Most people get into online poker for the following two reasons:

1) They want to win money
2) It's fun and challenging

The second reason is what keeps most recreational players involved in the game. However, this enthusiasm can quickly wane when things aren't going your way and you are losing money. Some people simply stop playing when they come to this crossroads.

But things don't have to be this dramatic since you can keep poker interesting just by taking precautions against burnout. Much like with anything else, you can get burnout from a combination of too much poker and not enough winning. So in order to prevent this from happening, you should seriously consider the following tips.

Tip #1 - Start out at Reasonable Stakes

Far too many poker players shoot for the moon right away. They'll immediately jump in $1/$2 No-Limit Hold'em stakes with aspirations of winning money here and quickly moving up. But the reality is that even $1/$2 NL Hold'em stakes are tough these days. Assuming you're an inexperienced and/or recreational player, you might want to start at $0.05/$0.10 stakes or lower and work your way up from here. Poker is a lot more fun when you can actually compete!

Tip #2 - Study Poker Strategy and get Training

Besides starting with lower stakes, another big way to keep yourself involved in poker is by studying strategy. The better and more knowledgeable you become as a player, the more likely you are to get enjoyment from the game. One of the best sources for strategy is poker training websites. These sites feature pro grinders playing the game and giving tips at the same time. Subscription fees to training sites are normally around $30 a month, which is a small price to pay for serious players.

Tip #3 - Watch Televised Tournaments and Cash Games

Don't put all of the focus on your own play. Instead, take a break from the felt once and a while so you can watch the pros. Sure you may not pick up a lot of tips that apply specifically to low stakes. However, most professionals are quite entertaining, and you might even see some really memorable hands. After watching a few TV poker games/tournaments, you'll feel refreshed and ready to pursue your own goals even harder.

One more thing to keep in mind is to maintain a manageable poker schedule. Consider your work and social life, then decide how much poker you can reasonably play while remaining balanced.