When you’re navigating the world of entrepreneurship, starting a new hobby might be the last thing on your mind. With an already packed agenda and perhaps existing hobbies you enjoy, adding another seems daunting. However, it’s worth noting: hobbies can be incredibly beneficial.

According to a 2023 study in Nature Medicine, adults over 65 engaging in hobbies reported improved health, greater life satisfaction, and increased happiness. Personally, I’ve found that taking up a musical hobby has significantly enhanced my mental well-being, helped manage stress, and maintained equilibrium in my life as an entrepreneur.

Being a seasoned musician is not a prerequisite to reap the benefits. Music provides a creative channel and a mental refresh — essentials for any entrepreneur. Whether you’re mastering an instrument, singing, or just listening thoughtfully, musical activities can profoundly influence how you perform in both business and personal spheres.

Let’s break down three key ways music can positively impact entrepreneurs.

1. Music relieves stress — fast

Entrepreneurial life is a continuous juggle — full of deadlines, decisions, and duties. Over time, stress can accumulate and, if unmanaged, may lead to burnout, anxiety, inability to focus, or even depression.

Engaging in a musical hobby can be a remarkable way to alleviate stress. Research indicates that playing music or singing can decrease cortisol and lessen anxiety. Even simply listening to music with focus — without other distractions — can help center your mind and instill tranquility.

Certainly, learning an instrument requires time that not everyone has. That’s perfectly fine. For me, playing a record and attentively listening is enough to rejuvenate me. Be it practicing the piano, having a jam session with friends, or enjoying a cherished playlist, music transforms into a much-anticipated, reliable form of restorative escape.

2. It builds transferable skills

Musical hobbies don’t just relieve stress — they sharpen your mind. Actively engaging with music can improve memory, concentration, and cognitive flexibility. For entrepreneurs, that’s a powerful edge.

Learning to play an instrument, for instance, requires self-discipline, time management and resilience — all skills that mirror the entrepreneurial journey. It challenges you to get comfortable being a beginner again, to practice patience, and to build momentum over time.

Musical practice enhances:

• Creativity
• Problem-solving
• Focus
• Coordination
• Confidence
• Discipline
• Learning agility

And perhaps most importantly, it reminds you that growth comes from consistency — a principle that applies just as much in business as it does in music.

3. It strengthens your brain

Engaging with music activates multiple regions of the brain — the same areas responsible for memory, movement, emotional regulation and complex thinking.

A 2023 study found that musical training enhances auditory processing and working memory. According to AARP, playing an instrument lights up your brain, improving functions like listening, reading, and recall — and may even help grow new neural pathways. That means better cognitive health, greater adaptability, and increased creative thinking.

For entrepreneurs who rely on clear decision-making, creative problem-solving and rapid learning, that kind of cognitive workout is invaluable.

Treat music as self-care, not a side project

Musical hobbies give entrepreneurs more than just stress relief. They offer a creative space to disconnect from the daily grind, while strengthening the mental and emotional muscles that help you lead, build and grow.

Even if you can’t commit to lessons or learning an instrument, find ways to engage with music that work for your schedule. Deep listening, group classes, or even karaoke nights can reignite joy and spark inspiration.

Entrepreneurship demands everything from you — but that doesn’t mean you can’t take something back. A musical hobby could be exactly what you need to recharge, grow and show up better in every area of your life.