTT sessions or grinding cash games day after day. Thats a completely different level of mental and emotional investment. When you're putting in that much volume, variance can really test you. Even if you are playing well, you can go through long stretches where nothing seems to go your way and that can slowly wear you down.
If I were in that position, I would definitely make a point of taking proper breaks every now and then. Stepping away for a while isnt giving up, its probably one of the healthiest things you can do. A short break can help you reset mentally, clear away the frustration and come back with a fresh perspective instead of forcing yourself to keep grinding while tilted or emotionally exhausted.
Poker is as much a mental game as it is a technical one. Looking after your mindset is just as important as studying strategy and sometimes the best decision you can make is simply to take a step back, recharge and return when you are feeling sharp again.
