The Art of Balancing Passions: Music, Fitness, and Everything In Between

Every morning, I wake up with a subtle hum playing in the back of my mind. Some days it’s the rhythmic pull of a tabla beat, other days it’s the rush of adrenaline I associate with bench press and pull-ups. And in between the two, life happens: messy, chaotic, beautiful life.

People often ask me how I manage to juggle so many interests: music, fitness, writing, travel, and the ever demanding responsibilities of everyday existence. My answer is simple: I don’t juggle. I balance.

Let me explain.

I didn’t “pick up” music. It picked me. Whether it’s composing, humming a new tune, or getting lost in the symphony of Ragas, music became a language I understood even before I could articulate emotions clearly. Similarly, fitness wasn’t just about lifting weights or chasing aesthetics, it was about reclaiming energy, building resilience, and sculpting discipline. These passions aren’t optional accessories to my life. They are pillars that ground me. But passion alone isn’t enough. Time, after all, doesn’t bend to our wishes. So the real skill isn’t just in doing many things, it’s in making room for what matters most.

This might sound paradoxical, but having a flexible structure has given me the most freedom. I don’t run my day like a military camp, but I do have clear non-negotiables: Mornings are sacred. I wake early, it’s when my mind is clearest and my willpower strongest. Some days I hit the gym. Others, I practice vocals or tweak a new melody. Evenings are fluid. Sometimes it’s jamming with friends, other times it’s quiet journaling, reading, or planning content. Weekends are for the wild cards. They might involve gigs, treks, long family calls, or spontaneous travel, the things that keep life unpredictable. The point is, balance doesn’t mean doing everything every day. It means designing your time so that over a week or a month, your passions don’t gather dust.

One of the most underrated life skills is learning to say “No.” It’s not rejection. It’s prioritization. I’ve had to turn down events, skip mindless scrolling, and even miss a few Netflix shows (shock!) to keep space for what fuels me. That doesn’t mean living like a monk, it means living with intent. Because the truth is, energy is more finite than time. You may have 24 hours, but only so many focused, creative, or physical hours. Guard them like sacred currency.

There’s also a poetic beauty in the transitions: the 10 minute walks between meetings, the cooling down after a workout, the silent few minutes before going on stage. Those in between moments are where insights strike, tunes emerge, and reflections deepen. Balance isn’t just found in what you do, but in how present you are while doing it.

In a world that celebrates hustle, burnout is sold as a badge of honor. But passion isn’t meant to exhaust you, it’s meant to expand you. If you’re always chasing the next “goal” in music or fitness or anything else, you might miss the joy in the process. For me, a good day isn’t when I’ve done everything perfectly, it’s when I’ve done something that brings me closer to myself.

My version of balance isn’t universal. Yours might involve art, coding, pottery, activism, or parenting. And that’s the point, balancing passions isn’t about mimicking someone else’s rhythm, but finding your own. Some days you’ll feel like you’re dropping the ball. That’s okay. Life isn’t a tightrope act, it’s jazz. A little messy, mostly improvised, but always alive. So tune in. Show up. Keep adjusting. And keep dancing between the beats.

Till the next time,

Akash.