Men are struggling to find the right work-life balance

More than 70% of men believe their performance at work is damaged by a lack of work-life balance, according to a survey by Men's Health magazine and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

One in three (29%) of the 4,000 men surveyed said they were struggling to strike the right balance between their work and home lives. Almost half (49%) thought they would probably work better if they could exercise more often, and 63% believed that exercise helped increase their energy levels at work.

Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "More and more men are making work-life balance a priority [but] this survey shows it's still hard for men to get the balance right, especially if there's an old-fashioned culture where they work."

Hewitt pointed to the fact that opportunities for flexible working are becoming more common. A DTI survey published earlier this year found that only 10% of eligible fathers had used their legal right (introduced in April 2003) to request a change to working hours, compared to 37% of eligible mothers.