Music mogul Simon Cowell has revealed he's changed his workaholic habits and now believes he has the perfect work-life balance that works around his family.
The Britain's Got Talent judge revealed he's cut back on his working hours to spend more time with his partner Lauren Silverman and their ten-year-old son Eric. The star now only works Monday to Thursday as he dismissed working on a Friday as 'pointless'.
The overhaul of his busy work schedule comes after years of working on demanding programmes such as The X Factor, America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent, which have seen him working long days filming at different locations across the globe.
In an interview with The Sun, Simon explained his new routine as he said: "Actually, the first thing (I do) is take off Fridays. Don't work on Fridays, because you don't have to." The star then also revealed strict rules including eating dinner at 5pm and no calls or emails after 5.30pm, as well as watching "happy" films and enjoying time outdoors.
He then added that he no longer works Fridays and instead takes a three-day weekend every week as he said: "I don't think anyone should be working five days a week. It's just pointless." The change to his working hours also comes after the TV judge opened up about his mental health to the Mirror earlier this year.
Simon Cowell set on fire by Britain's Got Talent hopeful in terrifying stuntSimon revealed that many close friends were shocked about his admission of dark times and needing therapy during his appearance on the Men In Mind podcast with The Mirror's Tom Bryant. The media mogul made global headlines for his candour on mental welfare after years of bottling up his insecurities.
In his podcast interview, Simon confessed how he wished he had started therapy 20 years earlier after suffering from depression and not seeking help. He said: "When I see my friends, the first thing I talk about is how therapy has had this super positive effect on my life."
He added: "I wish I had done this 10 or 20 years ago... it’s like a weight has lifted off my shoulders. I’ve suffered from depression over the years... but that was just something I just thought, ‘Well, that’s my character trait. I get down,’ and it’s something you deal with."
Simon has also praised the benefits of going to therapy in an interview to US TV show Extra, where he explained the positive impact on his relationship with Lauren Silverman. He said: "It has been good for both of us. In fact, we did do this thing where both of us go in… There was one point when we were together and I looked at the two therapists and their faces were like… and when we got out, we both cracked up and said, 'God, what must they be thinking?' Then I spoke to my therapist afterwards and he said, 'Honestly, Simon, that was nothing,' but it is healthy to go somewhere and let it all out."