Sleeping problems

[Hatya]

I'd imagine this happens to more then a few of us.

I play a couple sessions during the day. Usually one around 1pm EST because thats evening for Euros, and another around 7-8pm EST US since thats when the US players grind.

I usually quit playing sometime around midnight. Then I usually watch a video, or study something, or plays some SC2.

Regardless, the day always end with me doing something poker related even after i play SC2 i go back to poker. By the time I go to sleep its usually 2-3 am. But i cant shut it off, I lay in bed thinking about a couple hands that i didnt like. Doing freeking range calcs in my head, thinking of better lines or w/e/

Yesterday I didnt have any big loosing pots to dwell on, so i was in bed going over better lines for the pots i won LOL. Sure its productive, but i think its detrimental over all.

TBH I think the only time Im awake and not thinking about poker is when im watching a movie or tv show, but i watch less then 5 hours of tv a week.

I am completely against using sleeping pills, hell i don't take aspirin for headaches. Do you guys go thru this, if so what have you found helpful.

[robbyd86]

I always watch a tv episode before going to bed. Helps shut my brain down a lil, but i still always have problems falling asleep.

[RikaKazak]

I've found exercising a ton about 3-4 hours before bed helps me a lot. Also, avoiding caffeine throughout the day helps.

[JamesMa]

DONT end the day w/ poker related stuff

[Birchinio]

Yeah I'm exactly the same.

I lay in bed until 2-3am thinking about random stuff, mostly poker.. which then makes it impossible to get up before 11am without feeling like shit.

Try reading, it's a good way to distract the mind and helps me sleep. Also exercise well and try and get up everyday at the same time so that you get tired at night at the same time. Even if it means getting in bed at 1am and waking at 11am everyday you still need routine.

Saying that yesterday I woke up at 11am, played squash, went to the gym then played an hour of football and I still couldn't sleep last night

[Probability]

if you sleep for 10+ hours a night you might want to reduce that a little.

[Hatya]

im usually good for 7-8 hours of sleep once i finally fall asleep. I have one of these sleep numbers beds, im trying a different setting.

[DRUK88]

I went through this EXACT thing last night. My girlfriend was with me and she was asleep, and I was reading aejones' well from 2+2 and my mind was literally racing. Because my gf was asleep, I didn't really wanna turn the TV on etc, but normally I find watching something light hearted on TV helps me unwind.

Something like South Park, Family Guy, Friends, or films that I classify as "easy viewing" (don't require much concentration to follow). Usually after one or 2 episodes of Family Guy say I have switched off and a lot more relaxed and ready for some sleep.

I also agree with JamesMa that doing poker studies late at night is quite detrimental and you probably are not taking in as much as you can.

[JamesMa]

Poker is just generally an activity that really makes your brain work hard or at least it should be if you're a good player lol and I find that if you are trying to sleep and relax its just not a good combination. You'll tend to think about poker theories or hands instead of concentrating on relaxing

[Hatya]

Originally Posted by JamesMa

Poker is just generally an activity that really makes your brain work hard or at least it should be if you're a good player lol and I find that if you are trying to sleep and relax its just not a good combination. You'll tend to think about poker theories or hands instead of concentrating on relaxing

I played live the other night, fairly short session of about 5 hours. When i left my brain hurt from thinking so much every hand. Even when I folded the hand I watched every move anyone made in the hands. It wasnt a head ache, it was a brain ache. I cant describe it really.

So ya I understand what you mean. Now magnify that x's 4 tables with 5 times the amount of hands per table, and it's no wonder online players need a bit of time to "Come down" after playing a session.