How does the creative mind find balance?

There is no doubt in my mind that I thrive on hard work. I love creating. Whether it is writing songs, taking photos, making videos, building brand and community around bands, or building a team and community with Melosity, the desire to build and share is definitely a big part of my life. I am up at 6.15 am most mornings and tonight I am still up writing this, as the street outside our rented apartment in Temple Bar grow quiet. I do it because I love it.

Earlier today I was talking with a good friend of mine how fast this year is flying by. I can’t believe it is already April! At this rate, I’ll be stressing about Christmas presents in no time at all. But he reminded me that my birthday is coming up next month. This woke up a thought in me.

Do I want my life to flash by as I work my way through it? Don’t get me wrong, as I mentioned above, I love what I do. And often I wish I could do more. But today as the week rolls from Sunday night to early hours of Monday morning, the word floating in my mind is balance. How do we find balance?

It is so easy to run after your dreams like a headless chicken, but is it really worth it if you don’t have time to take it all in? Four years ago I wanted to write more music. I put my head down and wrote songs, lots of songs. 156 songs in three years to be precise. At the end of it, I was in need of a break. Then Melosity came along. I was thrown into the world of a music tech startup. My long days turned into even longer ones.

I suppose that’s me in a nutshell when I go in, I go all in. It might not be the healthiest option, but it is the only way I know. So here in the early hours of Dublin night, I wonder, how do we find balance? Should we tame that creative monster inside our heads that keeps us awake at night, as it just keeps throwing ideas at us when we are trying to sleep? How do we prioritize what really matters? How do we focus?