Helen Skelton on balancing Strictly training with her family life
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TV presenter Helen Skelton took a short break from her Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals to talk to Ranvir Singh on Friday’s Lorraine. Fellow guest Dr Amir Khan offered some useful advice to struggling viewers who called in looking for help with their parenting troubles. Helen, who appeared via video link, also gave some insight into her own family life ahead of her next BBC ballroom performance on Saturday.
Strictly contestant Helen revealed training at home has helped her balance her television duties with her busy life as a mother.
“For me, I get to train at home, so actually, it’s only the show when I have to come to London,” she said when discussing how she balances Strictly and her three kids.
“They nip into training, they’ve stuck their heads in, they come in with coffees with Granny. So I’m grateful!”
Helen also admitted she thinks mothers should help each other more after a struggling parent asked for advice on getting a better work-life balance.
The caller asked: “As I work from home, I feel quite mentally busy when I’m there.
“Between that and looking after the kids and running the house, it can feel quite stressful. So, how do I switch off and make home somewhere I can find some peace and quiet?”
Helen suggested the caller should switch off from social media before they both urged her to seek help from other mums.
“For me, one of the biggest, most liberating things has been to put my phone away,” she explained.
“Put your phone on a shelf, put your phone in a drawer and get yourself an alarm clock. It’s so easy to get sucked into work emails and extra tasks.
“Box it off. Your working day finishes at a certain point. And I’ve said it before, feel free to delegate.
“There are other working mums out there who might want to be extra and want to do some ironing or cleaning. If you can’t fit that into your day, feel free to delegate some things out.”
Helen also wanted the caller to ensure the free time she finds for herself isn’t interrupted, while Ranvir suggested other parents would be able to help on this point.
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“What’s really interesting about what you say there is talking to other mums,” she said.
“Because it’s something I really struggled with. The idea of saying to another mum, ‘Listen, I need some me-time. Can you have the kids today for a sleepover? And I’ll repay you when you need it.’
“That’s a great network and something I should be thinking about, and all mums.”
Helen replied: “It’s all a trade-off. My kids love it when their friends come round for tea.”
She maintained helping out other parents is a great way to benefit the kids with more time with their friends, as well as ensuring all mums are able to take a break.
“You’re helping someone else, you feel better about that,” she added. “But you’re getting yourself that little window of opportunity to do something for you.
“I don’t think mums help each other enough,” she said, to which Ranvir agreed. “It’s not a competition, it takes a village, and we’re all in this together.”
Adding a final piece of advice, she suggested: “And get away from social media, it doesn’t help!”
Helen is currently solo parenting three children following her separation from Rugby league player Richie Myler in May this year.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
“You’re helping someone else, you feel better about that,” she added. “But you’re getting yourself that little window of opportunity to do something for you.
“I don’t think mums help each other enough,” she said, to which Ranvir agreed. “It’s not a competition, it takes a village, and we’re all in this together.”
Adding a final piece of advice, she suggested: “And get away from social media, it doesn’t help!”
Helen is currently solo parenting three children following her separation from Rugby league player Richie Myler in May this year.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
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