How often do you find yourself behind the eight ball?

One of the definitions of being behind the eight ball is the feeling of being behind on a task, a sense of overwhelm.

In today’s always on world it’s really easy to get caught up in the number of incoming requests for your time and your own to dos. So much so that you’re often left feeling that you’re continuously behind the eight ball.

The phrase, behind the eight ball originated from the game of pool. It’s the inability to take a clear shot because the cue ball is stuck behind the eight ball. The difference between playing pool and life is that in pool your opponent is usually the one trying to position you behind the eight ball, whereas in life there’s a high chance that you’re doing it to yourself.

I’m not saying that you don’t have a legitimate and endless list of to do’s, what I am suggesting is that maybe there are times when you’ve taken on just a little too much. And that’s when you get the feeling of being behind the eight ball.

So how do you get out from behind the eight ball?

Well, there are always things that you could consider taking off your list. But for arguments sake let’s say that you can’t. Then what can you do?

What if you pause for a moment? That’s what pool players do. They step back from the table to assess their situation in order to find their next best shot. They pause just long enough to get out from behind the eight ball. Now getting out from behind the eight ball is not guarantee that they will win the game, but it does allow them to continue playing.

What could be your version of a pause?

Your pause could be stepping away for seconds to take a deep breath. Or it could be pausing for minutes or even days, all depending on the importance of the request or task at hand. It could even be re-prioritizing your list, and in some cases totally eliminating some of your things to do.

I am not suggesting that you abdicate your responsibilities. What I am saying is that so much of the sense of overwhelm people encounter and feel is a result of taking on too much, or giving away too much of their attention and time. And the equation of giving away too much while taking on additional is one that will never leave you in the positive; it will always leave you feeling as though you’re behind the eight ball.

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