Burnout?

How do you recognize it and how do you deal with it?

I noticed a significant drop in my tactics for the past week and am losing  a lot lately....I feel like I still want to play, but my mind is kind of foggy....I don't know how to put it other than that....like I am on autopilot...does my brain need a break?

I have been burned out myself. doing something completely different e.g. running will clear your mind. this helped for me.
I don't play in a club but I keep playing online.
I think chess is a big subject and if you are tired of doing tactics, try chess mentor instead or computer workout. keep changing what you are doing.
I found new inspiration in some of the videos here on site. like how to avoid Quiescence errors. this is one of the videos that changed my way of playing chess.

I think you want variation eating the same food alle the time gets boring

Actually, I just looked at a definition of burnout. That implies losing interest maybe due to becoming frustrated with a hobby, sport, etc. I am not losing interest in chess in the least...not at all...I just notice that I can't focus no matter how hard I try. I play a lot of CC here and live on other sites..I went through a mini losing streak against much lower rated players (missing hanging pieces, terrible decisions, etc..)...I just don't get it...

I don't know how to force myself to take a break either...lol

Seriously, does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Bobby: Thanks! I have actually been pounding away at this one book lately...I notice I can't focus with it anymore....hmmm....maybe I could watch video's but would this help? I'm not sure. I forget to eat when I'm playing too...maybe that's a part of it...

Wow...just reading what I am saying makes me think I am obsessed with this game...I've never been obsessed with anything before so I don't really understand what that would be like....

It may sound like you are not getting enough sleep. if I haven't sleeped I make terrible blunders. do you get 7-8 hours sleep a day? try a power nap 20 minutes sleep.

I just found this:

http://chessconfessions.blogspot.com/2009/06/chess-overtraining.html

Sounds like exactly what I'm going through..

@ bobby: I am sleeping really well...I think its not eating right and overtraining. I usually only eat once a day so that can't help either, but I've always been like that.

i think that i know what you are talkin about, is a risk with other sport players, is called over training or excess on the training charge,nadia komanechi used to training for 8 hours daily,imagine the amount of stress,physically and mentally,just to give you and example,have you intend to do some meditation, or recive a massage this will release your tension and will help you to focus hagain,don't get frustated it happen, is your brain telling you that it need a vacation.read this book from Osho What meditation its, i think it will help you.

@ Jorge: Thanks very much. I think for the next few days I may only linger in the forums and watch videos....

BTW, I have been training about 8h a day for the past 2 weeks. Everyday. I'm on a work break due to a family members cancer. No ones home, so I train. It helps me to deal/cope with her having cancer...

that reminds me of something I learned in college.
there was an instructor telling us that if we had to study a complicated book we should only read it for 30 minutes and take a break 5 minutes and only then resume reading with breaks each 30 minutes.
as everything you read after 30 minutes may not be easy to recall.
I think we are missing the breaks we had in school because it is really  interesting. we don't take breaks from games or hobbies.

It happens. My 11th lesson in my free program deals with how to  break out of a slump.

http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/how-to-break-out-of-a-slump

Do not give up=Remember-but Chess is only a game=A very great way to improve your thought process 

You also need a clear mind to play good chess : if you have other worries in your life, or some lurking stress, it's difficult to concentrate properly on the game...

naturalproduct, you are missing the point. You are stressed out because of your personal circumstances.

I don't think you are overtrained, in my opinion overtraining in Chess is difficult at the lower levels. I overtrained several times doing bodybuilding and trust me, bad things happen to your body; you get injured, get colds, Tonsilitis, the flu, you name it. In the case of Chess, when I studied to become a Chess Coach, I spent 2 months studying/playing 12-15 hours a day. I only got better and better. Think of Fischer, for instance. One thing that I noticed that bothered me was that I used to play Chess in my sleep, but I got used to that as well.

I am in a slump right now.  That is why I'm reading forums.  First thing in the morning (it is 6.45am) I find chess very difficult and usually only make obvious and forced moves.  I am amazed how later in the day I can see things much greater clarity.  If not then I'll wait a day or two. That's why I love on-line/correspondence chess with slower time controls.

that's the same reason I only play online. otb you commit to play chess 7 tuesdays (in for a penny in for a pound). being forced to play well even if  you weren't feeling well caused me to get in the slumps.
I was part of up to 4 tournaments a week including team match.  it got too much in the end.

Stress is for sure part of it....

Its so wierd to want to go, say, study a Fischer game, open the book, set up the board, then just stare at it blankly...I think a 2 day break may be good, but I have a chess lesson and game tomorrow...

Everyone is different but I find usually a few weeks 2-4 months break from playing does the trick.

Dont stress over it.......relax and enjoy....  and I agree with Alec83....everyone is different.  Hope every comment  helps you somehow...GOOD LUCK!

Everything a person does involves an organic computer, the brain.  In chess, motor memory, visual memory, unconscious thought, moods, all affect the game.  Given that chess is largely left hemisphere, tactical, and a very forceful game similar to weightlifting, yet for the brain, sometimes a different way of training is needed.  Sometimes study openings, games, endgames, and checkmate problems.  Also, consider studying wei-chi or Go to learn more about positional judgement.   Go uses a much deeper strategy than chess ever will and so by studying this you will improve very very quickly.  Consider this:  Chess is more like an argument whereas Go is more like a knife fight to the death where you can get cut very deep if you are not careful.