How to get out of a slump? - beginner difficulties

Hello Chess.com community! I am new to chess and am having lots of difficulties in my live games.

I made it a goal to break 1000 rapid elo during spring break. I thought it should be reasonable goal since I was steadily (but slowly) improving in tactics and on a consistent win streak until I made that goal.

But even though I reached new tactics ratings (finally broke 1400!), and still feel like I'm improving there, I just keep playing so badly (even for my elo) all of a sudden in my live games.

I feel that it might be partially mental, since last game I accepted a draw because I was too drained to fight through that position, even though the engine said I was winning (although I certainly couldn't see it, but my opponent who was higher rated apparently did). 

Any advice would be great, thanks!

Maybe try a few Daily games just for a change,  With 3 days to figure out a move, the time pressure is gone and since you are encouraged to use books and databases, you also don't have to worry about remembering your opening.

"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.

Play opponents who are better than you … . Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)

https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game

https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess

https://www.chess.com/news/view/a-new-years-resolution-improve-your-chess-with-new-lessons
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5856bd64ff7c50433c3803db/t/5895fc0ca5790af7895297e4/1486224396755/btbtactics2excerpt.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Studying Chess Made Easy by Andrew Soltis (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
http://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf

Wow that's an intimidating amount of material to go through. But I guess it's like what your first quote said. Thanks for the resources and quotes! The resources will take time to grind but I do feel a lot better now, thanks! 

It's just possibilities. Read what seems right to you.

Ah I have no knowledge on openings but I guess I need start learning about them... For Daily chess I don't quite understand when people "get out of book/databases" so to speak. Like is there a standard length of moves for each opening? I imagine it's gotta be hard to play blind against well-tested theory. But I guess I can look up how to play Daily chess to understand it better. Thanks for the advice!!

It just means that a move has been played that isn't in the reference works.

Nobody knows all that stuff. Most of the time, one faces a position with no knowledge of a specific move indicated in a book. One has to accept that as part of chess, and think of opening knowledge as a sometimes helpful aid. After a game, it makes sense to try to look up the moves in a book and see if it has some indication of how one might have played better in the opening. Many opening books are part explanation and part reference material. The reference material is included in the text with the idea that one mostly skips it on a first reading, and looks at an individual item when it applies to a game that one has just played. Resist the temptation to try to turn a book into a mass memorization project. There are many important subjects that one should not neglect because of too much time on opening study.

Daily chess is just Erik's fancy name for correspondence chess.  Back in the day, you needed a good library to be able to compete.  Now we all have databases (Learn>Explorer).  Every opening is different and every opponent plays them differently.  The general advice is to follow "book" until you come to a move that you don't understand, but think you can come up with something better.  Sometimes you're out of book in a few moves, but usually you can get at least 8 or 10 moves deep.  Some lines have been analyzed for 30 moves or more, but it's rare that you will be able to go that deep.  You are also encouraged to use an analysis board to try out various lines.  Just no engines or asking for advice.  If you end up with chessboards scattered around the house with half finished games on them, don't be surprised!  Have fun!