The Hidden Driver of Burnout in Consulting and How to Beat It
Consultants work an average of 70 hours per week. There’s also a lot of consulting firms so the range is very wide, anywhere between 50 and 80 hours. Either way, this is substantially above ‘normal’ working hours.
Consultants are known for working long, gruelling hours. But what makes balancing work and personal life uniquely challenging in the consulting industry? This blog explains why consultants struggle with work life balance and provides tips to help you reclaim your life.
Why is work-life balance challenging in consulting?
There’s a few factors that contribute to consulting work-life balance being a tricky beast:
Juggling client deliverables, sales, and internal "side of desk" responsibilities
High client expectations to deliver exceptional, iterative work
Frequent travel and tight deadlines
Evolving priorities as you advance require continual reassessment
This can be particularly challenging early in your consulting career when you’re still adapting. But you can achieve a manageable work-life balance. Here’s how.
Achieving work-life balance as a consultant: an insider's guide
Achieving balance starts with defining what that means for you personally. It likely evolves over time too. Your expectations of what a ‘good’ work-life balance means changes as your life circumstances change. So firstly take a moment to reflect on what a healthy balance means to you personally.
Now it’s time to get ruthless:
Review commitments and cut non-essential, low-impact activities
Set boundaries and learn to say "no" constructively
Be choosy about what you say yes to based on your goals
If you’re overloaded, renegotiate responsibilities transparently
Guard your personal time fiercely
Leverage flexibility and remote work options
Take advantage of technologies like AI to work smarter. You can’t rely on it entirely but it’s a handy way of overcoming ‘writer's block’ on your reports
The Bottom Line
Work-life balance in consulting demands reflecting on your priorities and being intentional about how you spend your time. With a few simple tricks and a bit of discipline you can quickly find the path to a sustainable and fulfilling consulting career.
