Actually I sort of play the same way. After years of qp's and circling enough for a free play's though I didn't spend very much, I decided to look into it. I've read up, played the wheels and surprisingly did better than QP's. And it was exciting to see I could pick some numbers. The trouble with wheels is.. you have to get the numbers in the wheel to begin with. So I did this, put my data spread sheets to real work.
1. I use excel and VBA programming. Because I don't want to sit around for hours looking at sheets calculating. Though to set up it does take a few weeks or even months. So to begin you must set aside a few hours a night a couple days a week.
2. Start recording the previous games, any site will show the last 100 games for the games you play, even the state sites (which are best for cutting and pasting the results to Excel) at least NY. This is important because its always better to see if how your calculating something is resulting on previous (Actual draws) then getting depressed after a real draw :).
3. I use color, thats right color. It just helps me look at the previous results better. I group the results in 7 groups now. For example 1 group of results is plain results 1-10 one color, etc.etc. It's just easier for me to see trends that way. Try it, see if it helps a tad.
4. Yes and as above, I balance every game E/O, H/L, H/C and some new ones that work well. Though I have to laugh at NY lotto last week comming in all odd (All 6). That pushed the jackpot up another notch.
So I made it a hobby, some go bowling a couple hours a night per week. And I try one of the statistical calculations with the data i've collected to see if it helps or hinders me. So don't get frustrated, make it a hobby. Like lately I've focused on the mega ball itself, and out of 8 draws I've hit it three times. And no, the other numbers were not in correct order, but the next 6 weeks of playing are free :).
Someday............ Hopefully....