Are You Discipline Enough to Play Tournaments?

Today I played in the quarter final rounds at the local tournament here in San Francisco. It wasn't a success. I can cite several reasons, but have no excuse. All I can say is I'm struck by a comment a player whom I had refereed yesterday criticized of his own game. It was summed up in one word - discipline. In actuality I lost the match long before I set foot into the club, long even before I got out of bed this morning. That's because to play in tournaments, discipline in preparing for the event is just as important as discipline in practicing and playing. I went to bed at 3am, slept for a mere 5 hours, ate my first meal at 12:30pm and began my match at 2:15 without any physical warmup. I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the brunch with my wife and our friend, but I could feel the eggs benedict, beef carpaccio, and french toast filling my legs and clouding my head. In the end I couldn't focus and react. I don't beat myself up for losing today, but I have to learn this lesson. I didn't heed my own inner voice last night at 11pm when it said I ought to go to bed. Again my inner voice this morning said I should eat a banana, toast, and yogurt to prepare for the tournament day. Instead I was so pleased with the rare chance to go out to brunch that I ignored my inner voice. This event is the start of the tournament season for me. It was my first since March. I haven't practiced with the discipline required leading up to the start of this event, but now I will have to draw up a plan for training and practice, create a tournament preparation checklist, and discipline myself to follow them.