Is there a specific time of the day you feel comfortable, motivated and energetic to make music?
I’ve been struggling with motivation. I’m a night owl and used to feel a rush of energy at night when everyone is asleep to produce music. After a horrible episode of insomnia(awake for 72 hours) few years ago that landed me in a hospital, I’m unable to get anything done. I tried changing my schedule to work in the morning but it’s very hard and it feels out of place for me. I sit in my studio for a few minutes, play few notes on my keyboard, open few projects and turn everything off suddenly in agitation and frustration. Don’t understand why. Has anyone experienced similar situation? What do you guys do when you lack motivation?

 

12 am to 4 am. I've always felt the best working on stuff in the middle of the night. And ironically I'm having a lot of problems exactly like you right now. Chronic insomnia and the thought of trying to work on music actually is coming close to making me physically ill...

 

same. I'm having trouble to feel at home/ease at a new place which require me to work in the morning as well after years or late night sessions. it's not like I lack motivation or anything. Apart from it's too positive vibe (it's a bad thing for me) it's just I feel sleepy af at that hour and rather go outside and get myself into trouble or something, so I ended up working super late in the day and only have few hours left. It's frustrating. My sister suggested me to paint the studio differently, maybe darker color to the current cream wall, just to change the vibe. I'm thinking doing dark orange. Still working on it and will see how it goes.

 

The more cave and womb-like my space, the better. Natural light is not allowed.

 

I mostly try to work during daytime, from say 12 pm to 5 pm. But I also had issues with insomnia and still do. So I also had periods I worked from 1 am to 4-5 am. But doing that for to long will get me kind of depressed and make the insomnia worse.
I found when sticking to a 'normal' daytime schedule, say from 11 pm to 3-5 pm it makes my brain feel more healthy and the insomnia gets better the longer I stick to it? But I'm somehow drawn to to the dark side and sometimes can't help myself still wanting to work at night. Working at night feels like an addiction. It holds something magic that I can't seem to capture during the daytime?
But I'll keep trying to work at daytime because I feel it's just better for my brain and the insomnia gets less the longer I stick to it.

 

I am usually most creative from 22pm to 4am.
Especially songwriting doesn't work for me before it turns dark (This sounds edgy as hell ).
Also rainy days and the winter make composing at home much more fun : )

 

Not really

 

i tend to work better at late night too.
lack of inspiration is tough... not sure how to deal with it yet

 

All day everyday is my preferred time, but external forces keep from being able make music on that schedule.

 

my scheduele is generally something like:

• 9am-10am - emails, office work etc
• 10am - 12pm - mixing/mastering
• 12pm - 2pm - lunch / hike / whatever
• 2pm - 4/6pm - more mixing or sometimes sessions
• 6pm - 10 pm - dinner, chill, workout, hang with gf or whatever
• 10 pm - 3am - create

i find im most creative in the wee hours of the night. Its best for me to mix with a fresh head and clean ears in the morning, but i can get weird and experimental late at night, so its best for me to actually create music.

 

I used to make music between 21h and 2h, sometimes up to 3 or 4 in the night, it just felt natural.
I felt into chaotic behaviors often pulling all nighters, spiraling into unhealthy obsessions, manic and depressive episodes.

I changed to 9 in the morning, having a coffee at 8h30 and 10h30, a good meal at noon getting fresh air and repeat the same habit during the afternoon from 14h to 18h, go to the gym, make plans with friends, family, lovers or alone for the night and cook or go eat outside.

I prefer cold/rainy days for music and I sleep like a baby afterwards, sleepy time is around midnight.
no coffee after 18h, also, no TV ever and no internet during sessions is a must.

Couldn't be more productive than these days.
Best of luck finding your balance.

 

I usually start at 11:51AM and work all the way through to lunchtime.

 

This is the exact same feeling I have when I think about making music. I’m afraid of falling into another episode of insomnia.

 

I tried creating a relaxing environment with colors and lighting as well but it just feels so lonely

 

I’m trying to stick to a morning schedule but having a 6 years old child that follows me like my shadow with never ending questions and wanting to interfere is so distracting .

 

Music making is tied to emotions and feelings for me and night time is the only time I feel creative. Day time is busy with children, appointments, schools, noise ….etc. I get distracted with all that stuff.

 

I wish I can do it anytime of the day. Tried many times but failed.

 

There’s something magical about night time and creativity when it comes to music. Don’t know why and what’s the secret. The idea of associating music with a strict schedule ruins everything for me.

 

I felt the effect of working at night on my physical health. I get emotionally involved with my music to the point I sometimes dream about mixing and ideas for music that it wakes me up from sleep. I do take long breaks for few days and sometimes weeks to reset and get back on track. I appreciate you sharing your experience.

 

Thank you everyone and I really appreciate each and everyone of you for sharing your experiences. I thought I was the only one struggling with this issue.