For me its was the trying to sound like another producer phase it gave me plenty of headaches how about u?
^ ya, I hear this. It's the "notification mania". We're all waiting for the next update, or the next 100 views, or the next email/message.
It can drain a lot of our time..
When we have to work, we have to work and focus on the work. I agree on the focus.
But for me, the hardest beat making phase...? Um, mastering. And it still is. ...dunno if I'll ever be an expert though. It's a never ending learning process.