How to improve?

Hi, I'm an amateur playing with around 1200 elo and around 1300 chess.com . I haven't actually played an otb tournament since April, seeing as I live in a Canadian area that doesn't offer many. :( Anyways I've been where I am for quite some time, despite a solid 3+ hours a day studying opening and strategy, playing + going over games, and doing TT. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, what advice can you help me to further my chess skill?

What instead then? Does this sound okay, or are there certain things I should be focusing on more than others.

tactics and endgames are priority. Play slow games. When you practice tactics don't guess at the move, actually calculate the winning line through. Focus on avoiding blunders and don't miss easy 1 or 2 move combinations.

tactics as in, learn what's possible on a chess board, what tactics you can make with which piece. The more you train this, the more you'll start looking for them on the board

Alright I'll try to focus more on my tactics, endgame, and I'll play more slow games. Thanks :)

First of all what are your chess books? You might be reading chess books that are not appropriate for your level..

I'm actually not reading any books! D: I went over Alekhine Alert! several times a while back just because I liked the opening but having improved much since then I don't use it and I doubt it was of very much help to me at that level. Would you reccomend any for me? And should the be the basis of my training or more of a supplement?

Now I know the reason why you are not improving, you are not studying chess the right way. To improve at chess you need to study endgames, tactics and strategy(lessen your blitz). Don't focus on opening, just familiarize yourself with general opening principles like control of the center, don't bring your queen to early, castle and develop your pieces.

So I suggest 3 books.

1. Chess Tactics For Champion

2. Winning Chess Strategy

3. Winning Chess Endings.

Thanks, I'll be sure to give them several thorough reads.

Also, Franken Berry, when you say learn from the Game Explorer, I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Should I just go over master games and try to mimic their playing style, should I compare my games to games masters have won/lost and find the similarities/differences, or something completely different?

I have been playing and teaching chess for over 35 years and the best, quickest and most effective way to improve your game is by going over Grandmaster games, particularly the best Grandmasters, i.e. Bobby Fischer, Emanuel Lasker, Anatoly Karpov, etc.  When you do this you begin to learn why the Grandmasters make the moves they do and before long you start to make moves like the Grandmasters do. 

  Also, going over great Grandmaster games shows you how much there is to chess and how much you can improve.  One of the best examples of this is Bobby Fischer's, "Game of the Century".  You can find a video of this on YouTube.com along with many other great chess video's where Grandmaster games are analyzed for you.  It's a wonderful way to learn, improve your game and at the same time be in utter awe of the greatest Grandmasters and the art they create on the chess board.    Plus, video's on YouTube are free to watch of course.

   Send me a message and it will be my pleasure to help you out.  Don't get discouraged my friend!  Help is on the way! 

CJS purdy suggests we study master games too. I also agree with jambyvedars suggestion. It still pays good dividens to study the calssics.

...by the way, I should add that psychologicaly when you go over Grandmaster games and learn an opening by doing so, when you play that opening and aren't sure of your next move but remember that say, Bobby Fsicher used this move, in your own head you're thinking, "Well Bobby Fischer used this move so that makes it a good one!"  This does wonders in helping instill confidence within you and your chess game that can be had no other way. 

You should never play any move if you don't know why the move is played, otherwise it's pointless to play that move.