Hey a,

One of the biggest misconceptions in music production is this:

You need to work on your track relentlessly for many hours if you want to finish it.

That creates a convenient excuse for everyone with a demanding job or a busy family life: 

"I just don't have enough time to actually get better and finish music."

But what if I told you that putting in long hours could actually make your music worse?

Here's the truth:

Every additional minute you work on your music makes you less objective. Every additional hour burns you out more. 

And every week or month you spend tweaking details makes that original spark fade away.

Worst case? You grow to hate what you've produced.

I learned this the hard way during my early years in Berlin. I'd lock myself in the studio for 12-hour marathons, only to end up with tracks that sounded worse than when I started. The changes I made in hour 10 would undo the magic that happened in hour 2.

Here's a better framework to manage your time and energy as a music producer:

Instead of waiting for the perfect, hour-long music slot on the weekend, establish a habit of producing for at least 20 minutes per day.

Ideally, you'd aim for 60-90 minutes, but that 20-minute "fail-safe" habit is your foundation. 

There's a powerful saying that applies perfectly here: 

"We don't rise to the level of our goals, but fall to the level of our systems."

This is exactly what the 20-minute slot is all about. If you can make one meaningful tweak or create one interesting new synth patch, you've achieved a win that day.

Does that mean longer weekend sessions are bad?

Not at all! Use them strategically for two things:

1. Make focused progress in a single area: Schedule a dedicated arrangement or mixing session, but set a time limit. After more than two hours of critical listening, your ears can't be trusted, and you'll likely need a longer break.

2. Optimize your creative process: Use this time to set up your starting-point template, organize your sound library, or create foundational presets. These investments make your shorter weekday sessions exponentially more productive.

In our coaching program, we guide producers to design these systems around their specific schedules. The busiest professionals often become the most prolific once they abandon the "more hours = better music" myth.

The bottom line: Short but consistent sessions beat "long hours" every single time.

The producer who shows up for 20 minutes daily will outperform the weekend warrior putting in 8-hour marathons.

Those small, focused sessions maintain your creative momentum while keeping ear fatigue and decision paralysis at bay. Your original inspiration stays intact, and you actually finish more music.

Start small. Stay consistent. Watch what happens.

Your music matters. Let's make it count.

Philip

PS: If you're struggling to find time and work on your music consistently, book a free 60-minute discovery call here. Together we'll design a customized system that works with your specific schedule and challenges.