What is an example of 80/20 rule time management?

Asked by: Cary Daniel  |  Last update: January 25, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (47 votes)

For example, a business may find that 80% of its sales come from 20% of its products and could focus on improving those products to boost sales further. Similarly, an individual may find that 80% of their productivity comes from 20% of their work tasks and could prioritize them to achieve better results.

What are the 80/20 rule real examples?

Project Managers know that 20 percent of the work (the first 10 percent and the last 10 percent) consume 80 percent of the time and resources. Other examples you may have encountered: 80% of our revenues are generated by 20% of our customers. 80% of our complaints come from 20% of our customers.

How to apply 80/20 rule at work?

How to use the 80/20 rule
  1. Examine all of your daily or weekly tasks.
  2. Prioritize your most important tasks.
  3. Identify the tasks that offer the greatest return.
  4. Brainstorm how to delegate or remove tasks that give less return.
  5. Make a plan that outlines time and resources versus prioritized tasks.

What is the 80 20 rule and how does it relate to stress management?

Focusing on Effective Self-Care Activities

Not all self-care activities yield the same impact on your mental well-being. The 80/20 rule suggests that 20% of your self-care activities likely contribute to 80% of your sense of peace and happiness. Spend some time reflecting on which activities truly nourish you.

What is the 80 20 rule schedule?

This means that completing a handful of high-impact tasks matters the most for reaching your goals. And vice versa, 80 percent of tasks can lead to only 20 percent of the results, which is what you should be trying to avoid. The 80/20 rule can also be applied in finding work/life balance by learning how to manage time.

The Pareto Principle - 80/20 Rule - Do More by Doing Less (animated)

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What is the 80-20 rule scheduling?

Simply put, the 80/20 rule states that the relationship between input and output is rarely, if ever, balanced. When applied to work, it means that approximately 20 percent of your efforts produce 80 percent of the results.

What does 80-20 rule look like?

The 80/20 rule is super simple: you focus on eating healthy foods 80% of the time and allow yourself to indulge in not-so-healthy foods for the remaining 20%. It's all about striking a balance—getting your body the nutrition it needs while still enjoying your favorite treats without feeling guilty.

What is the 80-20 rule for managing employees?

If 80% of your time is spent working with the 20% of employees who require the most attention and support, and your must-do tasks are getting pushed to the back burner, it's time to rethink your day-to-day. To better manage your time and resources: Use the Pareto Principle to prioritize efforts.

What is the 80-20 rule strategy?

The 80-20 rule is a principle that states 80% of all outcomes are derived from 20% of causes. It's used to determine the factors (typically, in a business situation) that are most responsible for success and then focus on them to improve results.

What is 80-20 rule in problem management?

The 80/20 Rule is the principle that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. It's often used in business to help identify how to operate more efficiently. It can be applied to almost every area of business, including IT Service Management (ITSM).

What is the 80 20 rule for dummies?

This rule suggests that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. For example, 80% of a company's revenue may come from 20% of its customers, or 80% of a person's productivity may come from 20% of their work. This principle can be applied to many areas, including productivity for small business owners.

What is the 80 20 rule one minute manager?

To determine priorities for this one minute goal setting, the employees and the manager use the 80–20 rule or the Pareto Principle, which suggests that 80% of results stem from 20% of the team input. The aim is to focus on the 20%, usually resulting in fewer high-value goals over a disorganized array of tasks.

What is the 80 20 rule activities?

In simplest terms, about 80 percent of the results come from 20 percent of activities. Just a small number of tasks account for the majority of progress. The key then is to identify those key areas and focus energy there. This 80/20 rule has permeated time management literature and talks; it's honestly not a new idea.

How would you use the 80-20 rule at work or in your personal life?

Steps to apply the 80/20 Rule
  1. Identify all your daily/weekly tasks.
  2. Identify key tasks.
  3. What are the tasks that give you more return?
  4. Brainstorm how you can reduce or transfer the tasks that give you less return.
  5. Create a plan to do more that brings you more value.
  6. Use 80/20 to prioritize any project you're working on.

What is the 80% rule in HR?

What is the 80% Rule? The 80% rule was created to help companies determine if they have been unwittingly discriminatory in their hiring process. The rule states that companies should be hiring protected groups at a rate that is at least 80% of that of white men.

What is commonly known as the 80-20 rule?

80/20 Rule – The Pareto Principle. The 80/20 Rule (also known as the Pareto principle or the law of the vital few & trivial many) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.

What is the 80-20 rule with suitable example?

The 80/20 rule is not a formal mathematical equation, but more a generalized phenomenon that can be observed in economics, business, time management, and even sports. General examples of the Pareto principle: 20% of a plant contains 80% of the fruit. 80% of a company's profits come from 20% of customers.

How does an 80 20 plan work?

Simply put, 80/20 coinsurance means your insurance company pays 80% of the total bill, and you pay the other 20%. Remember, this applies after you've paid your deductible.

What is the 80-20 rule in leadership?

If 80% of your results are derived from 20% of your efforts, then as a leaders, it is imperative that you identify that 20% and focus your efforts there.

What is an example of the 80 20 rule in the workplace?

20% of planning causes 80% of a project's success. 20% of workers initiate a focus on issues that require 80% attention. 20% of your time leads to 80% of your happiness. 20% of work occupations cause 80% of workplace injuries.

What is the 80 20 rule in productivity?

It is also known as the Pareto law, and as the principle of least effort. It states that a surprisingly small proportion of efforts and inputs (20%) lead to 80% of our results. In other words, there is an extremely lopsided distribution of inputs and outcomes.

What is the 80 20 paycheck rule?

The 80/20 rule breaks out putting 20% of your income toward savings (paying yourself) and 80% toward everything else. Once you've adjusted to that 20% or a number you're comfortable with saving, set up automatic payments to ensure you stick to it.

How do you use the 80-20 rule to manage time effectively?

Tips for Using Pareto Principle in Time Management
  1. Identify the 20% of tasks that will deliver 80% of your desired outcomes.
  2. Identify active hours and try to remain focused when you are most productive.
  3. Time blocks important tasks. ...
  4. Look for ways to improve in key areas while building your expertise and authority.

What is the 80-20 rule style?

We usually wear 20% of our favorite outfits 80% of the time. I suggest going through your closet and really eliminating all the things you don't wear anymore. There is no point in having these items take up your closet space. Make way for the 20% that really matter and store away the clothes you won't wear this season.

What is the 80 20 lifestyle?

The 80/20 rule is a guide for your everyday diet—eat nutritious foods 80 percent of the time and have a serving of your favorite treat with the other 20 percent. For the “80 percent” part of the plan, focus on drinking lots of water and eating nutritious foods that include: Whole grains. Fruits and vegetables.