Take a week or two off. Your mind is like a muscle, and it fatigues after a period of repetitive activity.
Stuck in a Chess Rut
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I can't really take a week off, I'm in the middle of chess season, but I can definitely try and play a little less to rest my brain a little bit. I don't think that's the main problem anyway.
focus on converting a win if thats the problem. play a chess computer under you're rating and simply focus on converting. don't make it too easy but make it so that you sitll have to work for the win. after you master that, go back to live chess with people or otb. this strategy will help you overcome weaknesses which come from time to time. (time trouble, positional play, etc)
It's not converting the win or endgame stuff that's the problem. It's just that I keep making blunders that I normally wouldn't do. I just make a blunder that puts me at a disadvantage at the beginning of the game that just stays there the whole game and gets even bigger as the game goes along.
Maybe you need a bigger sombrero :-) But seriously, ruts happen. My worst bad spell was, ironically enough, right after I started studying a lot of "proper" games and started trying to pull off the same fancy stuff the masters did. I fell flat on my face! I spent all my time trying to pull off these deep strategies and then got killed in a pawn storm I missed. But I think the new knowledge just needed to sink into my subconscious for a while, since eventually my games came back on track and even a little better. So don't put pressure on yourself, just play because you enjoy it, and if you lose a few extra games this month you might just win a few extra next month. Reading some books or doing tactics trainer can help, if for nothing more than to get some new ideas flowing.
Lose!
Lose again.
Keep losing.
If you're paying attention, after enough losses you'll become a much better player. Losing is good for you.
As for the rating, I know it's a cliche but stop worrying about it. Overtime it will be what it is. Really - pay no attention to it. Focus on the game and learn.
I've been playing really bad recently, and usually I've done pretty well. I'm stuck in a rut. I just can't seem to play the right moves now. I was wondering that if anyone has any advice to get out of this rut. It would be really appreciated. I'm giving up won games left and right, and it needs to be stopped.