That buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto

Fridays where I play poker are typically like this:

7 or 7:07 or 7:14…(7 min. snooze) or 7:35 a.m. Wake up :(
8:30 Work :(
5:30 p.m. Leave cubicle fabric cell :)
5:30-6:30 Drive home, eat, change. :|
6:30 Gym :)
8:30 p.m. Eat, fire up some tables :)
3-5 a.m. Can’t see screen anymore :( > Pop 3 ZMA’s and Hi-Jack a Care Bear to Pillowy Dream Land.

What’s cool about tonight was that I modeled and figured out exactly when I should quit from now on. I’m quitting right before step 4 of 7, peep it:

Step 1. Distraction is setting in. I think about TV, switch music/podcasts, think about what I’m going to do tomorrow, what other forms of poker I could be playing…

2. I repeatedly check how many hands/hours I’ve played. I’ve gotten pretty good at this by using my hand to block the screen and blurring my eyes like those Magic Eye photos. That way I don’t look at results, essential skill imo.

3. I slowly lose my desire to take notes and further develop or care about my reads on villains.

Alright, it’s downhill from here….

4. I stop going throught the mental “pre-shot routine” of every decision. I lose my inner dialogue (OK, I’m in LP facing a loose UTG raiser and I have….)

5. I play less aggressive

6. I play robotically

7. The screen begins to blur, I squint, and question why I ever got interested in this game.

All this can take place in a short period of time or over a few hours. So from now on if I hit step 4 it’s time to shut it down.