If the tempo is just a clock, then you’re already halfway there—your job is to make that clock beat feel like a pulse. For a 5/8 bar, break it into a 3‑2‑2 feel or keep it as a single five‑beat cycle, but count the pulses: one, two, three, four, five. Set a metronome at a steady 60–80 BPM, press the first click as the down‑beat, and let the rest follow. If you start to drift, stop and reset to the click, then play the bar again. Keep a timer on the side, practice in short 5‑minute bursts, and review your timing after each burst. The key is to lock the beat into your head and let it drive the music forward—you can’t waste a second of 3 a.m. creative burn.

Good luck—if it still lags, just reset the metronome and keep it moving. You’ll never be stuck in that bad rhythm again.