Are You Working Harder Than Necessary?
Have you ever spent the whole day working on your to-do list only to find that you haven’t gotten much done?
You’re not the only one. Many of us get caught up in doing more instead of what matters most in a world that is obsessed with productivity. The 80/20 Rule is a powerful way of thinking that can help you get back your time, energy, and results right now.
What Is the 80/20 Rule?
The 80/20 Rule, also called the Pareto Principle, says that 20% of your efforts will get you 80% of the results.
Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist, first noticed this principle when he saw that 20% of the people in Italy owned 80% of the land. The idea has been everywhere since then:
80% of revenue often comes from 20% of customers
80% of complaints come from 20% of users
80% of traffic goes to 20% of pages
The exact ratio isn’t set in stone, but the point is clear: a small number of inputs leads to a large number of outcomes.
This means that a small number of important tasks or habits can make a big difference in how productive you are. The rest is just noise.
80/20 in Context: Why It Matters
We live in a world of constant activity—endless tabs, notifications, and meetings. But busy ≠ effective. The 80/20 Rule helps cut through the clutter. It gives you a lens to:
- Identify what’s actually working
- Eliminate what’s not
- Spend more time on high-impact activities
Think of it as strategic minimalism for your effort. You’re not doing less for the sake of it—you’re doing better by design.
8 Practical Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule
Let’s break it down into ways you can use this insight across your work and life.
1. Audit Your Tasks Weekly
At the end of each week, ask:
Which 20% of tasks produced 80% of my results?
Keep a simple log. You’ll start seeing patterns—often, it’s not the long meetings or scattered errands that matter.
2. Prioritize High-Leverage Work
Focus on tasks that:
- Move key metrics
- Impact revenue or learning
- Create assets (like writing, coding, designing) over admin
For example: writing one strong blog post might outperform 20 emails in long-term value.
3. Streamline Your To-Do List
Instead of a long checklist, use:
- The Rule of 3: What are your top 3 priorities today?
- The One Thing: If only one thing got done today, what would make everything else easier?
4. Declutter Your Digital Life
80% of app time is usually spent on 20% of tools.
Identify which platforms drive real outcomes (or joy) and remove the rest from your dock or home screen.
5. Simplify Your Content Strategy
If you’re a creator or marketer, check your analytics:
- Which 20% of posts bring most traffic, engagement, or sales?
Double down there instead of trying to be everywhere with everything.
6. Apply to Personal Finance
Track your spending:
Often, 20% of your habits or categories (e.g., food delivery, unused subscriptions) drive 80% of waste.
Flip it: Automate or increase the top 20% of smart investments.
7. Upgrade Learning & Skills
Ask: which 20% of books, podcasts, or mentors have taught you 80% of what you use today?
That’s where your learning efforts should go. Consider re-reading great books instead of constantly chasing new ones.
8. Improve Relationships
Not all relationships are equal. Spend more time with the 20% of people who bring you the most energy, support, or insight.
Nurture depth, not breadth.
A Quote to Reflect On
“The key to success is not in doing more, but in doing more of what matters.”
— Greg McKeown, Essentialism
The 80/20 Rule echoes this minimalist principle: you can’t control everything—but you can control where you focus.
Bonus Mental Model: Leverage
The 80/20 Rule pairs perfectly with the concept of leverage—tools, systems, or decisions that allow you to multiply your output without multiplying your input.
Examples:
- Writing once, distributing many times
- Building automations for repeat work
- Hiring or delegating to amplify your impact
Use 80/20 to find leverage, then scale it.
Actionable Takeaway
Today, identify one task or project that yields outsize results—and spend 3× more time on it than usual.
Ignore the rest. Protect your focus. The rewards will compound.
Journal Prompt
“What are the 20% of actions that consistently move me closer to my goals?”
Write them down. Then do more of those. That’s your 80/20 map.