Motivation to keep playing?

So after a great run of over 30k hands and beating 2nl/5nl at 10ptbb each, I've finally hit a really hard downswing of 12 buyins (and probably more to come). Session after session i end in -ptbb/100 and I look at the hands where I get stacked and they are just complete coolers. And yes, I've checked with my 100nl regular friends and they verified that it's not bad play, but I just got the bad end of a cooler

Regardless, the variance has made me really lose an interest in the game. I've taken more than a week and a half off from the game and have just read forums and watched a few videos. I feel that I'm incorporating most of the advice but I keep ending up losing after every session.

Is there anything else I can do to re-spark my interest in poker? I don't need another pep-talk on riding out the variance, since I've had more than enough of those.

The best way is to try SNGs or limit. They're both games with the same cards dealt, same board. But the hand strengths and ranges are all way different.

Go try bowling or something. Poker is not for you if you quit and lose interest this easily.

If you're asking us for motivation you'll never get it. The variance is tilting you, pep talks notwithstanding Read spoon's thread on willpower and I believe there was a thread by someone else on psychology and dealing with tilt (aokrongly?).

The only advice I can give you is take some more time out. It can even take a month. Don't play poker in your spare time in the evenings for a while, instead go out with your friends, play some video games, even do things that you've been meaning to do for a while but haven't gotten round to it. Force yourself to do it, it will cheer you up and hopefully improve your frame of mind

If you have to artificially 're-spark' your interest in poker then you're only propping yourself up to fall harder later.

Meh...we've all been there, but don't waste your time doing something you don't enjoy.

I used to play golf. I loved sinking a long putt or a great tee shot. But not nearly enough to make up for all the slices, hooks, shanks, pulls, pushes, ricochets and fish missles. Now, I still play golf every now and then, but I take it for what it is: A waste of $100 but a really good excuse to drink beer with my buddies. I never did care enough for the game to spend time at the range or put any real investment into becoming a better player. So I don't play anymore, and my life is better for it.

With poker, I enjoy playing enough to put effort into learning the game. If I ever get to a point where I don't enjoy playing, I'll stop. Then when I occasionaly play, it will be as it is for golf. A waste of $100 and a good excuse to drink beer with my buddies.

Originally Posted by AFchung

Is there anything else I can do to re-spark my interest in poker? I don't need another pep-talk on riding out the variance, since I've had more than enough of those.

Try grinding a few days at limits you pwn'd in the past? If you win, you get your confidence back. If you lose, it's not destroying your bankroll.

Originally Posted by Robb

Originally Posted by AFchung

Is there anything else I can do to re-spark my interest in poker? I don't need another pep-talk on riding out the variance, since I've had more than enough of those.

Try grinding a few days at limits you pwn'd in the past? If you win, you get your confidence back. If you lose, it's not destroying your bankroll.

this sounds like a great idea i'll hit up 2NL fr and hopefully i can run good again. or at least average

thanks robb

Poker is not for you if you quit and lose interest this easily.

I do enjoy the game. Just get discouraged easily

Originally Posted by AFchung

Is there anything else I can do to re-spark my interest in poker?

this:

Originally Posted by Robb

Try grinding a few days at limits you pwn'd in the past

and
ask yourself what your goals are in poker.
Write them down.
Think about it.
Study a little.
Read a few of the successful op threads about turning not much money into real $$ - e.g. mine from the first, stax, etc - or read those about making a lot of money (search forum for coco_bill !!!)

if you're still not motivated to play, then does it really matter? life is about more than doing things you don't enjoy...