Over the last few weeks I have been giving considerable thought to a talk I am giving to Poole Women’s Business Lunch Group next week titled:   How I achieved the Ideal Work/Life Balance whilst running my own Business.

It has really made me question…. Did I?…. Do I?…. Is there such a thing as an “ideal” work/life balance - and does a “one size fit all” approach work?

We all go into business for different reasons:
…we want to
…we have to
…we believe that we can do it better than someone else
…we want to work for ourselves
…we want to be in control

The reasons are endless and no one reason is any better than the next.

Likewise in relation to the “ideal work/life balance”….

My current ideal is to be able to work during term time 3 days per week and spend 2 days a week with my daughter who is 3….. during the holidays I would also like to work 3 days per week and be able to catch up on my work in the evenings without feeling guilty because I actually enjoy working.  Do I achieve it? On the whole, I do - but there are exceptions and “opportunities not to be missed” and sometimes my daughter goes to Nursery more than 3 days - and because she loves it there, I pursue the opportunity wholeheartedly….

My ideal used to be very different.   I wanted to work full time and full-on.   My eldest son went to Nursery for 4 full days from the age of 8 weeks old and stayed there until he was 4.5 and started at school.  I would always take Fridays off and we would have “Mummy” days and I would not miss out on putting him to bed and reading him a story unless I was away on business.

These situations would not suit the majority of people and many may believe I am “wrong” but that’s the point…. There is not one PERFECT work/life balance which can suit all.

Fiona Phillips (ex GMTV presenter) is a point in hand.   She says:  “I decided to resign from GMTV so that I could concentrate on helping my father and spending time with him while he still has some semblance of normal life……And to be able to spend more time with my boys. The truth was that I just couldn’t cope any longer juggling my sons, my husband, the job and the stress of Dad’s illness…….I was feeling guilty all the time”.

This Morning Presenter Fern Britton takes a different approach and has negotiated a contract which allows her not to work during the school holidays or on Fridays.

Completely different for both presenters and yet neither is right or wrong - it is what suits that individual.   Both are happy with their work/life balance - and so should you.

1. It’s your journey and your goal
2. You need to be happy with where you are at - and not compare yourself to others.  What suits you….    may  not suit your friend/colleagues - that doesn’t mean that you are wrong - you are just being you.
3. Read what the media have to say about Work/Life Balance - but make up your own mind - don’t be swayed by someone else’s opinion what is right - they don’t know - only you know you!