Crystal's Notes 3 Jan

One question that keeps coming up, especially at the start of a new year, is this: how do you figure out what actually matters when everything feels important?

This is where Pareto’s Principle becomes incredibly useful.

The principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, suggests that a big part of any resulting outcome (roughly 80%) comes from a mere 20% of what we input. For example, 80% of our headaches come from 20% of the people we deal with, just like how 80% of our income comes from just 20% of our clients.

When I use this principle on my own life, I start by scanning my major life domains and asking a very simple question: Where is there friction?

Sometimes it is obvious. Sometimes it is something small that I have normalised.

For example, I eat well most of the day. But late-night snacking has a disproportionate impact on my energy, mood, and sleep. So small changes like sticking to a bedtime, or not snacking after 10pm can make a big difference to my energy levels.

A useful way to identify your own 20 percent is to get very specific and ask:

• Is the friction coming from a person, a habit, a belief, or a system?

• If I changed just this one thing, what would improve?

For example, think about:

• One recurring meeting draining your entire week

• One boundary you keep violating

• One client or project causing outsized stress

• One habit wrecking your energy

• One financial decision fuelling anxiety

Pareto works best on specifics, not abstractions.

It also works both ways, and can cause both negative and positive effects.

Small positive changes can create disproportionate ease and wellbeing. For me, this meant meal planning, a better system for supplements, booking recurring health appointments in advance, and firing one client who was responsible for most of my stress.

This is why reflection matters. Without it, we stay busy but keep repeating the same patterns. With it, we start to see where our energy is actually going, and where it should go instead.

The I Am Well Journal was created for this purpose. It is to help people slow down enough to notice the small levers that shape your days, energy, and the year.

What’s different about the journal this year:

• Access via QR Code: Every month includes a meditation and guided exercise you can access via QR code to go deeper into your inner work.

• Flexibility: It is undated, so you can start your journey at any time without the pressure of "missing" days.

• Reflection: Monthly themes for inner work and a weekly reflection question to keep you aligned.

• Simplicity that Works: Space for 3 tasks and 1 gratitude every day, alongside annual and quarterly reviews to help you see how far you've come.

If you are doing a start-of-year review, or simply feel like life is full but slightly off, find what your 20% is, and start there.

Much love,

Crystal