After the World Series of Poker announced plans to move some of their bracelet events back one hour to a new 11 am start time, Lee Davy gives those looking for a wake-up call five tips on how to get some much-needed shut-eye.
So the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will start some of their bracelet events at 11 am.
Big deal.
However, it was a big deal. So much so that the reigning WSOP Main Event Champion, Joe McKeehen, vented so much anger on Twitter I thought he would do a Mr Creosote.
Step forward Matt Stout to put things into perspective.
Writing on his blog over at Borgata.com, the Global Poker Index (GPI) American Poker Award (APA) winner, and super-duper philanthropist, Matt Stout, wanted to remind people like the world champ to take out their telescope and view the bigger picture.
“When it comes to the 11 am start times, I think it’s important to consider which demographics are more likely to prefer which start time.” Wrote Stout before continuing. “I can tell you from many years of experience playing Borgata tournaments, which typically start at 11 am, that recreational players tend to be on time much more frequently than pros and they don’t seem to mind the earlier start time.
“The earlier start time at WSOP is accompanied by an earlier bagging time, which is a big consideration for recreational players who aren’t used to being up until 2 am, much less playing high stakes tournaments at that hour. I think Borgata has been getting this right all along and I’m glad the WSOP has caught up from a “good of the game” perspective.”
McKeehen has a differing view to Stout. Although he ascertains on Twitter that a lack of sleep won’t affect him, he does believe that one extra hour in bed will put people off playing.
“It won’t affect me as much as many others but in a city that never sleeps, it’s going to cause many people to skip events.”
Maybe there are reasons this city ‘never sleeps’. Let’s see if we can do something about it, shall we?
1# f.lux
I have shared rooms with several poker players and they all seem to have one thing in common.
They sleep with their laptop.
Yes, it’s true, poker players go through a high number of laptops, but it’s not because they are slamming them against the wall in fits of uncontrollable tilt, it’s because they are rolling over and crushing them with their candy asses.
Sleeping with your laptop is a bad idea. Not only are you more likely to break it, but you don’t have to be a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) fan club to know that it’s probably zapping the tails off that sperm.
The laptop is in the bed because people have gotten into the habit of playing around with it just before nap time., and it’s one of the reasons people are struggling to sleep.
So lock your laptop in the bathroom well before bedtime and read Moby Dick. If you can’t keep away from the laptop then download f.lux. It’s a cute piece of software that doesn’t cost a bean and changes the colour temperature of your display to help reduce eye strain and improve the chances that you will get a better sleep as a result.
2# Bright Lights! Bright Lights!
Having been raised in the rain-soaked slums of the UK, the one thing I love about Vegas is the moment you wake up, and open those curtains; sunshine touches your heart.
The one thing I hate about Vegas is to have that sun trying to touch my heart when I am desperate for a little shut-eye.
Once you have licked the sound problem by getting the hell out of dodge, it’s time to solve the light problem. Work ahead of time. Speak to your property owner and see if you can get darkened drapes. If not, pop into a fabric store and buy some. It doesn’t cost a lot and will be well worth it.
Also, carry a sleep mask with you at all times. Not only will it ensure that you can relax in the brightest of rooms, but you won’t get scared of ghouls and ghosts because you won’t be able to see them.
I use a frog faced pillow to cover my eyes. It’s not very manly. Tim Ferriss suggests you try out the Sleep Master Sleep Mask. They don’t ship outside of the US so order one in advance and pick it up when you arrive.
3# Alcohol & Caffeine
I don’t get caffeine. It tastes like cigarette ash. However, if you do like to partake in a spot of coffee then don’t drink it as you move into the twilight zone. I regularly see poker players consuming gallons of the stuff towards the end of their shift. If they leave it alone, they will sleep more comfortably, wake more productively, and their peak performance will last longer.
Chilling with a beer will also keep you awake. Getting wrecked is always a disaster and yet I am amazed how many people go out drinking all night and then turn up to play with eyeballs the size of flies.
Where are your priorities?
If you want to party, then schedule some days when you are not playing.
When it comes to game time, go all natural, and drink smoothies, juices, and eat food that gives you energy, not crap designed to take it away.
4# The Music of Max Richter
Max Richter is a fascinating composer who created an eight-hour piece of music called ‘Sleep’. It’s not cheap, retailing at $34.99, but there is a free one-hour snippet on YouTube that I use to help me and my little froggie to slip into la-la land.
Richter calls ‘Sleep’ his ‘personal lullaby for a frenetic world’, and, ‘a manifesto for a slower pace of existence.’
Perfect for clearing those Vegas whores and cobwebs.
5# Reduce Stress
Unless you are moving into your forties and need to go for a piss every two minutes like me, then the number one reason you can’t sleep at night is that grey thing hiding beneath your skull. It won’t stop firing.
With this in mind, it’s imperative that you introduce ways of reducing stress that doesn’t involve heading to Spearmint Rhino for a spot of ‘tossing and tossing’ because you keep ‘tossing and turning.’
The long-term approach is to introduce a meditation practice into your life. I practice Transcendental Meditation (TM) twice a day, and even when I am at the Rio, I find time to break away from the maelstrom, pick a spot, and zen out. If you don’t want to spend the vast sums of money that the TM organisation pulls from your wallet, then try Headspace.
Shorter term, I think it’s imperative to have a system in place to review your game before you go to bed. Most poker players share apartments with other poker players and it’s a great idea to hold a post-match de-brief before getting some rest. That way, the day’s hand history won’t get in the way of a good night’s sleep.
Also, spend some time planning your day in advance. After reading 15 Secrets Successful people Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse, I started breaking down my day into 30-minutes segments and then filling in those parts with actions that align with my purpose and goals. I use Google Calendar to schedule everything. Otherwise, nothing gets done.
With advanced planning I remove a lot of unnecessary whirring in the brain thinking about shit that’s already locked and loaded. It also gives you a prompt to prepare meals, drinks, and all of the other stuff I talk about in this article.
