Very well said. Reminds me of the water analogy:

Energy reserves, that really hit home. I've had this idea that I can only be happy if I am consistently creative and productive. This causes life to be depressing and dull and makes everything feel like an obstacle in the way of the one thing I want to do - and because of this negativity, when I actually have time, I don't have much creativity. I'm working on it. I'm slowly learning to enjoy things like working and taking care of responsibilities every week, keeping a level of my mind that, as you said, is always peaceful and equanimous, able to appreciate every moment and live off of that energy, not only living off the high I get from having created something, which fades quickly and leaves me frustrated that I don't have the time or creativity to refill that energy bubble.

I also try to remind myself to be a cactus. The water analogy is great, but no one talks about cacti! They thrive in the desert with very little water. We can too (metaphorically).

"Cacti are among a group of plants that solve this problem by capturing solar energy by day, and finishing the photosynthesis by night when the stomata can be open with minimal water loss." https://www.quora.com/How-do-cacti-photosynthesize

Do what you need to do, work your ass off every day, make money (capturing the energy), then at night, you can finish the process by relaxing, meditating, releasing the stresses and mental echoes of the day, getting a good night of sleep, or as much sleep as you have time for. Reset and prepare for tomorrow, don't carry each day's baggage into the next day, weighing yourself down into hell with each passing day. Take care of body and mind to keep up with the demands of life when life is a desert, providing you with very little "water" and you have to slave away to earn it.