How to Identify High-Impact Activities in Your Business (and Stop Wasting Time!)

Have you ever felt like you're working nonstop but not actually seeing results? Like you're spinning your wheels, drowning in tasks, yet your business isn’t moving forward the way you want it to? You're not alone.

We all go through those weird, messy seasons where everything feels chaotic, and it's hard to know what to focus on. The good news? There’s a way to cut through the noise and prioritize the activities that actually move the needle in your business.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into high-impact activities—what they are, how to identify them, and how to stay consistent with them even during your busiest or most overwhelming seasons. By the end, you’ll have clarity and a game plan to focus on what creates results, not just busyness.

Why High-Impact Activities Matter

Not all tasks in your business are created equal. Some tasks feel productive but don’t actually contribute to your big-picture goals. Then there are high-impact activities—the ones that generate revenue, build relationships, and help you achieve your long-term vision.

The challenge? When you’re juggling work, family, and everything in between, it’s easy to get caught up in tasks that don’t truly move your business forward.

So, how do you figure out what to focus on? Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Identify Your High-Impact Activities

The first step in figuring out what matters is knowing exactly what you’re trying to achieve. Your goals act as a filter for your to-do list. If a task doesn’t directly support your goals, it’s probably not a high-impact activity.

Ask Yourself: What’s My Focus Right Now?

Examples:

• If your goal is to hit $10K in revenue this month, focus on revenue-generating activities like:

  • Sending personalized pitches or DMs to potential clients.

  • Following up with warm leads who’ve expressed interest in working with you.

  • Hosting a webinar or live event to showcase your expertise and make an offer.

• If your goal is to grow your email list by 500 subscribers, prioritize:

  • Creating a valuable freebie (like a guide or checklist) that solves a specific problem for your audience.

  • Promoting that freebie consistently on social media or through collaborations.

  • Writing and scheduling nurture emails to build trust with your new subscribers.

If a task doesn’t support your primary goal, say no or delegate it. Simple, right?

Step 2: Apply the 80/20 Rule

You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule—the idea that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Your job? Identify the 20% of activities that are driving the most results and double down on them.

Examples:

• Content Marketing: If most of your website traffic comes from your email list, focus on writing high-quality emails instead of trying to master every social platform.

• Client Work: If 80% of your revenue comes from 2-3 high-ticket clients, prioritize nurturing those relationships instead of chasing small, less profitable projects.

• Social Media: If Instagram Stories generate the most engagement and sales for you, spend less time perfecting your grid posts and lean into Stories.

Ask yourself: What’s actually working in my business right now? Then focus your energy there.

Step 3: Categorize and Prioritize Your Tasks

I like to sort tasks into three categories:

1. Revenue-Generating Activities – Tasks that directly bring in income, like sales calls, pitching clients, or launching a product.

2. Visibility & Client Attraction Activities – Tasks that grow your audience and expand your reach, like creating content, hosting workshops, or networking.

3. Maintenance Activities – Tasks that keep your business running but don’t directly drive growth, like organizing files or updating your website.

Examples:

• Writing an email pitch to a potential client? Revenue-generating. 

• Recording a podcast episode to grow your audience? Visibility. 

• Changing your website fonts? Maintenance. 

Spend 80% of your time on revenue and visibility tasks and 20% or less on maintenance.

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Step 4: Stay Focused on High-Impact Activities

1. Create a Daily Focus Plan

Each morning, ask yourself: What’s the one thing I can do today that will have the biggest impact? Write it down and tackle it first.

Examples:

• If your focus is growing revenue, your priority might be following up with leads or launching a limited-time offer.

• If your focus is visibility, your priority might be recording a podcast episode or going live on Instagram.

By focusing on just one high-impact task per day, you’ll build momentum without overwhelm.

2. Batch and Delegate

Batching similar tasks together is a game-changer.

• Dedicate one day per week to content creation (emails, social posts, podcast episodes).

• Set aside another day for revenue-generating tasks like client calls or sales funnels.

• Delegate maintenance tasks to a VA or automation tool so you can focus on the big-picture.

3. Reflect and Refine Weekly

At the end of each week, take 10 minutes to evaluate:

• What worked well?

• What felt like busywork?

• What’s one thing I can improve next week?

This small habit will help you refine your priorities over time.

My Personal Experience: Shifting Focus to High-Impact Work

There was a season when I spent way too much time perfecting Instagram captions and graphics. But when I looked at my analytics, I realized 90% of my revenue came from email marketing and client referrals—not social media.

So, I made a shift. I cut back on Instagram and doubled down on email marketing and client outreach. The result? More revenue and more free time.

The lesson? You don’t have to do everything. Focus on what actually moves the needle.

Simplify, Focus, and Scale

Here’s your big takeaway: Not all tasks are created equal. Prioritize high-impact activities—ones that drive revenue, build relationships, and align with your goals.

If you need help creating a focused action plan, come join us inside the Crush the Rush Club! It’s the perfect place to get clarity, streamline your business, and connect with a community of ambitious entrepreneurs. Check it out at www.hollymariehaynes.com/club.

If this post resonated with you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram—I’d love to hear how you’re applying these strategies!

Now, go crush the rush and focus on what truly matters. 

About the author

Holly Haynes is a business strategist who loves a good plan and flow chart. She is crazy passionate about teaching women like you how to build your dream job and scale to 6-figures without sacrificing your weekends or priorities.

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