The well-used phrase “work/life balance” seems to suggest there is an official ideal or calculation as to how much time should be spent working and living. Of course this cannot be true as everyone’s aspirations are so different and are created out of their personal circumstances. So what do you take into consideration when trying to assess your ideal work/life balance?

Do you embrace or dread social situations?

a) You can’t wait for the next night out with friends and your social calendar is looking good for the foreseeable future. Thank goodness for babysitters!

b) You’d love to be able to enjoy more evenings out but you are always exhausted from juggling work and parenting commitments.

c) You dread the thought of leaving your laptop to spend time with friends you hardly see and, when you get there, all you think about is the work you could be doing instead.

d) Socially, you only ever attend work-related charity events or team nights out. You never see old friends anymore as your working schedule and immediate family commitments don’t allow it.

How healthy is your relationship with friends?

a) You make time to see a friend at least once a week.

b) You have a monthly get together with friends but this usually gets cancelled at the last minute.

c) You send birthday and Christmas cards every year!

d) Friends, what friends?

Is your family time fun-packed or does time spent together result in conked-out kids and frazzled folks?

a) Your weekends are spent messing about, catching up and having a good giggle with the kids. You mainly go with the flow doing what they want to do and have a blast!

b) You try to organise structured events at the weekends and in the holidays so you can spend at least one day a week together as a family unit.

c) You try so hard to pack in as much fun as you can into the weekend but the pressure for everyone to enjoy themselves often results in arguments and bad moods.

d) Family time is a two-week summer break in the Algarve. Your hectic work schedule doesn’t let up at the weekend.

How do you feel when you arrive at work or sit at your desk?

a) Bring it on! You love the buzz you get from working and try to get as much done before you have to get back to the children.

b) It’s an escape from a busy home life, and it pays the bills!

c) You are committed to your work and you are willing, at the drop of a hat, to work extra hours, even if it means re-organising childcare arrangements.

d) It is your life. You excel at work and feel at home there… The answers in the quiz above are tiered from extremely amiable and social to the workaholics amongst us. No answer is wrong but they will help you consider whether you are living the life you truly want to live, and whether it works in accordance with your values and what you hoped your family life would be.

Your own answers to these questions might be completely different to those posed. For example, do you slog all day at work and come home in a bad mood, with the latest deal or marketing campaign still on your mind? Try to balance this by switching off and concentrating on what your children are doing: they will help lighten your mood.

We all have different priorities and if we truly love our working lives, then there is nothing wrong in tipping the balance in this direction, if it makes you and your family happy. We’d love to hear how you have attained your ideal balance and how it works for you and your immediate family.

If you struggle to find a balance, we’d like to hear about the challenges you are facing. Please e-mail [email protected] and we will post your comments to our blog so other mumpreneurs can share your thoughts, recommendations and experiences.

Start your journey today – achieve confidence, balance and clarity for an easier, happier life!

Empowering Mums is on a mission to empower a million mums and mumpreneurs just like you with greater confidence, balance and clarity to activate your infinite capabilities within! Enabling you to enjoy an easier, happier life alongside running a highly successful business. Aligned with enjoying time out for an essential self-care routine that fulfils your own needs and delight in quality time spent with your children being the mum you really want to be!

For further support please contact Empowering Mums today on 01606 334 015, alternatively visit our website at www.empoweringmums.com for more information.