Time management is something most of us are continuously working on to improve. Even once we’ve found a management system that works for us, we still need to dedicate time to the system to keep it functioning properly. One way we can help our time management efforts is to declutter your schedule, and schedule planning principles like the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule.
This principle can help reduce stress during your workday or better balance your personal life between social outings, family obligations, and hobbies like video gaming or gambling online at sites you might find when you visit this page.
What Is the Pareto Principle?
The principle was first developed by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in 1906. He noticed that land ownership in Italy followed the 80/20 rule, where 80% of the land was owned by 20% of the people. He also noted it in his garden, with 20% of a tomato plant bearing 80% of the fruit.
This led him to conclude that 20% of work results in 80% of the outcome. Joseph M. Juran expanded on the idea, and he was the one who coined the term “Pareto Principle.” This principle can have many applications, such as making business decisions, solving problems efficiently, and refining work schedules.
Using the Pareto Principle to Build Your Schedule
The principle can be applied to long-term project management and day-to-day scheduling. Applying the Pareto Principle is about prioritizing the tasks that will get you the most results for your effort, or in other words, prioritizing the 20% of your tasks that will result in 80% of the work.
For example, a lifestyle influencer may have a range of tasks they need to complete, such as replying to messages and comments, creating a sponsored post, planning new content for their followers, and general admin tasks to keep their business running. While each task is important to the overall job, the Pareto Principle tells us that some are more impactful than others.
The influencer would benefit the most from prioritizing the sponsored post as this generates income, builds a good connection with the brand, opens up the possibility for more collaborations, and delivers fresh content for followers. The one task, which may account for just 20% of the daily tasks, provides 80% of the work needed for the day and supports long-term goals.
Tips to Implement the Principle
If implementing the Pareto Principle into your own situation feels overwhelming, these tips can help by providing actionable steps you can easily follow.
1. Identify Your Most Impactful Tasks
Begin with creating a list of all the items you need to get done, whether for the day, week, or month. For larger tasks, consider breaking them down even further so they’re smaller and more manageable to work on.
Once you’ve compiled your list, you can start organizing it according to how important each task is by asking yourself questions, such as: do any of the tasks need to be done before other tasks can get started? Alternatively, you can use a time management matrix, such as the Eisenhower Matrix, to categorize the tasks on your list.
By answering these questions or filling out the time management matrix, you can determine what tasks to prioritize and estimate the time needed for each task.
2. Add the Principle to Your Schedule
After establishing your priorities, you can apply the principle to your schedule by setting up a work plan. For this, you may want to implement other time management principles or techniques, such as time blocking.
Time blocking, also called timeboxing, helps you dedicate protected time to achieve the tasks that will give you maximum impact on your work. It allows you to complete tasks while having more balance in your life to relax or socialize without worrying about your to-do list.
There are a few different ways to approach time blocking. Some people dedicate a recurring time block each week for certain tasks, while others tailor their schedule to suit their needs each week (for instance, around unmovable meetings or appointments).
Another method for scheduling work is to dedicate entire days to a specific task or closely related tasks. For example, an influencer may dedicate a day to filming or photographing content and another to tasks such as responding to messages, pitching brands for collaborations, or forming new connections.
3. Track Your Time
Once you start following your schedule, maintain a time tracker. This will help you determine how much time tasks take you compared to how much time you’ve allotted. A time tracker can help you plan for the future by giving you an accurate time frame to work from while scheduling tasks. Time tracking can also help you see where you are spending your time or what distractions pull you away from those 20% tasks.
You’ll also want to revisit the 80/20 process regularly to ensure you continue working optimally. Consider adding it to your calendar so that you have dedicated time to it and don’t lose track of it among other tasks that pop up throughout your workdays.
Summary
The Pareto Principle can declutter your schedule by helping you identify your high-priority tasks, resulting in most of your work. The principle holds the idea that 20% of your tasks account for 80% of your most important work, which is why it is also frequently referred to as the 80/20 rule. Using this principle requires identifying your high-priority tasks, planning your schedule around them, and maintaining the principle regularly to keep your schedule efficient and effective.
The 80/20 rule is the scheduling tool that could completely change the way you work and find balance in your life.
