A productivity framework for poker players
We have a new article and video on getting more from your time as a poker player from mindset coach SteffenRachut.
Being productive is not easy. This is especially true when you're in a position where you have to rely solely on yourself to make it happen. For poker players, this is often especially difficult. Irregular "working hours", lack of accountability and maybe a pinch of innate laziness (or at least lack of organization) sometimes compounds the problem. The solution to playing and studying sufficiently is often found in the form of building schedules, habits and routines. They are designed to force you to put in the necessary hours, both on and off the table. Creating systems which keep you on track is definitely a good idea.
However, if my experience as a performance coach has taught me one thing, it is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every person is different and thus needs different circumstances in which he or she can perform and train optimally.
In fact, imposing rigid schedules often backfires because they undermine the natural creativity of the performer. If you want to perform at your best, you have to learn to play to your strengths. While some people perform in highly a structured environments, others need more flexibility in order to be at their best. Thus, I believe that productivity requires tailor made solutions for every person.
Energy management
With that said, in this article I want to propose a more abstract way of making sure that you advance your poker career consistently. I am a big proponent of the principles-over-techniques mantra. In that spirit, I want to offer you two ways of thinking differently about productivity, followed by one set of habits which are indispensable for maximum productivity.
Looking at the big picture of consistent high productivity, there are a number of crucial variables. The most important one is energy. Whatever your goal, you have to become very skillful in dealing with your energy. This is both true for mental and physical energy. So, the first step in creating your productivity "profile" is to find out when you perform best. The next step is to devise periods of study and play accordingly. We all have different biological predispositions which cause us to be mentally and physically alert at different times. For instance, I personally perform a lot worse in the morning than in the evening, both mentally and physically.
The second aspect of energy management is planning recovery. I know this may sound strange since you're not physically active when playing poker. Yet, your mental and creative muscles need rest too. Alternating phases of highly focused study and play with phases of full disengagement are a necessary precondition for sustained peak performance. If you're serious about your poker game, you must make sure you're on top of your game - every time you enter the arena. And the only way to do this, is to actively plan for recovery.
Performance demands
The next element you have to take into account are performance demands. Depending on the games you play as well as your goals, performance demands vary. Someone who plays a few tables of heads-up cash game faces very different demands than someone who is playing a high volume of MTTs. In practice, the first person always needs to be on his or her A-game. For this type of player, a more scattered schedule where they play several shorter sessions with lots of breaks are probably theoretically optimal. In a similar vein, this person has to be much more cautious about their energy level when entering the game. They are probably better off playing only when they feels at their best. On the other hand, if you're living off rakeback, you don't have this luxury. In this case, you will want to have a much stricter schedules in order to guarantee a certain volume. These are just examples, but I hope you see my point.
Now, irrespective of the games you're playing, your main task as an ambitious poker player is two-fold. For one, you have make sure that you get in enough volume. And secondly, you need to work on your game consistently. With all things being equal, these are the two aspects that need to be highly regulated. In my opinion, it's not so important when and where they happen, but it's indispensable that they happen.
So, how do you make sure you spend enough time on both? You build habits. The easiest way to build a habit is to feed your brain with a number of cues which tell you it is "game time". You do this by sticking to certain times of the day, maybe add a certain place to it where the action is executed, and so on. The more cues you give your brain, the better. The next step is to execute on the plan. At the same times, day in and day out. Eventually, your actions become habitual. The stronger the habit gets, the less mental energy will you need to engage in the action. At this point, the action has become almost automatic. Of course, this is much easier said than done. There are a number of helpful strategies, but these are outside the scope of this article (I'm going to give you one highly effective strategy at the end of this article).
The three best habits
However, my experience coaching people from different walks of life has taught me that there are three habits that have by far the most influence on overall productivity. The underlying idea for establishing these three habits is to remain in control over your schedule and your energy. If you stick to them religiously, your productivity will skyrocket. I can almost guarantee that.
The first routine you should establish is a morning routine. Again, it's not so important when or what exactly you do. The point is take control over your day right from the get-go. Most of us (me included) often make the mistake of checking our phone, e-mails, or text messages first thing in the morning. This is exactly what you don't want to happen. You want your morning routine to guarantee that you follow YOUR agenda, not someone else's. In the morning you set the tone for the day. It's up to you to do it in a manner that it reflects your priorities in life and poker.
Second, you should have some sort of pre-game routine. Before you start to play, it is advisable to spend at least a few minutes to get into the right mind space. This is not rocket science, but most players don't do it nonetheless. So, here's a little mindset gem that may nudge you to incorporate one into your day. One way to make sure you execute on the most important habits is to focus on a "mini" habit which precedes the actual action. In this case, you focus on getting the pre-game routine done. Instead of focusing on the big and sometimes discouraging habit (grinding or studying e.g.), you place your attention on carrying out the "easier" task. Since the two always go together, you'll automatically start the bigger habit afterwards, but it takes away the mental focus from the more dreading task.
Lastly, establish an evening routine. This is the one that is most overlooked. Yet, it's probably the most important one. Remember how I said you want to be in control over your day? Well, having a pre-bed routine makes sure you're in control of the next day. The number one aim here is to wind down. For you to get a good night's sleep, you have to give your body and your brain time to unwind. Instead, most of us bombard our mind more information and stimuli that inhibit our body from going into restoration mode. By having a strong pre-bed routine you're making sure that your energy (and stress) levels are optimal for the upcoming day.
Without question, implementing these routines will take discipline. But it will be worth it. To summarise, make sure you're catering to your own biological needs (however, don't take this an excuse to put off important tasks). Next: prioritise. Determine what daily actions have the biggest impact on your game and your life. Build your habits around these. Make sure your morning routines reflects your priorities. Be aware of maintaining control of this agenda and don't let anything or anyone derail you. Lastly, compose a pre-bed routine that assures you get the rest that you need. Implement these correctly and you'll see your productivity soar.
If you want more from SteffenRachut check out this video on the same subject for all members:
