Episode 649: When Bizzy Stopped Being BusyEpisode 649: When Bizzy Stopped Being Busy
Busy Living Sober with Host Elizabeth Chance
Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance reflects on how years of constant busyness stopped her from feeling her emotions and how slowing down supports her sobriety and writing. She mixes candid personal stories with reflections on gratitude, presence and choosing a lighter, more positive way of living.
18:11•16 Jun 2026
When “Busy” Becomes a Numb Button: Bizzy Chance on Slowing Down to Feel
Episode Overview
- Constant busyness can act like a numbing agent, stopping people from really feeling their emotions.
- Multitasking is exposed as a myth; slowing down to do one thing at a time helps with presence and memory.
- Setting firm yet kind boundaries with oneself, like carving out writing time, can support both sobriety and personal goals.
- Taking at least 15 minutes a day for quiet, stillness or meditation offers a chance to notice feelings instead of outrunning them.
- Practising gratitude and choosing a positive outlook can make recovery and everyday life feel lighter and more manageable.
“When we’re busy, I’ve realised I don’t have to feel.”
What drives someone to seek a life that isn’t jam‑packed with noise and distractions? Episode 649 of *Busy Living Sober* zooms in on exactly that, as Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance reflects on how staying constantly occupied once kept her from feeling anything real. Chatting away in her trademark, conversational style, Bizzy shares how writing 45,000 words of her book has forced her to sit still, set boundaries with herself, and actually feel her emotions rather than outrun them.
She admits that for years she equated being “busy” with being successful, only to realise, “When we’re busy, I’ve realised I don’t have to feel.” For anyone who’s swapped alcohol for overworking, overdoing or endless multitasking, this hits close to home.
You’ll hear her talk about how she used busyness like a substance: racing from task to task, convinced she was a “fabulous” multitasker until her therapist simply replied, “Nobody’s good at multitasking.” Now, instead of spinning in circles, she’s experimenting with structure—writing in her own house, setting clear parameters, and even slowing down enough to cook an egg and make coffee without acting like an octopus.
The episode also widens out into gratitude: from watching European visitors gush over American quirks like Cracker Barrel and free drink refills, to her love of parades, flags and apple pie. She links this upbeat patriotism with sobriety—choosing positivity, smiling rather than frowning, and making “lemonade from lemons” as a daily practice.
Aimed at people in recovery, those who love someone struggling, and anyone who hides behind a packed schedule, this chatty solo session is like sitting at the kitchen table with a very honest friend. It might leave you wondering: what feelings are you dodging by staying busy, and what could change if you gave yourself just 15 quiet minutes today?
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