I Was Addicted to Being Busy (And the Data Shows I’m Not Alone)
Yes, you heard that right—I was addicted to being busy. And although I am in recovery, the journey was anything but easy.
So, let's address the elephant in the room. Addiction is serious stuff and while we tend to think of drugs or alcohol as addictive. The Cleveland Clinic defines addiction as a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing an activity despite negative or harmful consequences. The reality is addiction impacts your health, relationships and overall quality of life.
Like many addicts, it took me years to even realize I had a problem. I wore my packed schedule like a badge of honor. I loved telling people how busy I was. It made me feel important, accomplished, needed. I thought I was winning at life.
I wasn’t.
I had wake-up calls—plenty of them—but none of them actually woke me up. I ignored every red flag, rationalizing my busyness as drive, ambition, or success. But the truth was much darker. Busyness wasn’t a side effect of my success—it was an addiction that nearly cost me everything.
I had wake-up calls—plenty of them—but none of them actually woke me up. I ignored every red flag, rationalizing my busyness as drive, ambition, or success. But the truth was much darker. Busyness wasn’t a side effect of my success—it was an addiction that nearly cost me everything.
Here are just a few of the more dramatic red flags I ignored:
I showed up to a speaking engagement wearing two different shoes.
I destroyed my marriage. Wasn’t spending time with hubby.
I totaled my car. My phone distracted me.
I superglued my hands together (don’t ask).
I nearly died from a heart attack. Always on is not optimal for your health.
I once accidentally ate cat food, thinking it was pistachios.
I missed the grand opening of my own nonprofit organization.
I tipped a waiter $300,000 instead of $30.
And those are just the highlights. I was a high-flier, a massive achiever—and yet I had no life. I lived in a constant haze of burnout. I wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t happy. And I definitely wasn’t focused on what truly mattered.
My “always-on” lifestyle pulled me in every direction except the one I actually wanted to go. I wasn’t in control. Busyness controlled me.
But here’s the thing—I’m not the only one.
Busyness Is a Silent Epidemic
According to my research, and surveys conducted through my nonprofit, SheCAN!, the overwhelming majority of professionals are quietly struggling with the exact same issue.
Over 90% of people reported that being busy affects their ability to:
Think clearly at work
Prioritize effectively
Maintain high-quality performance
Be innovative and creative
Half said it “often” prevented them from working on long-term, meaningful projects. Nearly the same number said they had no time for quality thinking.
That’s terrifying.
We’re losing our ability to do the deep, strategic, creative work that actually moves the needle—because we’re buried in meetings, emails, and to-do lists.
Busyness Shrinks Your Perspective
Beyond just productivity, busyness is mentally narrowing.
44% said it often prevents them from seeing the bigger picture.
46% said it steals the time they need to develop and support their teams.
This is especially dangerous for high achievers. The minute we accomplish something—a promotion, a new title, a big win—we feel this intense pressure to prove ourselves again, immediately.
There’s no pause to reflect or celebrate. Just a drive to keep delivering. To justify our success.
And in the process, we lose our vision. Our “why.” Our sense of purpose.
Busyness Increases Stress and Destroys Wellbeing
And let’s not forget the personal toll.
49% of people said being busy often interferes with their ability to switch off.
47% said it elevates their stress levels.
42% said it disrupts their sleep.
When you’re always “on,” there’s no room to breathe—let alone rest. You feel guilty when you're not working, and exhausted when you are.
I lived that reality for years. And it almost broke me.
So What Changed?
Eventually, I hit my limit. I realized that being over the top busy was costing me far more than it was giving me. My health, my relationships, my peace of mind, my sense of meaning—they were all on the line.
So, I made a change. Not overnight, and not easily. But steadily.
Through years of research, trial and error, and working with individuals and organizations—from Fortune 500s to small businesses—I developed a new way of working and living. A way to align time with values. A way to choose meaning over mayhem.
And now, that’s the mission I’m on—to help others do the same.
Busyness isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a warning sign. It’s time we stopped glorifying it.
If you’re tired of being busy and ready to be better—more focused, more fulfilled, more in control—know that recovery is possible. I’m living proof.
You don’t have to burn out to prove your worth.
You don’t have to chase everything to achieve something meaningful.
And you don’t have to do this alone.
Let’s redefine success—not by how much we do, but by how intentionally we live.
The first step to recovery is understanding what low value activities to eliminate.
This 4-minute survey will help you identify your busy traps.