Episode 195 - Play Poker Or Focus On Family?

In this episode, Gareth and Tricia dive into a powerful listener question from Martin—a poker player with ADHD—who’s struggling to find motivation and structure for his study and play routines. If you've ever wrestled with procrastination, guilt, or balancing poker with real-life responsibilities, this conversation is for you. They explore:

• Why tight deadlines help some players (especially those with ADHD) hyperfocus
• Parkinson’s Law and how it impacts poker study and productivity
• How dopamine dysregulation influences motivation and attention
• Gamified study tips like “poker sprints” and “beat-the-clock” sessions
• The power of body doubling, study groups, and external accountability
• Why guilt and perfectionism may be the real blockers—and how to reframe your mindset
• Finding the right balance between poker, work, and family life (and why it’s okay for that balance to shift over time)

Whether you have ADHD or not, this episode is full of actionable insights on how to design a routine that works for your brain—and your life.


📚 Recommended Resources:

Purposeful Practice for Poker by Dr. Tricia Cardner & Gareth James


Take Tricia’s free Mental Game Strength Quiz:
https://drtriciacardner.com/quiz

Looking to add cash games to your repertoire?
Take the MTT to Cash Diagnostic:
https://drtriciacardner.com/cashquiz

Sign up for Gareth’s free 5-day email course:
“How to Build Your First 10K Bankroll”
https://mttpokerschool.com/free-course

Want us to answer your poker question?

Post it in Dr. Tricia’s private Facebook group! Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PokerMindsetMastery

Or in Gareth’s private Facebook group! Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pokerprofits

Or Tweet us: @drtriciacardner @MTTpokerschool @PokerOnTheMind