Reclaim Life from Work: Three Takeaways from my conversation with Simone Stolzoff

As part of our Wellbeing at Work LinkedIn Live series (conducted in partnership with Workplace Wellbeing Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute's), this month I had the pleasure of hosting Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job. Simone’s research and personal stories challenge our culture’s obsession with work. Watch our full-conversation here. 

Here were my top three takeaways:

1. Diversify your identity beyond work. Too many of us tie our sense of self to our job title. As an antidote, Simone suggested diversifying our identity beyond work. Every single one of us is more than the work we do. We are, perhaps, a parent, a partner, a friend, a skier, a stamp collector, a reader, a world traveler, a skateboarder…. It’s critical that we get clear about other identities outside of work. 

Research shows that people who cultivate multiple aspects of identity are more resilient in the face of change and are also more creative. If all of your energy goes into work, a bad day at the office can spill into every corner of your life. As a leader, it’s up to you to foster a culture in which your team feels encouraged to nurture relationships, hobbies and community life - not just their careers.

2. Embrace “good enough” over perfection. Simone’s book dismantles the “dream job” myth. The belief that there’s a perfect job, one combining passion, purpose and a fat paycheck, is a blueprint for burnout. A healthier approach is to recognize that work can be meaningful without being perfect and to accept that having a “good enough” job is not a compromise; it’s a way to support other life goals. Freeing ourselves from perfectionism lets us reclaim energy for passions outside the office and gives us permission to be fully human.

3. Leaders need to model and create healthier norms. Changing our relationship to work can’t rest solely on individual boundary-setting. When cultivating a healthy culture becomes an individual’s responsibility, it will always fail. Systemic solutions, like shorter workweeks, paid vacation policies and limits on after‑hours communication, help employees truly disconnect. Leaders must model healthy work‑life balance, implement policies that respect personal time and give employees autonomy. Practical steps include setting expectations for when emails are answered (and sent), empowering teams to adjust workloads, and shifting the conversation from self‑care to “team-care.” Speaking of team-care, join my August Team Wellness Challenge. 

Final Thoughts: “What do you like to do?”

In his TED Talk, Simone suggests a simple way to change how we see one another: instead of asking “What do you do?” when you meet someone new, ask, “What do you like to do?”. The question invites people to define themselves on their own terms rather than through their work. It’s a way to remind ourselves that we are multifaceted. As Simone reminds us, the more multifaceted we are, the more resilient and happier we become. 

If you missed our conversation, make time to watch the replay here. And I encourage you to try out Simone’s suggestion next time you meet someone new. Swap out “What do you do?” with “What do you like to do?”.

Next Up: The Power of Mattering with Zach Mercuio 

In today’s workplace, too many people feel invisible, overlooked, and underappreciated. But what if the key is learning how to show people, genuinely and consistently, that they matter?

Join us in August for our next Wellbeing at Work LinkedIn Live, part of our ongoing partnership with the Workplace Wellbeing Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute, where we’ll be joined by Zach Mercurio, Ph.D., leading researcher, bestselling author of The Invisible Leader, and expert in the emerging science of mattering.

Tune in for a chance to win a copy of Zach’s new book, The Power of Mattering, along with my book, Workplace Wellness That Works. RSVP, here.

ABOUT LAURA PUTNAM

Laura Putnam is a workplace wellbeing expert, author of the bestselling book, Workplace Wellness That Works, former CEO of Motion Infusion and now Chief Learning Officer at Upli. Over the past 17 years, she’s helped over 500 organizations reimagine wellness by connecting it to culture and leadership. Subscribe to Laura’s newsletter to get 4 tangible ideas each month to infuse wellbeing at work and at home.