The Pareto Principle

Do you sometimes struggle with perfectionism or beliefs like “I’m not allowed to make mistakes”?

Then I have something for you!

The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule, can help you approach things with a little less pressure and perfectionism.

The basic idea is simple:

Roughly 80% of the results can come from 20% of the effort.

The remaining 20% of the result may then require as much as 80% of the effort to reach that final 100%.

Here’s an example to illustrate what I mean:

Maybe you remember what it was like when you first learned to drive. You needed your full concentration to process all the new information and put it into practice.

Today, you can drive from A to B almost automatically. Sometimes you arrive at your destination and realize you barely noticed the journey because so much of the process has become second nature.

These are automatic habits and routines in our everyday lives. They don’t require our full attention anymore. But if you drive through an unfamiliar city or have to deal with something demanding while driving, suddenly you need much more of your attention.

Of course, the Pareto Principle doesn’t apply to every task or situation. But it can be a useful way to look at many things in everyday life.

So ask yourself:

Where in my everyday life do I already have things on autopilot and don’t need to give them my full attention?

Is it writing an email? Driving to a client? Doing the laundry?

Whatever it is, write it down!

These are the things that require relatively little effort from you.

Now take a look at where you’re giving it your all—where you’re putting in that extra 80% of effort.

Look at your list and start prioritizing.

Ask yourself:

Where can I be satisfied with 80% of the result?

Especially if you’re going through a particularly stressful time or dealing with an illness, try to be a little gentler with yourself. Give yourself permission to choose at most one thing a day—or one thing a week—where you truly want to give 100%.

Because your body needs regular rest and recovery in order to perform at its best.

And the same is true for creativity.

I can’t constantly create something new out of thin air. I also need time to rest, recharge, and fill my creative well with inspiration.