If you’ve been searching for ways to be more productive at work, whether you’re a long-time entrepreneur or a new business owner, you may have heard of Pareto’s Principle. This principle can be used to help you improve time management, boost productivity, and work more efficiently in the time that you have.

In a world where time is almost as valuable as currency, making the most of your time can mean the difference between a successful and a failing business. Here is how you can implement Pareto’s Principle to get the most out of your day, every day.

What is Pareto’s Principle?

Pareto’s Principle stems back to the 1890s when it was noticed that approximately 80% of the land was occupied by only 20% of the population. Since then, this has been applied to pretty much everything in life.

In terms of time management, Pareto’s Principle implies that 80% of your success should come from 20% of your time. For example, if you had 10 things on your to-do list, 2 of those tasks will account for 80% of your results. In other words, things are not distributed evenly, which is why prioritisation is so important. If you invest your time in the right things, the things which have more worth, then we can put in less time while achieving a better outcome.

How can I use Pareto’s Principle to enhance my time management?

As Pareto’s Principle all relies on successfully prioritising your workload, start by rethinking the way that you write your to-do lists. Try ordering your list of tasks based on the amount of effort required and the positive impact of each, so that you complete the jobs that deliver the greatest results with minimal effort first.

It is also worthwhile assigning yourself the hardest task on your to-do list first thing. This way, the tasks at hand are all downhill from there. However, if you know you are more focused and energetic in the evening, for example, you can save your more important tasks for then. Work around you!

Most importantly, also ensure you eliminate distractions. This means turning off phone notifications, not replying to social media messages, and saying no to tasks that you don’t have time to take on. This way, the time that you do have will more likely be spent on the things that matter.