In order to improve, I've started playing through games. When one is playing through a game, should one pretend to oneself that one is actually playing the moves? I take it that you are playing through professional games. This is a very good way to study, and I recommend it to all players, regardless of strength. If you ask yourself as you play through a game where you would play next yourself, you will understand the professional's moves better and also enjoy it more. However, you don't have to go this far. Just playing through a game, looking at how professionals play, is an effective way to study in itself. Just as it's important for artists to enjoy beautiful music and paintings, so it's important to enjoy masterly games of go. By playing through games, you can absorb visually the concepts of good shape and balance and understand the flow of the game. In fact, you may improve without even being aware of it by playing through professional games. I hope that you will continue doing so.