The Rule Of Thirds Is Every Girl Boss' Self-Care Secret Weapon. Here's Why

So many of us feel drained, lethargic, and as if we have lost our mojo. Whether it's working too much or other life stressors, it's easy to feel depleted. It often feels like nothing can correct the balance while we're stuck, but we do have the power to fix this. We just have to take responsibility for how we feel.

Taking personal responsibility means making a choice about how you want to feel and showing up for yourself and others. You can't give energy and support to others until you've attended to your own needs.

This may sound a little fluffy, but it's not. This is the reality of what it takes to maintain a level of performance you are proud of. It is taking the time to figure out what you need to keep you performing and functioning at your best.

As entrepreneurs, we are obsessed with productivity and excellence. These are the things that we lose first when we don't make time to practice self-care. This practice is a very personal one and looks different to different people. The elements are the same, though—nutrition, exercise, sleep, relaxation, connection, intimacy, and fun. We all achieve this differently, though, and it's up to us to determine what we need and in what ratios to succeed and be happy.

Let's figure this out by doing some simple math. Divide your week into thirds. One third is sleep, another third is work, and the final third is what you get to create—this final third being the perfect amount of the listed activities above. Now take personal responsibility to slot these times into your schedule and make them happen. Make time to practice yoga, go for a run, cook and eat healthy meals, and see people you care about. Small changes over a larger period of time are your best bet. Start with something you can actually achieve. Begin to adjust your workflow and personal rhythm to include a balance of all the things you need to feel your best.

The self-care third of your life is essential to prevent burnout, stress, adrenal fatigue, and emotional imbalance. If you make time to regenerate yourself regularly, you'll have so much more energy to pour into your projects and your productivity. It's a wonderful thing to master this personal rhythm.

Too often we exhibit the negative behaviors that come from being physically and emotionally fatigued and/or overstimulated, and we don't take responsibility for adjusting the balance in our lives. When we feel and behave like this, we place the things and people we care about at risk because we can't give them our best.

Learning to balance self-care with everything else we're trying to do is one of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs. We tend to work late, play hard, and burn the candle at both ends. But we can't keep that up. Every area of our life starts to suffer if we haven't mastered the art of balance.