Time Managment - Balancing Life w/Poker

**chrisw17** · 07-24-2009 12:01 PM

A question for all the online poker guys: How do you effectively manage your time with poker and family. How much time do you spend per day playing? Do you usually follow a schedule or just fit in poker where you have free time?

I know everyone's circumstances are different, but I was just curious if anyone had tips on managing your time playing poker without neglecting your family/wife/GF.

**otbdave** · 07-24-2009 12:03 PM

I always played cash games because I was a full time student with 2 jobs and a girlfriend. My girlfriend understood that one hour of every day was poker time.

So I only played an hour a day, but at 12 tables or so could qualify for Full Tilt's highest loyalty tier. (suckers) Turns a break even player into a rakeback/bonus hero.

**otbdave** · 07-24-2009 12:06 PM

My advice is simply to have a plan. It can't be "I'll play poker when I have free time, and I will play until I don't feel like playing anymore". Unless you have unreal emotional fortitude you will be risking both time management as well as your bankroll. The bottom line is that 95% of people don't possess this tilt immunity (but 50% think they do), so don't assume that you have it.

I like having a schedule, and I always did, but regardless you should have planned start and stop times for your sessions in my opinion. Whether you play 8 hours a week or 80 hours a week is up to you.

**dyehard** · 07-24-2009 01:02 PM

I was actually going to put up the exact same thread.

For me, I have a very compulsive personality. Last year, before I started back into poker, I was hooked on Halo 3. I would play 5 nights a week from 10pm until 2, 3, or 4 in the morning. Almost everynight I would be ready to quit at like 2 am. I would tell myself "last game." Then I would have a shitty game and get like 5 kills. "One more" I would say....same thing. "Ok, if I get 10 kills I'll quit." It didnt matter how good or bad I did, I would find an excuse to play again.

My wife and I had a very serious convesation a couple days ago about how poker, and all that revolves around poker, has consumed me. I had to explain to her that I have always devoted every ounce of me into something that I feel true passion for. She undestands this but it still has caused some problems relating to the amount of sleep I get to the amount of time I spend with my family.

In my mind I know that I need to cut back on the amount of time spent on poker. But like an alcoholic, I will not change my behaviour without the help of others or without the topic being brought up in the first place.

Anyhow, I agreed that I would cut my playing back to the weekends and one day during the week. If big tournaments come up (FTOPs, WSOP, ISPC) she would understand that I will be playing a bit more. She doesnt want me to give up playing, nor do I think any loved one would want a person to give up something that they are passionate about. But she made me realize that I need to prioritize certain things.

My advice is to set a schedule and stick to it. I started playing 3 or 4 times a week and it progressed to 7 days a week, not including the time spent on the forums. I think that you will be happier as well as your family.

Good luck with poker, life, and poker life.

**lynch1000s** · 07-26-2009 04:56 AM

Originally Posted by chrisw17

A question for all the online poker guys: How do you effectively manage your time with poker and family. How much time do you spend per day playing? Do you usually follow a schedule or just fit in poker where you have free time?

I know everyone's circumstances are different, but I was just curious if anyone had tips on managing your time playing poker without neglecting your family/wife/GF.

Not very well. I guess that's why all my friends either play poker (nowadays), or they just don't seem to call me anymore...

**De_Bo** · 07-26-2009 08:30 AM

I usually play in p.m., after kids are a sleep. My wife will watch her DVR shows while I sit in the room with her playing on the lap top. We talk and just hang out. She loves poker as I have given up my rights to the remote control as I play, so she can watch her shows without me complaining about the show. Also, when my family is out shopping, etc. Ill hop on. Try my best to finish before they get home. I really love my wife and kids and enjoy them, so its not bad cutting a session off. I am also willing to miss a few hands to help my wife with something, etc.

**dyehard** · 07-27-2009 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by De_Bo

I usually play in p.m., after kids are a sleep. My wife will watch her DVR shows while I sit in the room with her playing on the lap top. We talk and just hang out. She loves poker as I have given up my rights to the remote control as I play, so she can watch her shows without me complaining about the show. Also, when my family is out shopping, etc. Ill hop on. Try my best to finish before they get home. I really love my wife and kids and enjoy them, so its not bad cutting a session off. I am also willing to miss a few hands to help my wife with something, etc.

I just found out that playing while my wife watches her movies is not as ok as I had originally thought. I think it was fine at first but started to annoy her after a while.

**De_Bo** · 07-27-2009 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by Chewbacca Nuts

I just found out that playing while my wife watches her movies is not as ok as I had originally thought. I think it was fine at first but started to annoy her after a while.

all else fails, use profit to buy something really cool and point out you got this from poker. My wife has made out like a bandit....

Rdsknman · 07-27-2009 06:22 PM

I also ran into this issue and have had a very hard time managing it. As of late however I have been more successful. This is probably do to not having a job for awhile, and now I do and spending time on it.

I have not played nearly as much as I was not long ago.