Calling Yourself Lazy is Lazy

Claiming to be lazy is paradoxical, as it serves as a convenient excuse to avoid addressing your motivation challenges. By stating, \"this is just who I am,\" you affirm that change is impossible. However, laziness isn't an inherent trait; it simply reflects a pattern of opting for comfort over the hard work needed to achieve your ambitions.

Your goals serve as a litmus test for your level of laziness. If your objectives in poker are easily met, you might find yourself watching television for hours instead of engaging in necessary study or practice. While this isn't laziness per se, it's a sign of enjoying your achievements. Nevertheless, if your inclination toward comfort inhibits your ability to reach your goals, it's crucial to address the underlying motivational issues.

The most effective way to tackle your laziness is to uncover its true source. Often, players experience short bursts of motivation from watching skilled competitors, making side bets, or starting a fresh month. Unfortunately, this type of inspiration is fleeting, and they soon revert to their previous habits. Instead of being a lasting solution, inspiration acts merely as a temporary fix.

To break free from laziness and meet your goals, it's essential to understand the underlying reasons for your lack of motivation. In this discussion, I'll outline several common factors that players might overlook. For instance, laziness can sometimes be a coping mechanism for mental struggles like tilt. By not studying or playing, you can effectively avoid the frustrations associated with bad beats or mistakes. At first glance, this might appear as laziness, but a deeper examination reveals otherwise.

To pinpoint the root of your laziness, begin by compiling a list of actions you consider lazy, along with the context and triggers for these behaviors. Equipped with this information, you'll find it much easier to identify the deeper issues at play and work toward long-term solutions. After reviewing your list, ask yourself why these behaviors occur in the first place. Here are a few typical explanations:

Previously, I highlighted that laziness may often stem from interests that draw your attention away from your true objectives. If you're gravitating toward video games rather than poker, it indicates that video games are more enticing to you at that moment. Reflect on why poker seems less appealing than before—this wasn't always the case. There was a time when you were dedicated, spending hours engrossed in the game and eagerly learning. Perhaps poker once posed a conflict with school or work, which heightened your passion. Now that it has become your primary focus, it feels more like a chore, or maybe your previous achievements have dulled the excitement of the challenge. Have you ceased to develop your skills? While studying can sometimes feel burdensome, acquiring new knowledge often reignites your motivation.

It's possible that as a child, you became adept at evading responsibilities like schoolwork or chores. Challenging your parents felt rewarding then, but now this habit leads you to neglect your own aspirations. Years of practice have honed your skills in procrastination, making you proficient in choosing fun over the necessary. This might feel like you've lost the capability to tackle essential tasks. mentally weak Building mental strength parallels physical fitness; you cannot suddenly lift heavy weights without gradual training. To build muscle in the gym, you need to challenge yourself beyond your comfort zone. Similarly, if you only engage in what's easy and enjoyable, you won't cultivate the endurance necessary to meet your goals. Incrementally push yourself each day: extend your playtime by ten minutes, dedicate five additional minutes to study, or take two minutes at the end of your session to review your performance. Once these small habits take root, you can gradually increase them, but start with manageable steps.

What lies at the heart of your laziness in poker?

The remedy is straightforward: continuously set goals. If you're unsure about your next target, make it a goal to identify one. As you gain experience, it may become challenging to recognize the subtle improvements your game requires. To combat this, always aim to have one aspect of your game in need of development.

However, if you're constantly seeking new and stimulating learning experiences, you might neglect mastering the fundamental components of your poker strategy. This imbalance in your learning approach can impede your long-term growth as a player. It’s vital to focus on addressing your most significant errors or weaknesses. While this focus might not seem particularly exciting or groundbreaking, it’s essential not to overlook these foundational elements entirely. The good news is that they usually require minimal time to improve, so be sure to incorporate them into your regular practice alongside new concepts. A balanced combination of both is crucial for fostering consistent motivation in your learning journey.

What causes your unproductive behavior in poker?

A relatable scenario is that of a player who feels more at ease when they are short-stacked in a tournament, as it simplifies their decision-making process and compels them to take risks. When choices become limited, tough decisions naturally become easier to face. rock This motivational struggle likely stems from a weakness in making decisions rather than a lack of ability. As poker fundamentally revolves around decision-making, it's more probable that fear is hindering your capacity. Fears of failure, embarrassment, or making mistakes often inhibit progress. To foster consistent long-term motivation, it’s crucial to confront and work through your fears. For the time being, challenge yourself to make difficult choices while your options are still available.

The easiest escape route from motivating yourself is through laziness. Poker Many of my clients are highly active players, engaging in hundreds of thousands of hands annually against formidable opponents. They often play seven days a week, enduring sessions exceeding twelve hours when they’re feeling inspired. This level of mental exertion is akin to long-distance running. Over time, such intense performance can lead to burnout, leaving them without the energy to play. Surprisingly, these mental endurance athletes sometimes label themselves as lazy because they can't fathom any other reason for their lost motivation.

Resting properly involves more than just getting quality sleep; it means taking occasional breaks—sometimes even a full week off—and engaging in other enjoyable activities while minimizing screen time during parts of the day. However, once burnout sets in, the only remedy is to step away from the game for several days, a week, or possibly even longer, depending on the severity of your condition. Just as actual burns differ in intensity, mental burnout manifests in varying degrees. While certain circumstances, like participating in a major tournament series, might make it unpreventable, establishing a routine that allows for sufficient rest can significantly decrease the likelihood of experiencing burnout.

Overcome laziness by challenging yourself to push your limits. burn If the issues discussed don't get to the core of your laziness, it's time to engage in more introspection. In a forthcoming section, I'll introduce a technique known as the Mental Hand History, designed to help you uncover the root of your struggles.

Being lazy doesn't have to be your fate. It’s a fixable issue... provided you're not too lethargic to take action.

Jared Tendler - Expert in Poker Mental Strategy

Jared Tendler, MS, LMHC, is a licensed therapist who specializes in sports psychology, recognized as a leading authority on the mental aspects of poker. Having coached over 500 players from more than 45 countries during nearly 10 years in the industry, he has worked with many top-tier professionals. Additionally, he is the author of two successful books on the subject: The Mental Game of Poker Parts 1 and 2 [add link to our book review section].

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