How to improve?

So I've been playing Chess since this last February and found myself quickly rise to about 1200, where I plateaued for two months before rising to 1500 and then I stopped playing for about 6 months and when I started playing again I've been slowly rising to my 1800 approximate rating. But my question is, how do I keep improving? Right now I've been only doing tactics trainer and looking at GM games. I've been getting by on a genius IQ and logical thinking so far but need a solid study plan for here on out. Say I have 5 hours to study, how would you divide that into studying openings, endgames, GM games, the middlegame, tactics, positional stuff, and just playing Chess itself, and how much Blitz vs longer time controls. Really want to improve, I would like to become a NM by the time I turn 18(just turned 16). So what books are important and why? Thanks.

Hmm, your profile says you have spent almost two years here.  

How do you explain the graph of your online rating?

//Getting by on a genius IQ, are we?

When I say playing since last February that's when I learned about openings and stuff, the games I played with my brother and friends that were pushed automatically to 1200 and I crushed back in 2013 don't really count I assume, When I say playing since February I mean studying openings and such from then on........ winning 5 games against family boosted me to 1700 in correspondence, look at the Standard and Blitz live and I doubt it would be much above 1000, if even that......

If you take a look at his live games, he has a much higher rating. Of course, unlike his online games, he is playing MUCH WEAKER opponents who are 200 - 300 rating points below him.

I'm not a genius like him, but even I can tell this is not the best way to improve.

In my experience if you say you have a genius IQ, you probably do not have a genius IQ. 

Not that IQ necessarily means anything... My IQ is 114 (within a standard deviation of average) according to an IQ test I had to take when I was diagnosed with ADD, and I scored 99th percentile on both the ACT and SAT with a small amount of studying.

Oh great another 'IQ equates to chess skills thread'.

Instead, can't we just focus on deflating the OP's oversized ego?

Please guys I want help in improving at Chess...... I wasn't pointing out my IQ as a way of bragging, I was saying that there is no excuse for me not being able to learn new things....... I was a 35 on the ACT as a Sophomore, 232 on the PSAT as a Junior and a 2350 on the SAT,........ Ok, I did mention them to brag, but this is beside the point, anyone have legitimate suggestions?

Play stronger players. Playing people 200 - 300 points below you is going to do anything to really test and sharpen your skills.

Ok, but would you recommend any books to study openings and such? I find I can usually copy Master moves for a good 10 moves but I don't understand why I'm moving my pieces where I am....

It just keeps getting bigger!!!! AIIIEEEE!!

Haha, my ego will never shrink......... my Chess skill needs to improve though, and this isn't really helping...... *sigh* how do I shut down a thread........

your a genius -you should know.

That's not possible. 

But, I think since you haven't become a jerk and showed a bit of humbleness, you will start getting real answers.

Here is my technique for improving my opening understanding : http://www.chess.com/blog/kleelof/my-opening-study

As far as books go, the only real chess book I have is My System. Of course, I can strongly recommend this.

I've heard good things about Nimzowitsch's My System..... Thanks.

Just in case you've never visited Dan Heisman's chess site, here is his recommended book list:

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm

It really sucks the website with all his articles is charging $50 a year now. There was lots of good information there.

I'm reading General Chess Improvement by Heisman, which is very good.

There is actually a backdoor past the paywall.  Someone posted it here a few days ago and I foolishly didn't copy the URL.  Think it came from a site called The WayBack Machine or something similar.

Hey thanks, think I will just spend the rest of the day downloading them before they disappear.

Thanks for the booklist.... going to be useful.