The 80/20 Approach to Planning Your Week
If your weeks always feel full but not fulfilling, you’re not alone.
Most people plan their days around what’s urgent, not what’s impactful.
We get caught up checking boxes instead of actually moving the needle.
But what if you could do less, and see more progress?
That’s where the 80/20 approach comes in.
It’s not about doing everything more efficiently.
It’s about doing the right things more intentionally
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1. What the 80/20 Principle Actually Means
The 80/20 rule — also called the Pareto Principle — says that roughly 80% of results come from 20% of your actions.
In other words:
20% of your clients bring in 80% of your revenue.
20% of your habits create 80% of your peace.
20% of your tasks drive 80% of your results.
The rest?
It’s noise disguised as productivity.
When you start filtering your time through this lens, everything changes.
You stop asking, “What else can I fit in?”
And start asking, “What actually matters most right now?”
2. How to Find Your 20%
Think of your 20% as your high-impact zone — the small handful of actions that move your personal or professional life forward in measurable ways.
Here’s how to find it:
Step 1: Review your wins.
Look back at the last month or quarter. What actions, clients, or projects gave you the biggest return — financially, emotionally, or creatively?
Step 2: Identify your energy leaks.
What tasks drain you, distract you, or keep you busy without moving the needle?
Step 3: Recommit to what works.
Your 20% might look like:
Weekly CEO time for planning + priorities
Family dinner routines that keep you grounded
A client system that saves you hours of back-and-forth
Daily content creation that drives real connection
Those are the things to protect and prioritize. Everything else can be simplified, delegated, or deleted.
3. How to Plan Your Week with the 80/20 Lens
Instead of filling every day with all the things, plan around your impact zones.
Try this framework:
→ Step 1: Define Your Focus Areas (Your “20%” Buckets)
Pick 3–5 areas that matter most this season — e.g. Business Growth, Health, Home, Family, Personal Growth.
→ Step 2: Identify 1–3 High-Impact Actions in Each Area
Ask: “If I only did these things this week, would I still feel proud and aligned?”
→ Step 3: Time-Block the Essentials First
Plug those 20% actions into your calendar before the busywork fills it.
Protect that time like you would a meeting with your future self.
→ Step 4: Leave Space for Margin
Productivity isn’t about cramming more in.
It’s about creating space for clarity, rest, and recalibration.
4. The Real Goal: Progress, Not Perfection
The 80/20 approach is less about math — and more about mindfulness.
It’s learning to trust that doing less but better really does create more impact than doing more but scattered.
So next time you plan your week, don’t start with your to-do list.
Start with your why.
Then fill your week with the few actions that move that forward.
You’ll be amazed how much lighter — and more effective — your schedule feels when you stop managing time and start managing energy.
So What We Need to Remember
The goal isn’t balance.
It’s alignment.
Spend 80% of your week focused on the 20% that truly moves you closer to the life you’re building. Not just the life you’re managing.
