Chess Training Methods, Time and Rest

Hi Gurus,

I am trying to look for Training methods successful IM/GM used to improve their game.

I read some saying divide study with Opening, middle, endgame, tactics, etc. Some stated how many hours/minutes.

It may be published on some books that i haven't read.

Could you share study program that you have read or using to improve your chess game?

question1. How many minutes, which day, and what topic?

question2. Do you take rest from chess to refresh? like 2 days per week of no chess at all? or 1 week per month of no chess?

question3. OTB tournament is not accessible to my place and i usually join on them once per year. what is the best alternative and how to setup? i read chessmaster is not good as computer power doesn't follow the set rating. fritz? shredder?online(i dont play blitz)?

Thank you very much and more power to Chess.com

boink...

question 1:  I don't structure the time I allocate to chess and frankly I don't count how long I spend on chess.  Just play/study chess when you feel like it. If you aren't having fun you won't improve and structuring something like this will make chess more like work than play. Personally I don't spend time on anything, but openings and blitz these days.  

Question 2: No I never take a "rest" from chess.  It's a daily thing.  Imagine if you just took a rest from walking a whole day or  a whole week, your muscles would undergo atrophy and similarly in chess you would get rusty.  

Question 3:  Sorry, but otb tournaments are the best way to improve.  I learn way more from tournaments than whatever I do online.  The difference between otb tournaments and internet games is that you put more effort seriousness into otb games.  If you can somehow put the same amount of effort into your internet games then maybe it will be a good alternative.  Personally, I can't take internet chess seriously and don't really have the patience to play long games on the computer.