7 powerful women on their secrets to a work-life balance

Trinny Woodall, picture taken at her office in Chelsea
Trinny Woodall says moving forward and not looking back is paramount to success in business Credit: Andrew Crowley/ Andrew Crowley

Finding just the right balance between a fulfilling career and enjoyable home life can feel like an uphill battle. The search for work-life satisfaction is something that we recognise all too well, with many of us regularly struggling with it, but what it actually entails, on a daily basis, is still hazy.

Here, seven high-flying women let us in on their own personal tricks and tips on how they make their days tick...

Brenda Trenowden CBE, head of FIG Europe, ANZ Bank and Global Chair of the 30% Club

I regularly make a chart of all the things that are important to me: family and friends, health and fitness, the 30% Club [which works to get better gender balance in boardrooms and senior exec roles], my board roles and my job; and I try and divide up my time in keeping with all these priorities.

To be successful and still have a family life you have to be incredibly organised. So I schedule pretty much every minute of every day. I wouldn’t call it work-life balance because that is a false divide: work is a big part of your life.

Brenda Trenowden, Head of FIG Europe and Head of Banks, DF, Europe, Americas & Africa for ANZ 
Brenda Trenowden, head of FIG Europe, says being super organised is key to work-life balance Credit: Daniel Hambury/Evening Standard / eyevine

I fit everything in partly by getting up very early and doing lots of breakfast meetings. I schedule in my exercise, and when it comes to spending time with family I go for quality rather than quantity. I put important dates in the school year in my diary up front and tell my children, who are 18 and 16, that I’ll be there for the things that are important to them. And when I’m with them, I’m with them - not glued to my phone.

I wouldn't say my way works for everyone. I’m very fortunate my husband is at home. We decided one of us had to be, so the other could pursue a career. It’s not always easy, but it’s what works for us.

Dame Helena Morrissey DBE, head of personal investing, Legal & General Investment Management

There’s no magic formula but a combination of mental and physical “good habits” really help. I try to give full attention to whatever I am working on or whoever I am with; to focus on what is, rather than what might be.

We often waste worries, or wish we were there rather than here. It’s so important to live and enjoy our actual lives, to take one step at a time rather than feeling overwhelmed (I’m still learning!).

Little things to make the mornings easier!
'Little things to make the mornings easier!' Credit: Simon Dawson 

Physical stamina is vital - the pilates classes I take are so difficult they help me clear my head too. I feel more energised after a class, so I try to do a couple each week, even if tempted to stay at my desk.

Lastly, practicalities: the children’s school uniform and sports kit are in one cupboard so I can find everything. One whiteboard maps out the day’s logistics; another lists clubs for the week. Little things to make the mornings easier!

Natalie Cummins, chief executive officer, Zenith Media

I work a four-day week as a lone parent of three and leave the office most days at 5.30pm. Overall, I make it work, although there are certainly “oh s***” moments.

I have a few tried and tested techniques: I make good use of commute time to get through emails. If I can text a client rather than email, I will. I find ways to simplify everything. I don’t have meetings that I don’t need to have. I don’t work Fridays but I confess that I do stuff here and there, because ultimately it’s easier for me if I do so and that’s what it’s all about.

I fit the gym and assemblies - and frankly, pedicures - in when I can and as long as I achieve all I set out to at the beginning of each day, I don’t feel bad about blending it up.    

Lara Morgan, entrepreneur, founder and former CEO of Pacific Direct, founder of Scentered 

I am an early bird. I love the sanctimonious feeling of getting exercise done early, having a clear plan for the day and then spending a moment taking in my surroundings. I particularly love to run when I’m in foreign places - the sights, sounds, smells and locals at work. I take huge positive momentum from feeling that I’ve got a head start. Then I apply Scentered focus balm, brush my teeth - and it’s time to get down to business. 

Managing my day gives me momentum, and I’ve developed habits that keep me relentlessly disciplined. I try to be ordered and systematic with everything I do; even putting ‘grey spaces’ in my diary for meetings with myself to help me plot and plan, and get hard thinking work done early in the day.

Lara Morgan is a VC
Lara Morgan is a VC

I loathe time wasting and, laughably perhaps, give myself mini-rewards in exchange for overcoming procrastination. Being decisive also helps. I write lists to stay focused on my priorities - but I am by no means perfect and tasks like dull financial management still require me to book diary time for myself. 

I’m also horribly competitive, and have an inbuilt scoring system, which I apply to my own personal performance, my investments, family time, as well as my own health and wellbeing. 

That means I guard my own time carefully, sometimes turning my phone off and walking through a park at a fast stride - often I prefer this to meetings in an office and it means I can get calls done. Three times a day, I aim to tackle my inbox - but I am fortunate to have a team that help me stay on top. More and more, I refuse to be sucked into daily minutiae, which is unavoidable during the start-up phase. 

I often enjoy learning from others by attending dinners or business gatherings. Though I never eat canapés, a starter or pudding - and I never do anything digital in the 30 minutes before bed. 

Fridays are for clearing the decks, as are Sunday mornings. But I always have one whole day off at the weekend. 

Trinny Woodall, broadcaster and founder of Trinny London

A great friend once told me, that unless you put yourself first, everything else won’t work. 

So, if I am feeling good about myself, everything else will follow. For any career woman, getting that work-life balance right is the nirvana of a happy life. 

Trinny Woodall poses at the launch of the TRINNY London pop-up at Selfridges
Trinny Woodall: 'Unless you put yourself first, everything else won’t work' Credit: David M. Benett/Getty Images Europe

When you start your own business, you live and breathe it. You will do everything in your power to make it the successful brand, you envisioned it to be. But it is so important to switch off and take time out, too. My life is very social media driven, yet I am very aware of the importance of putting down my phone. I have a daughter and a partner, so I need to make sure I am the best mother and the best friend that I can be.

Whether I am in a cab or on the loo, clearing my emails is my way of making sure I don’t get too overwhelmed; remember to focus on the solutions, rather than dwelling on the ‘what if’s’. Moving forward and not looking back to me is the key to success.

I still learn something new every day from the people who work with me, the women I talk to on my social channels, and my family.

Vanessa Vallely OBE, Founder and managing director of We are the City

I go to bed at 10pm each night and wake at 6am. I spend an hour in bed reading the news, scanning social media and getting my head around my priorities. My days can vary; from 15 hours spent out and about in London, to eight hours sat in the office.

Life is busy: two kids, two dogs, two businesses and caring for ageing parents. Without a few rules and bit of self control, I could easily work and service others 24/7. Thankfully, I have a great PA, a supportive partner and two vocal children who are not shy about telling me that I am doing too much. 

Businesswomen and Pearly Queen, Vanessa Vallely
Life is busy for Vanessa Vallely with two kids, two dogs, two businesses and caring for ageing parents Credit: REX/Shutterstock /REX/Shutterstock 

I have a framework of work, rest and play that I try to keep to. I eat well, I don’t drink during the week, I exercise every other day, and I practice mindfulness. I block out time in my diary and there are certain days of the week that I don’t travel.  It took me 30 years to work out that work-life, balance differs, day-to-day and week-to-week. When I do feel balanced, I’ve learnt to enjoy the moment - and when I don’t? I don’t beat myself up about it. Life is far too short.

Nicola Mendelsohn CBE, Vice President for EMEA for Facebook

I’m a naturally curious person. So I’m lucky to have spent my career in the creative industries, where you’re always encouraged to ask questions and challenge the status quo.

That doesn’t mean having all the answers. I’ve always worked in industries, whether that’s advertising or tech, where a lot of the questions we ask are about what makes people tick and how they experience things - and there isn’t necessarily a right answer. 

Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president for the EMEA region at Facebook Inc.
Facebook's Nicola Mendelsohn thinks helping people understand their own biases and have difficult conversations about diversity is important Credit: Simon Dawson/ Bloomberg

But it means being brave enough to ask the right questions. That’s why we offer training at Facebook to help people understand their own biases and why we also encourage our people to have hard conversations about important topics like diversity. Because challenging our own thinking makes us more likely to understand how others think about things. 

In an industry that’s constantly moving, it’s having those kinds of conversations that gets me into work every day, and that allows me to face new challenges with an open mind. That’s what makes it work, for me.

What are your tips and tricks for a better work-life balance? Tell us in the comments section below or in the Telegraph Women Facebook group

To join the conversation simply log in to your Telegraph account or register for free here.

License this content