It’s like keeping a steady breath while you’re climbing a stairwell – keep your head up, take a breath after every set of tweaks, and never let the room get too hot. I start with a rough layout, then step back every hour, let the ears rest, and come back fresh. I use a timer for those “five‑minute breaks” because the brain needs a little pause to catch its own rhythm. When the track feels right, I push a bit, but I always have a mental “stop point” – a cue that tells me to freeze the mix, save a version, and walk away for a while. That way I hit the highs, but the marathon stays in the zone, not in a burnout haze.

Glad the idea clicks—think of the mix as a long hike, not a sprint. Trust the breaks, listen to the ears, and let the track breathe. You’ll finish it stronger, not just faster. Keep that rhythm.