Optimize your Time by Leveraging the 80/20 Rule

Time is limited for each of us and we all have only 24 hours in a day. If you slice that pie, it's typical for most of us to reserve about 7-8 hours for sleep and 8-10 hours for work (and potentially commuting)... leaving around 6-8 hours for personal and family time. It's easy for those hours to slip away without being highly productive.

Because time is so limited, it makes sense to search for and discover ways to optimize our time and efficiencies. In other words, ask yourself what can you do each day to get the highest payback in terms of being productive from the least amount of effort.

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. This principle has been observed in many areas of life, including one's personal health and fitness as well as in business.

It's all about your mindset. When you search for and then focus on the 20% of the activities that yield 80% of your results you realize how much extra time you have available to do other things in life.

Regarding the important topic of personal fitness, the 80/20 rule can be implemented as follows:

1. Exercise: Compound movements, like squats and chest presses, work larger and more muscle groups at the same time while also burning more energy to perform the movement. Also, high intensity work (HITT) has been shown to accelerate fitness gains faster with shorter time commitments.
2. Nutrition: By focusing on foods that pack the most nutritional value you'll optimize your energy output by fueling your body as well as improve muscle tone and reducing bodyfat.
3. Recovery: By deploying recovery modalities after exercise like massage, compression and cryotherapy, one can accelerate recovery to get better results from their workouts, improving energy levels and overall results.

In terms of achieving business success, the 80/20 rule can apply in various ways too. For example:

1. Sales: The 80/20 rule suggests that a significant portion of a company's sales may come from a small percentage of its customers. By identifying these top customers and catering to their needs, a company can increase sales and revenue.
2. Productivity: The 80/20 rule also suggests that a significant portion of a company's productivity may come from a small percentage of its activities. By identifying these high-impact activities and focusing on them, a company can increase its overall productivity and efficiency.
3. Time Management: The 80/20 rule can also be applied to time management. By identifying the 20% of activities that yield 80% of the results, individuals and businesses can prioritize their time and focus on what's most important.
4. Resource Allocation: The 80/20 rule can also be used to guide resource allocation. By identifying the 20% of products, services, or customers that generate 80% of the profits, a company can focus its resources on those areas and maximize its return on investment.

It's all about your mindset. When you search for and then focus on the 20% of the activities that yield 80% of your results you realize how much extra time you have available to do other things in life.

'More' isn't always better. 'More' can be wasteful and inefficient. Instead, focus on doing the things that give you the highest payback and get the results you're searching for.

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Troy Jacobson is an Executive coach and partner in the 3-Pillars Performance Group, a leadership and business consulting firm back in Tucson, AZ. Learn more by contacting him at [email protected]