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Broadband brings opportunity and danger

According to research from BT Business released this week, 82% of the UK 's small business owners with broadband report a better work-life balance thanks to their internet connection.

At the same time, another of this week's surveys found that 98% of British small business owners and managers feel stressed at work, with more than a quarter feeling under pressure for between 75% and 100% of the time.

These two, seemingly contradictory, pieces of research however may well be linked.

There is no doubt that the growth of broadband has enabled a huge number of small business owners to create a more flexible working environment.

However, with the opportunity to work 'more flexibly' comes the opportunity to simply work 'more'.

And when given the chance to spend more time on their business, many entrepreneurs do so. But, if you're not careful you can find yourself putting in more hours than you really need to. Just because you CAN work, doesn't mean you SHOULD work.

For many business owners, it's harder to switch off than it is to switch on.

But it's something we all need to learn to do in this age of flexible working.