How often do you find yourself behind the eight ball?

One definition of being behind the eight ball is feeling behind on tasks – feeling a sense of overwhelm.

In today’s always-on world, it’s easy to get caught up in the number of incoming requests for your time and your to-dos—so much so that you’re often left feeling 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 tasks; I am suggesting that there may be 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 removing from your list. But for the sake of argument, 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. Getting out from behind the eight ball does not guarantee they will win the game, but it allows them to continue playing.

What could be your version of a pause?

Your pause could be stepping away for a few seconds to take a deep breath, or it could be pausing for minutes or even days, 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. I am saying that so much of the sense of being overwhelmed results from taking on too much or giving away too much of your attention and time. And the equation of giving away too much while taking on additional 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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