So are you getting addicted to holdem yet? Are you telling your girlfriend that you don’t feel well so you can stay at home and play? Or are you playing when you should be doing something more important? It doesn’t take long for the game to grab you and consume you. It’s not like all of your buddies aren’t playing all the time; poker games are more common on the weekends than house parties.

The successful players learn how to juggle the action with a life. They’re usually not perfect lives, but who lives a perfect life? Don’t let the game control your life or it will sink you fast. It’s no different than any hobby, it can’t consume you. Set reasonable limits to your play and stick to them. It’s tough, but it’s important to have structure. If the game stops being fun, you need to step away for awhile.