Get Better Results With The 80/20 Rule

My husband just had a birthday and even though it wasn’t a big one, we did a lot of celebrating.  We celebrated with food, social time, and a little less sleep than usual.

I made four big, cheesy, mushroom lasagnas and somehow all that cooking didn’t tip him off that I was having a surprise party for him. He also didn’t notice the big, chocolate, gluten-free cake my son picked up from the bakery.

I don’t normally eat such rich foods, and I know that some people might even feel guilty about indulging so much. However, because I know of a special “rule” about life, I enjoyed myself fully - down to every last cheesy bite! 

The 80/20 Rule

It’s called the Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 Rule) -- and it says that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. Here are some ways it appears in life:

• You wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. For me, it’s my sweatpants and sweatshirt. (I still haven’t come back all the way from Covid!)
• 80% of your screen time comes from 20% of your apps. Hello, Duolingo!
• You spend 80% of your time with 20% of your people. My family…
• 20% of artists create 80% of the music you hear. My guys play a lot of music in the house!

So what does that have to do with your health?

If 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts, the trick is to focus on what actually moves the needle—and let go of what doesn’t.

For Nutrition: Eat nutrient-dense whole foods 80% of the time. Then you can relax and enjoy less-perfect choices the other 20% of the time (without guilt). Enter the cheesy lasagna and yummy chocolate cake!

For Exercise: You don’t need to spend hours in the gym or do every exercise known to man. Do what’s easiest for you. If you enjoy walking, walk. If you enjoy riding your bike on your errands, do that. If you enjoy shopping, park further away from the store!

For Stress & Recovery: You don’t need a 10-step wellness routine; but what can you do 20% of the time to best maintain your energy, focus, and resilience the rest of the day? Maybe it’s the three-minute morning reset from last week. Or you go to bed early most of the time, and don’t stress the occasional late night.

What’s in Your 20%?

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, take a step back. Ask yourself:

👉 What’s the 20% that actually drives my results?
👉 What’s just taking up energy—but not making a real impact?

When you focus on the right things you free up time, reduce stress, and—most importantly—get EXPONENTIALLY better results with less effort. What’s one thing you can let go of or add this week?