Hack Procrastination
The 80/20 Rule
Growing up, procrastination has always been something I have struggled to overcome. I would set goals, but seemed to always fall short.
Sound familiar? You are not alone.
Some may consider procrastination to only apply to activities we want to avoid, but it can also impact positive experiences.
With as many as 20% of the population experiencing chronic procrastination, and most everyone experiencing it to some degree, it is a phenomenon that can truly impact how we go about our lives.
But how do we fix it?
80% of outputs result from 20% inputs
The 80/20 rules, also known as the Pareto Principle, states that 20% of your efforts lead to 80% of the results.
This principle can be applied to many areas of life such as fitness, academia, and business. What it comes down to is getting the most out of your efforts.
Having too many tasks can make it difficult to get any of them done. Narrowing down that list to a few high-value items and delegating what you are able to is a way to get that daunting list knocked out.
Short deadline?
Even better!
The modern age has left almost everyone with a very short attention span. Having a system that prioritizes high-value items can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment.
The effects of this system can be amplified if the tasks have a short deadline. The phenomenon where optimal stress leads to optimal outputs, also known as Yerkes-Dodson law, has shown that moderate stress unlocks the energy and motivation to get work done. However, the key is finding the balance so as to not tip it into overwhelm.
This balance is where the 80/20 rules comes in to play.
20% of your efforts with a short deadline and high-value results?
Now that's something for the books.
Or planner, as it were.
