Staying Focused during long sessions

As the poker sub forum seems to be gaining traction lately I thought I'd ask about an issue that I regularly have whilst playing long sessions.

I have recently started to play 1/2 live weekly mtts at my local casino but after about 3/4 hours in I almost always find myself with a pretty painful migraine. I don't know if it's the fact I'm trying to concentrate for long periods, the lighting, the temperature or what but 90% I will leave the casino after I've finished with an awful migraine. So much so that it almost stops me from attending.

I know we have some serious poker players on this forum so I was just wondering if anybody suffers from the same issue and if so, what they do about it?

Funnily enough I can play a drunk session for hours on end but never seem to suffer the same migraine that would come on playing sober.

 

If your sober and getting migraines but drunk and not getting them sounds like you have a stress problem when not hitting the sauce..

I'm not a doctor but did stay at a holiday inn express last night

 

Are you keeping hydrated and drinking water regularly even if you don't think you're thirsty? I get a headache when I play also, if I don't. Every time the server comes around for drink orders I always take 1-2 bottles of the water to remind myself to keep drinking.

I also need about a 15-20 min break if I've been playing cash game about 3-4 hours... I set the timer on my phone to remind me if I am in the middle of a long cash session. If I am in a tournament the breaks are usually more than sufficient (they typically break every 2 hours or so, which is plenty for me). Even if I don't feel exhausted I'll make a point to walk around, stretch, etc.

Other ideas causing the issue:

• Weird lighting? I've been in some rooms that are lit all weird.... the Cleveland room is very dark but it has these really bright directional lights above each table... means you're either blinded or super dark, no in between. I have to close my eyes sometimes or take a break more often there.
• Smoke in/near the room? Maybe you're sensitive to that?
• Get so focused on the game you're just straining and stressing, as 93 mentioned. I play with a few guys who have to keep sipping on the beer to keep their heads clear. Not to the point they are making bad decisions, but enough to keep them from worrying about life away from the table.

Would be curious what ideas others have too...

 

I used to play a lot of live poker in the UK, but now that travelling is so much hassle for me, I only really play in Vegas, and maybe 1-2 times a year here.

Think TRN's ideas are all pretty solid, and pretty similar to the kind of stuff I would do when I play(ed)

Think being well rested/hydrated is important, and water is definitely preferable to stuff that will have you using the bathroom every 20 minutes..

Maybe it's all the peripheral noise that is causing the migraines, along with the lights etc.

 

Drink a White Russian ....Then a water. Repeat...After 7 or 8 you'll be fine

(This is a opinion of mine and believe I'm no Doctor)

Cheers

 

i swear to Christ when I lose focus is when they send around the very hottest CW in the entire place and I lose even more focus. Fuckin' A, man. I'm as much a pervert as I am an imbecile.

 

I think the idea of taking a break is pretty good rather then just sitting at the table for hours on end. Typically when the tournament is on break I'll go to the toilet and the sit around until it starts back up again. Next week I'm going to make sure I get out the casino and have a 15 minute walk to get some fresh air/clear my head.

Staying hydrated, although simple, is also something I've probably neglected over the years.

 

A light just went off in this old man's head. Thank you, TRN.

I have always had sleep issues and get stressed/tired during sessions so I normally cash out after an hour or two. But recently I decided to order a beer (I drink water when I play) as I was going to play one more orbit at 1/3 and leave.

After a few sips, I got a pot … and another. What the hey, I decided to play a little more. I felt relaxed. I decided to play a little more and walked to the restroom and then outside for a little fresh air. I returned, felt less stressed, and kept winning. An hour later I ordered another beer to sip. I turned an hour session into five hours, and $200+ loss into a $931 win,

 

In addition to hydration don't forget about eating. Blood sugar becomes a big issue when playing and focusing for that long. In addition to a lot of water, try to eat something small when you start to feel off. Piece of fruit is perfect.

 

That's a good point... I don't worry about it as much during cash game sessions (even though they play long sometimes), since I can pretty much get up whenever I want and take a break to eat. I do pay more attention to prep for this during a tournament (especially multiple days where I can be playing for 10-12 hours in a given day and only get 20 minute breaks at a time, for the most part). Couple of snacks helps this, and definitely necessary for me.

 

Seriously folks the OP states he can play for hours on end as long as he's drinking. If not drinking the migraines hit. You all are carrying on about fruit--low light--water---breaks... it's obvious the alcohol relaxes him and allows for relatively stress free play,,,at least to me anyway

 

I suffer migraines--once during a final table of a sizable tourney. Not good (didn't fair well either).
Luckily not often in Vegas--no idea why!
Yes--rest, hydrate (day before, too), eat healthy, fresh air, exercise. I would be proactive & take Tylenol migraine or Excedrin before session & take every 4 hours like clockwork. I would have caffeine in AM--if you normally do (and avoid if you don't!). Don't drink energy drinks--studies show those to some bizarro things to a body, not just caffeine there.
Wear headphones with enjoyable music if it is noisy.
Smoke--avoid tables near where smoke might waft in.
Lighting cannot be helped--and flourescents are not a migraine's friend.
Try these & see if they work!

 

I also use eye drops and saline nose spray in addition to drinking lots of water. Gave up wearing my contact lenses as well years ago. Eye strain is a real problem for me and the eye drops really help. Living in the gulf coast I go from high humidity to desert so the nose spray is a must as well. I like to drink flavored vitamin water as well to help encourage me to keep the hydration up.

Finally, long walks are a real help for me to wind down after a long session and to get me alert and ready in the morning. After so much butt time it really feels good and rejuvenates mind and body.

 

I can't really comment on the migraine issues but here are somethings I do if I know I am going to play a long session.

Every dealer change, just stand up. Hopefully stretch a bit and just walk but at least stand up.

Eat right. No bad junk food or anything that can spike your sugar levels.

But for me the biggest game changer for concentration or tilt issues, was meditating. Is it a process yes, a long one that I am always still working on but it helped for me.