Is it possible to enjoy the game in the long term when it becomes a job?

[absolutista2021]

Yes, it’s possible to enjoy poker long-term even when it becomes a job, but it requires the right mindset and balance. Many professionals start with pure passion, but over years of grinding, the pressure of variance, constant decision-making, and financial swings can turn the game into a stressful routine. Motivation often fades if poker becomes only about paying bills, especially when long downswings test patience and confidence. The players who sustain joy are usually those who treat poker as both work and a craft—constantly studying, finding new challenges, mixing formats, and setting goals beyond just money. Taking breaks, keeping other hobbies, and maintaining social or family life also protect against burnout. Like any profession built from a passion, the risk is real, but if you evolve with the game and avoid monotony, poker can stay both rewarding and enjoyable for decades.

wow! very truth! thanks for your amazing answer! i think what is truth all you say, the poker is more good when you study, and has got a equilibrium in your life, so you dont tired of bad beat, or monotony in your life, and is more healthy life too! my language mother is spanish, but i try too learn english speaking in english is cardschat.com thanks you for you answer and welcome to argentina!

 

[fewerz]

One person told me that no matter how much you love your work, sooner or later it turns into a routine. I don’t have that much life experience yet, but the things I’ve been doing for many years definitely gave me more enjoyment in the beginning. I have a similar story with poker. The thrill has faded, and I’ve become more detached. Maybe I’ve just become more rational.

 

[Poison91]

YES, personal rivalries are born, my personal enemy is badnight>malanoche, BA888 and others, they always want my head, but this time I have improved and I am going for them!!!🌪️⚡⚡

 

[woraphatman]

I enjoy playing poker, but tournaments require a lot of time.😪

 

[percrackk]

If you really love any job, you always feel good with that, I think being a hobbie it’s the plus for love it a lil bit more

 

[wushibala]

wow! great! what is your secret for it? do you like very much the game? or what? thanks for answer!

Yes, you noticed absolutely right — I really love poker. That’s why I don’t need any extra motivation. If you enjoy the game, that’s all the motivation you need.

 

[Bakersquid]

I think it depends on person to person but the rush of winning a three way all in with the worst hand pre flop i think that kind of things can never make it boring

 

[pep12343]

The question is very interesting. The answer, not so much.
It depends on each person, but in my experience, I consider myself someone who quickly gets bored with a lot of things. However, neither poker nor soccer gave me that feeling of losing interest.

 

[chicbulls2]

if you like it, then why not, you should do what you are good at

 

[Rosylly]

I think it depends on the person, but generally it will come in cycles, cycles of enjoying and hating the game

 

[absolutista2021]

One person told me that no matter how much you love your work, sooner or later it turns into a routine. I don’t have that much life experience yet, but the things I’ve been doing for many years definitely gave me more enjoyment in the beginning. I have a similar story with poker. The thrill has faded, and I’ve become more detached. Maybe I’ve just become more rational.

Yes, the routine, if you love your work not become in routine, ty for your words!

 

[absolutista2021]

YES, personal rivalries are born, my personal enemy is badnight>malanoche, BA888 and others, they always want my head, but this time I have improved and I am going for them!!!🌪️⚡⚡

oh, okey thank you very much for your comment!

 

[absolutista2021]

I enjoy playing poker, but tournaments require a lot of time.😪

depends, if you play turbo, you can order your day with start and end with very much regularity, i think, the most important difference is that not know exacly when you finish, but you can play 6 hours per day in cash game or 6 hours aprox per day in tournamnet, if you play in exacly time of exacly tournamnets all days, ty for comment!

 

[absolutista2021]

If you really love any job, you always feel good with that, I think being a hobbie it’s the plus for love it a lil bit more

yeah, if oneself love the work, this is not work, its a ikigai ( word japannesse for goal in the life) thank you for comment!

 

[absolutista2021]

Yes, you noticed absolutely right — I really love poker. That’s why I don’t need any extra motivation. If you enjoy the game, that’s all the motivation you need.

yeap, exacly, thank you for your words!

 

[absolutista2021]

I think it depends on person to person but the rush of winning a three way all in with the worst hand pre flop i think that kind of things can never make it boring

yeap, absoluty, the variance is a condiment, what do what you can enjoy more the poker, its very funny, i see people what wins with 72 off versus a-a, whatever, 72 off has got posibility of win 20% i think, so, 1 each 5 hand , 72off wins! but in the human brain, is amazing aniway this hand winning versus the top hand, in the brain i think the people think what 72 off loss 99% so is hype momment when 72off win versus a-a but is probably, is maths and the maths is exacly in the larg time! ty for comment!

 

[absolutista2021]

The question is very interesting. The answer, not so much.
It depends on each person, but in my experience, I consider myself someone who quickly gets bored with a lot of things. However, neither poker nor soccer gave me that feeling of losing interest.

okey, thank you for comment your experience! i think is not bored, i love the mathematics, the variance and the psycology in poker, so, if i win i am happy, if i loss too, i see the poker how a intelectual war, is amazing! gl and byebye!!!

 

[absolutista2021]

if you like it, then why not, you should do what you are good at

yeap, very good logic, when one people is good in a work, like the work and viceverse, when people like a job, with the time become in good in the work i think, very good comment! thank you!

 

[absolutista2021]

I think it depends on the person, but generally it will come in cycles, cycles of enjoying and hating the game

i think 20% coincidence with your comment, but if oneself know variance and love the poker, i think 100% of time, love the poker, only recreational players and professional players with not mind mental game worked, can think of this way i think, but aniway , existence days betters and words days in poker! ty for your comment!

 

[choprav]

Yes definately especially if u win learna nd grow and improve

 

[bremp555]

I think the key is learning to mature throughout the process. When poker becomes your job, you can’t rely only on the excitement or the adrenaline that got you into the game in the first place, those feelings naturally fade with time. What keeps you going is finding satisfaction in the routine itself: studying, reviewing hands, staying disciplined, and improving bit by bit.

If you can learn to enjoy that structure - the daily grind, the long-term mindset - then motivation doesn’t disappear, it just changes form. It becomes less about short-term fun and more about pride in the craft and consistency in your work.

 

[absolutista2021]

Yes definately especially if u win learna nd grow and improve

yes!!!! ty for comment!

 

[absolutista2021]

I think the key is learning to mature throughout the process. When poker becomes your job, you can’t rely only on the excitement or the adrenaline that got you into the game in the first place, those feelings naturally fade with time. What keeps you going is finding satisfaction in the routine itself: studying, reviewing hands, staying disciplined, and improving bit by bit.

If you can learn to enjoy that structure - the daily grind, the long-term mindset - then motivation doesn’t disappear, it just changes form. It becomes less about short-term fun and more about pride in the craft and consistency in your work.

yes, exacly, is a process, and with the time you can enjoy all time the poker how job, but how all good in the life, required job!! thank you for comment my post!

 

[Reddog888]

For most people, work and pleasure are two separate things. But if it is possible to have both pleasure and work, that would be the best thing. But you also need to have clear boundaries or things will get very bad.

 

[absolutista2021]

For most people, work and pleasure are two separate things. But if it is possible to have both pleasure and work, that would be the best thing. But you also need to have clear boundaries or things will get very bad.

yeah, exacly, i think a mental training is very very important, for make the poker a professional work, and enjoy it, with all, the what the poker has got, for example, for example the bad variance, in large time, but i think is very very possible, and is very health make it! thank you for comment my post!