Striking the right balance between work and personal life can sometimes feel like an impossible task. The pressure of work deadlines, meetings, and responsibilities often spills over into our personal time, making it hard to switch off.
But here’s the good news – I truly believe there’s a solution that can help you to achieve a work-life balance you are happy with, through consultancy. Working as a consultant can help you take back control and create a working life that truly fits around your lifestyle.
I can’t wave a magic wand and tell you you’ll never be up against it again, that’s just unrealistic! But I can tell you that consultancy gives you all the tools, opportunities and freedoms to manage your own time so you can make work and life, well, work!
What does work-life balance actually mean?
It’s all about making sure work doesn’t take over your entire life. Having time for yourself, your family, and the things you love is just as important as doing well in your career. When your work-life balance is off, stress levels rise, productivity dips, and life in general just feels more exhausting. That’s where consultancy comes in – it gives you the flexibility to work in a way that suits you.
How consultancy helps you achieve balance
Becoming a consultant gives you the freedom to shape your career in a way that works for you, not for the firm you work for. Here are just half a dozen ways it can do that:
- Control over your time
One of the biggest perks of consultancy is the ability to manage your own schedule. You decide when you work, not anyone else; meaning you can fit your work around your life rather than the other way around.
It also means you can work at a time when you’re most productive, rather than staring at a blank screen for half the day. One of our consultants likes to work late at night and into the early hours of the morning. You wouldn’t catch me doing that, but if that suits her who am I to tell her otherwise.
- Ditch the 9-to-5 structure
Consultants can couple entirely flexible working with completely remote working. Not only can you work when you like, you can work where you like. And if there are no rigid office hours because you control your time, and you no longer have to suffer a commute, you can ditch the 9-to-5 entirely. Consultants enjoy total freedom over how they structure their working lives.
- Reducing stress and improving wellbeing
Being in control of your workload and schedule makes a huge difference to stress levels. Many consultants find they have more time to look after their mental and physical health, whether that’s going for a lunchtime walk, attending a yoga class, or just enjoying a more relaxed pace of life. It’s not healthy to sit at a desk in an office all day long. When I take a break from my desk, I’m often found walking the dog across the Downs or heading to the gym for a mid-week workout. Dare I say it, some of my best ideas have come from when I’m away for the desk!
- A supportive working environment
Consultancy doesn’t mean going it alone. Far from it. At Cognitive Law, we provide the support you need – from admin assistance to marketing and compliance. This means you can focus on what you do best without getting bogged down by the day-to-day business tasks. We’ve also worked hard in building a strong cohesive environment, so all our consultants feel part of a team and as such support each other and cross refer work at every opportunity.
- Doing the work that you like
Being a consultant means you choose the clients you work with and the cases you take on. You’re not tied to work that doesn’t interest you or to unrealistic workloads, which helps you stay engaged and avoids burnout.
- Using tech to work smarter, not harder
Technology can help streamline your work and free up more time for yourself. At Cognitive Law we use a cloud-based case management system which can be accessed from anywhere in the world – as long as you have wifi. Using the right tech means less admin and more time for the things that matter.
Why it’s worth making the move
Switching to consultancy isn’t just about having more free time – it’s about designing a career that works for you. And that’s a really important point. You don’t have to work less if you don’t want to, it doesn’t have to be a move to cut down on work. If anything, consultancy can give you the stepping stone to building a much bigger, more exciting practice than you ever been in before, fully controlled and managed by you.
When you’re happier, less stressed, and more in control, you naturally become more productive and enjoy your work more. Plus, you’ll have the headspace to actually enjoy life outside of work.
Thinking about making a change?
If you’re looking for a way to regain control of your work-life balance, consultancy could be the perfect solution. At Cognitive Law, we offer a supportive and flexible environment that allows you to work for yourself without being by yourself.
Interested? Find out more about how we can help you make the switch by visiting our Join Us page. It might just be the best career move you ever make!