I quit chess for a few months and have returned recently. This happens every once in a while for me as I get burned out.

One thing I notice is when I come back, although my openings, strategies and tactics are rusty, I seem to feel more comfortable playing. Its like when your deep into chess you keep learning and your brain is filled with everything you are taking in. Then you take a break and all this learning settles and gets filed away in your brain. When you return to chess I beleive all that learning that was flying around in your brain actually begins to make more sense.

Sorry for rambling but just wanted to see if anyone else finds that they are more relaxed and play better after a long break from chess.

Downside is of course I forgot most of my openings :(

Oh, I cannot even imagine being away from chess for three-four days, let alone couple of months. Holy s!!t ! but if you've personally experienced it, it must be good for you and perhaps many others.

Maybe that's the only upside of not being a chess-addict!

I just came back from a 1 week vacation and feel like I forgot everything! I can't imagine what it would be returning from a few months break.

I have seen this phenomenon many times and not only with chess. If you have actually learned a lot it has a lot of advantages to let it settle in and come back after a short while. Then you can truly grok what you have learned before.

I can speak to this.  I took the better part of September and half of October off.  It all was triggered by going on vacation for a week in Hawaii.  When I got back, I didn't really feel like playing.  Prior to going on vacation, my rating was around 1611 or so based on my games archive.  I randomly would make a move or two every few days after returning but wasn't playing much at all.  The thing that struck me was that my moves were notably better than before.  Since I started playing with more regularity again (only have like 11 simultaneous games now, was playing with 30 or so on average before), my rating is currently at 1785.

It appears that time away from continuous play and book study has left me a better player.  Not only do I seem to win more, but I seem to be able to turn more of my losses into draws lately. 

One could say that this is simply a string of good luck, but I feel as though I'm able to make more thoughtful moves since my time away, coupled with my reduction in simultaneous game count.

exactly! thats what i feel. when I quit I had over 10+ games going. Now I am making better moves and am happy with just a few games.

Interesting. As said above I think this is common in alot of stuff. When I take a break from grappling and I come back I find I am much more relaxed and perform better. Same with golf. I think we overthink stuff when we are intense about something. Sometimes you just need to step back and chill hehe.

I have been playing chess for about 4 years, and there are peecks* in my interest( playing in my sleep), and lows( "chess? Whats chess?"). Sometimes the low can be 6 months. Yes. I totolley* agree with you, my chess is much better after a break. 

* You don't have to spell good to be smart.

I am an addict.  I love this game.  But there are times when I just don't play well; I make stupid moves, I miss easy combos, lose won endings.  At this time I force myself to ignore the game.  I have gotten stale; my creativity is nil.  I will take several weeks, sometimes several months, off to recharge the batteries.  When I come back to the board, I feel a hunger to play; I want to create, I am fresh and recharged.  I seriously recommend this tactic to those of who get to the point just "going through the moves."  You might find your strength increasing.

it happens to me when i play piano, after a long period in which i don't play a certain peice i come back to it with a bit of a hard time adjusting to the notes but with greater understanding of the beauty within it... i think it's just normal because you rediscover your love to chess all over again!

 Right on Bro!