Making a career out of playing poker requires a lot of dedication. You must practice as much as you can and play poker online or offline (if possible) to build your reputation, hone your skills, and create useful connections.
You need to put a lot of work into developing your poker career, and sometimes, it can take years before you can make a decent living solely by playing the game. That is why determination and motivations are important personality traits that aspiring pros have to possess.
But remaining focused 24/7 all year round is quite hard, as we all have our doubts from time to time. That is why it is crucial you learn how to motivate yourself, so you will be able to propel yourself forward even when your spirits are down, and you're ready to give up. So, how do you do that? What can you do to keep yourself energized and motivated when you try to become a poker pro?
5 Ways to Remain Motivated When Playing Poker
- Remember why you're playing – When you go through a rough patch, one of the main things that can keep you sane is focusing on your reason for playing. When you practice and practice, remember why you started pursuing poker in the first place. Whether it's because you wanted a brighter future for you and your family, or you wanted to do something you're truly passionate about – thinking of the reason behind your actions might keep you motivated.
- Be active – When beginning your poker career, it is only natural to soak up as much information as possible and learn all about the games from books and videos. But long-term passive learning can actually stop you from actually kick-starting your career. In some cases, players who focus too much on acquiring knowledge before they play start fearing the game itself.
That is when the doubts begin to creep in: am I good enough? Should I learn a bit more before I actually start to play? If you succumb to those negative thoughts, you might never start playing. That is why actively playing right from the start is so important. You can play the game and keep learning simultaneously. So, practice as much as you can, and you will see how your confidence and motivation grow! - Set clear, achievable goals – When we set our eyes on major, life-altering goals, it is only natural to feel a lot of pressure – and all the accompanying expectations can actually scare you away. But if you set some achievable and short-term goals, you will be able to focus on the task at hand and avoid feeling overwhelmed. You can start with a goal of winning 50% of the time, reaching a certain cash goal, etc.
- Build a solid support system – In moments of doubt, nothing can lift your spirits and get you focused like a good talk with someone close to you. You can either rely on friends and family members or turn to the online poker community. When you start playing, try to find other poker enthusiasts with a similar mindset as yours. If you have people who can relate to what you're going to, you will be able to reach out to them when you're feeling down and get the support you need.
- Look at the bright side – When you play poker, you can't focus on the negative. You can't let your losses affect you and get your motivation levels down, so remaining positive is crucial! Look at every session, even if the outcome isn't good, as a learning opportunity, and a step in the right direction. If you manage to do that, you will be able to keep playing no matter what and achieve your goals faster.
Smile and Keep Playing
To be a successful poker player, you must have the drive and desire to become better at what you do. Learning how to keep yourself motivated is just as important as learning all about poker rules and tactics!