A question to Jungler mains about leveling.

For a long time ever since watching a bit of LCS and some guides from Trick2g, I've always had a standard of trying to reach level 6 around 7 minutes. now since this season, its been a bit hectic because at the start you could easily be level 9 or 10 when your mid laner (while doing well) was around the same level or maybe 1 level lower but now I'm having a hard time finding the balance. This is an issue for me because when I feel like I'm under leveled I tend to farm more which isnt good because my lanes can get ganked and destroyed. I realize that getting successful ganks and helping push waves is a good way to keep up in levels (been doing that recently) but sometimes I can't always get a good gank off and thus i feel like im behind (even when I'm really not and just need to chillax and continue playing). It's gotten to the point where when I see my adc or support 1 level below or even the same level and yet the enemy jungler is 1 level below me or something along the lines, I get very confused in terms of being able to tell "How well am I doing actually?" my only way generally at the moment is by comparing my level to my opposing junglers (most of the time Im actually ahead of him in levels) but then I feel like I'm way lower level than I should be.

All that being said, What is your take? what standard of leveling should I give myself or should I not care about levels at all? I'm really curious.