Enjoy Your Plateaus

The stronger you get, the more time you spend on plateaus.

We train, we study, we try to improve—but nothing seems to move.
So we start to resist it. We think something’s wrong.
We hate the plateau. We want to fight it. We feel like we shouldn’t be stuck.

And that’s when unrealistic expectations creep in.

We expect steady, linear progress.
We expect that effort should always equal results.
But that’s not how improvement works—especially in chess.

The plateau isn’t something you can avoid.
But what you can do is change how you see it.
And that shift changes everything.

The Plateau is Where You Make the Difference

Anyone can stay motivated when things are going well.
But it’s what you do during the plateau that defines you.

This is often the thought that keeps me going:
“Now is when I make the difference.”

Most people get discouraged when progress slows.
That’s when they stop training or start jumping from one thing to another.

But if you can stay consistent—if you can stay true to your training plan even when there are no immediate results—that’s how you gain a real edge.
That’s when you separate yourself.

Focus on the Input, Not the Output

When I was still competing, I asked myself the same three questions every week:

• Did I study the way I intended?
• Did I work on what actually matters?
• Did I stay focused?

And now that I run a business, I use the same approach.
Instead of judging everything by whether numbers go up or down, I focus on how I show up.
If I stuck to the plan, did meaningful work, and gave my best focus—then I’m proud of that week.

That shift—measuring effort instead of just outcomes—helped me improve in chess.
And you can apply it in any other area of life.

This is What Makes the Journey Meaningful

Plateaus aren’t just normal—they’re necessary.

In fact, they’re part of what makes the chess journey so special.
If every time you trained, your rating immediately went up, it wouldn’t feel rewarding.
It wouldn’t be a challenge worth pursuing.

Real growth takes time. It takes persistence. It takes showing up when it’s hard, not just when it’s fun.

And that’s what makes the breakthroughs so meaningful.
Because you earned them.

Final Thought

Plateaus aren’t setbacks.
They’re not signs that something’s gone wrong.
They’re where your habits are tested.
Where your edge is built.
Where the long-term improvement happens.

So don’t try to escape the plateau.
Enjoy it.
It’s where the real magic begins.
 

Editor’s Notes (in this case GM Avetik’s)

In 2018, when we started ChessMood, our mission was to create an all-in-one place, where every chess player who wants to improve their chess, will have all the resources and a very-very few other things as an addition.

Noël and his NextLevelChess is one of those very-very few.

Every Friday, he sends out an email with practical tips and advice on improving at chess. You can subscribe to his newsletter here. 

Recently, he re-recorded and expanded his “Next Level Chess Training” course, (renamed to “The Simplified Chess Improvement System” now) where he teaches how to train chess effectively.

It’s not for everyone — and he agrees.

You can check it out here and see if it’s the right fit for you.

The regular price is $397, but until April 4th, it’s available for $297.

Additionally, you’ll get a $100 discount with the promo code CHESSMOOD100. 

(We don’t take commissions at ChessMood! Instead, we ask our partners to give that amount back to you as a bigger discount.)

Good luck!