You know, it is a common occurrence for us chess players to undergo a hiatus of some sort: may it be days, weeks, months, or years. Due to this, it remains to be of an utmost importance to figure out how to return to your previous peak states, prime, or even how to improve from there.
I also notice how inactive players, especially from older generations, may be less sharp upon returning in play after extended periods of hiatus, even contrary to their previous peaks.
Tips? Especially for or from experienced tournament players, since those people would know what it feels to have something at stake.
You meant returning to OTB play or online play?
'I have two vocations: chess and engineering.
If I played chess only, I believe that my success would not have been significantly greater.
I can play chess well only when I have fully convalesced from chess and when the 'hunger for chess' once more awakens within me.' - Botvinnik
I have actually improved sometimes after a hiatus (at least, back in my younger days).
Two things about playing after a hiatus:
1) You will be more eager to play and enjoy playing more.
2) You will be a bit rusty and thus slower. That is OK, you will need more time than your opponent.
I don't think you need to stress yourself out at this point. "Thinking correctly" is a crucial factor in chess. If you play too often, your thinking skills and the things you think about will become distorted. What I'm trying to say is, if you want to take a long break, take it. And when you want to come back, come back and continue practicing. This could be beneficial, just as it could be harmful.
play.
I've gone through many hiatuses over my life, typically lasting a few years at a time. It probably sounds silly, but I honestly find the best way to get back into things is to, well, just start playing! If you're concerned about being rusty, I also think doing lichess puzzles (about 30 minutes a day, potentially on the easier -300 or even -600 mode) can be a good way to feel more CONFIDENT, which I think is the biggest thing lacking after some time off.
#1: A) 'Due to this, it remains to be of an utmost importance to figure out how to return to your previous peak states' ~ Your peak is exactly that: Your peak. You cannot, 'return to it'; you can only return to your average state, or reach a new average state.
B) 'inactive players, especially from older generations, may be less sharp upon returning in play after extended periods of hiatus' ~ Sometimes, not working can accelerate progress. Example: If you have played excessively, it may negatively affect your mind, thus decreasing the odds that you will properly intake, understand, and remember what you learn. When you learn something, a hiatus---even one as short as a few hours or minutes---can increase the odds of it sticking with you. Hiatuses can be a good learning tool for when your mind starts to crumble from an overload.
C) 'Tips?' ~ Play 15+10, use all of the time allowed, and analyze the games deeply. This is a great way to improve in general.
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#3: Quoting what someone has said without adding anything to it yourself does not contribute anything particularly meaningful to the discussion.
I wish I had something definite and useful to suggest because I was inactive for about 45 years. (Then played again a year under covid then had to stop again. I'm currently only playing 3day/move games and occasional blitz at our cub. But I plan to retire in a year and hope to start again then.)
If I had a ''redo'' I would have been playing postal chess those years to keep up a bit. And maybe studying endings. All the openings I played in the 1970's are pretty much forgotten or refuted or so it of fashion as to be useless.
What I do see (now) is that tournament chess is about performance (not understanding) so being ''in form'' is really important to doing well.
And, of course, I calculate a lot slower, and my mind tires faster and when I study an opening, it goes in and out my brain like water through a sieve. (Unfortunately, the middlegames I enjoy come from sharp openings.)
But it is still fun. - Bill