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Can a musical hobby actually make you better at your job? Drawing on insights from “The Good Enough Job,” this episode explores how music helps diversify your identity, boost resilience, and even improve productivity.
I’m Mindy Peterson, host of Enhance Life with Music podcast, where we explore the ways music transforms everyday life. And this is Microhance, a micro-dose of musical enhancement.
Today’s tip comes from a book I just finished reading that is not related to music – but as usual, I found some fascinating parallels. The book is The Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff.
The title is inspired by the concept of “good enough parenting,” a theory that parents and children best thrive with a parenting approach of sufficiency over perfection. A “good enough” parent provides support but also enough space for a child to develop independence and resilience.
Stolzoff argues that similar idealizations often happen in the workplace. Many of us have been sold the idea that our jobs should always be deeply fulfilling, identity-defining, and a primary source of meaning in life. But that expectation can backfire. Studies show that having an obsessive passion for work is actually linked to higher rates of burnout and work-related stress. And tethering your sense of self-worth entirely to your career can be a pretty precarious setup.
But the answer isn’t simply to stop caring about your job. After all, the average person will spend a huge chunk of life working. So the real question becomes: how do we pursue meaningful work without letting work become our entire identity?
One idea Stolzoff discusses is diversifying our identity – much like an investor diversifies investments. Instead of relying on just one source of meaning, we cultivate several. And this is where music can play such an important role. A musical hobby – playing piano, singing in a choir, drumming, songwriting, or simply learning an instrument later in life – gives you another dimension of identity. You’re not just a manager, teacher, engineer, or entrepreneur. You’re also a musician.
Psychological research supports the value of this kind of “self-complexity.” One researcher, Patricia Linville, found that people who see themselves in multiple roles – different interests, skills, and identities – are more resilient when something stressful happens. When one area of life hits a snag, it’s less likely to spill over and damage everything else.
Think about it this way: if your entire identity is tied to your job, then a tough week at work can feel like a verdict on you as a person. But if you also see yourself as a musician, a reader, volunteer, parent, runner, or a gardener, then one difficult area of life doesn’t define the whole picture.
And here’s an ironic twist: people who invest time in hobbies and passions outside of work often end up being more productive workers. Those outside interests replenish energy, spark creativity, and provide mental distance from job-related stress.
The book also provides a helpful reality check about the popular cliche, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Artist Adam Kurtz humorously revised that phrase to something closer to reality; his version: “Do what you love and you’ll work super f*ing hard all the time with no separation or any boundaries and also take everything extremely personally.” (If this resonates with you, you’ll want to listen to Ep. 223 on the Science of Burnout with Dr. Amelia Nagoski, as she also has a lot to say about this cliche!)
Even dream jobs still involve… well… work. But when music is part of your life, it gives you a space that isn’t defined by performance reviews, productivity metrics, or economic output. It’s a place to create meaning simply because the activity itself is meaningful.
So if you’ve been thinking about picking up an instrument again, joining a choir, or simply making more room for music in your life, consider this: you’re not just adding a hobby. You’re diversifying your identity, strengthening your resilience, and maybe even becoming better at your day job. Not bad for a little musical side quest.
I’m Mindy Peterson, and I hope this inspires you to enhance your life with music.
In-Episode Promo
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