The most delicate balancing act of all

Michael O'Leary probably needs help with it. So does Tony Blair. And despite all his well publicised down-time at GAA matches, Bertie Ahern could definitely do with some assistance when it comes to getting his work-life balance right, writes Roisin Ingle

But these days you don't have to have a high profile to be found tearing your hair out and wondering why you never have any time for the things you really want to do. Today is the fifth Work Life Balance Day, an event designed to encourage people to be more efficient at work in order to get the most out of life. We talk to four busy people for whom there are never enough hours in the day and consult time management expert Peter Hancock about how they can get their lives back - quickly!

'I am absolutely banjaxed'

The problem

Eamon Tyrrell (39) has been employed as IT manager with computer training company New Horizons in Dublin city centre since it was established 18 months ago. Most days he gets to work by 8.30 a.m. but around twice a week he arrives at 7 a.m. to check the systems and make sure that day's training courses will run smoothly. He rarely leaves the office before 7 p.m. and sometimes stays much later. He also works on Saturdays for at least two hours.

"When I am not working I am absolutely banjaxed," he says. "I took two days off recently and slept most of that time." He says his family and friends have noticed that the stress of his IT job - "anything can go wrong at any time" - is affecting his mood. "I snapped the head off my father the other day which I never do because he is a big man and it's just not like me," he laughs. "My auntie has been asking me to do some things for her and I keep cancelling, which is also out of character. I was even late for my own birthday party."

Conscious that his work-life balance is off kilter, he has made some changes; he is trying to cut down on the 10 cups of coffee he drinks each day and gets off the Luas early to walk part of the way. "I feel that now is the time to get my act together," he says, adding that there is more opportunity to delegate now that his department has expanded. "I am seeing somebody at the moment and, much as I love my job, I know I can't work these hours and have a healthy relationship."

The solution

"What I would say first about Eamon is that he would really benefit from a good time-management programme although the irony is he would probably say he has no time for that. He reminds me of the lumberjack who is so busy chopping down trees that he doesn't have time to sharpen the axe," says Peter Hancock, of time-management company Peter Hancock International.

"This needs to be resolved. Eamon should not be working so late all the time and every weekend, especially now he has other people working in his department. He needs to learn to delegate more using different types of delegation according to the nature of the task. We use the A, B, C method. A is 'action without report' where the employee is given a task and full authority to carry it out. B is 'action with report' where there is some consultation with him as the task is carried out. C is 'ask before action' where no decisions are made without consultation. Efficient delegation is guaranteed to take a lot of the pressure off.

"Cutting down on coffee and walking part of the way to work are indications that Eamon has recognised things need to change. His work schedule is starting to have a detrimental effect on his behaviour, so I would urgently recommend that he investigate some relaxation techniques. Even listening to classical music on a personal stereo as he walks to work would help soothe his mind and clear his head before he starts the day."