Music Mental Health Diary Entry Day 3: Anxiety Watching Time Slip Away: Why Music Folk Feel the Clock is Always Against Them

By Rich Steve Beck

Let’s be honest—time feels like it’s always slipping through our fingers, doesn’t it? For you and me, as musicians, engineers, and producers, deadlines are everywhere. There’s the album you promised yourself you’d finish, the gig you need to prepare for, or the social media content you swore you’d post. But no matter how hard I try, there never seems to be enough hours in the day. I’ve spent countless nights staring at the clock, wondering where the time went and why I didn’t get more done. Does that sound familiar to you?

The Overwhelming Weight of Creative Timelines

Writing, recording, producing, mixing—it all takes time, energy, and inspiration. But when you’re juggling these creative processes alongside the business side of things, like marketing or booking shows, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. I’ve found myself panicking over unfinished tracks while also stressing about emails I haven’t replied to. It’s like being pulled in two directions at once, and the clock just keeps ticking. Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, it’s never enough?

How Anxiety Builds When You Can’t Keep Up

For me, anxiety really kicks in when I think about how much I haven’t done. Every missed deadline feels like a personal failure, even though I know logically that creativity can’t always be rushed. The problem is, the music industry moves fast, and there’s this unspoken expectation to constantly produce, release, and promote. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve told myself, “If only I had more time,” but deep down, I know it’s not about having more hours—it’s about managing the ones we have. Does that thought weigh on you too?

The Guilt of Downtime

Even when I do take a break, I can’t shake the guilt. Shouldn’t I be practising? Writing? Networking? It’s like my brain won’t let me rest because there’s always something else I could be doing. I’ve sat through entire days off feeling anxious about the fact that I’m not using my time “productively.” And I know I’m not alone in this. Many musicians I talk to say they struggle with the same thing—feeling like every moment away from work is a moment wasted. Do you find yourself second-guessing your downtime too?

Why Comparing Yourself to Others Makes It Worse

Social media doesn’t help either. Scrolling through feeds and seeing other artists announce new releases, tour dates, or collaborations makes me question why I’m not moving faster. You probably feel this too—the nagging voice that says, “They’re ahead of you. You’re falling behind.” But here’s the truth: everyone works at their own pace, even if it doesn’t look that way online. Comparing your progress to someone else’s only adds fuel to the fire of anxiety. Have you noticed how much harder it is to focus when you’re caught up in comparison?

Strategies That Help Me Cope with Time Anxiety

Over time, I’ve learned a few ways to ease the pressure. One thing that helps is breaking tasks into smaller chunks. Instead of thinking, “I need to write an entire album,” I’ll focus on one song—or even just one verse—at a time. Another trick is setting realistic goals. If I plan to spend an hour on lyrics instead of expecting perfection in a single sitting, it feels less overwhelming. Sometimes, I’ll use timers to stay focused during sessions. These small steps don’t solve everything, but they give me a sense of control. Do any of these strategies resonate with you?

Giving Yourself Permission to Slow Down

What I’ve had to remind myself—and what I want to remind you—is that it’s okay to slow down. You don’t have to rush every project or meet every arbitrary deadline. Music isn’t meant to be forced; it’s meant to flow. I’ve started giving myself permission to step back when I need to, whether that means taking a walk, journaling, or simply sitting quietly. It’s counterintuitive, but slowing down actually helps me move forward in the long run. Does the idea of slowing down feel scary—or relieving—to you?

When Procrastination Feels Like the Enemy

Of course, there are days when procrastination gets the better of me. I’ll put off working on a track until the last minute, then stress about finishing it in time. Sound familiar? The irony is that avoiding tasks doesn’t make them go away—it just piles on more pressure. To combat this, I’ve started scheduling specific blocks of time for focused work. Even if it’s just 20 minutes, knowing I’ve dedicated time to a task helps me chip away at the anxiety. Have you tried anything similar?

Creating Space for Reflection Without Judgment

One of the hardest parts about watching time slip away is the judgment that comes with it. I’ve spent hours berating myself for not being further along in my career or for missing self-imposed deadlines. But lately, I’ve been trying to shift my mindset. Instead of criticising myself, I ask, “What did I learn today?” or “What’s one thing I can do tomorrow?” It’s not about erasing the anxiety completely—it’s about finding ways to coexist with it. Does reflecting without judgment feel possible for you?

Remembering That Time Is Relative

At the end of the day, time isn’t something we can control—but how we respond to it is. For me, realising that time is relative has been freeing. Just because someone else seems to be moving faster doesn’t mean I’m failing. We all have our own rhythms, our own timelines. What matters most is staying true to your process, even when the clock feels like it’s working against you.

Thanks for reading! Keep updated with daily blogs like this by hitting subscribe direct to your email inbox (no junk, just a 2 minute read to boost your day, that's the mission!).

Rich Steve Beck is a podcaster (PMFC Global TV), pro audio engineer/producer community leader (Produce Mix Fix and Conquer), full Music Producers Guild member, and pro mastering engineer who's worked with platinum-selling and Grammy-winning audio engineers.

He is also on a huge journey discovering about his own mental health and has felt a calling, as a large music community leader, to be an advocate for open mental health discussions across the industry.

ADHD, depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, autism...let's dive in to every mental health topic!

It's good to talk x