Here's how you can manage stress and avoid burnout as a consultant.

This, to me, is the most important aspect. You know in your mind what you must do and where you have to draw the line. But the real challenge is to implement it. To actually do it in practice takes a lot of courage. My advice is to start with very simple ones. Don't make it a habit to work over the weekends or during your holidays. Don't take meetings outside your working hours on a regular basis. Resist the urge to respond to emails immediately, unless required. Share what you do in your free time, talk about your hobbies, your interests and plans for the future. This will give the perception to the audience that you have a life outside work and they'll start to respect it.

If you ever feel too much pressure speak up. Talk with your Manager, People Manager, Coach or Truster Advisor. The most important step with stress management is sharing and asking for help / guidance. Other people can either help, redirect you or listen to your concerns and share their perspective.

You will experience burn out many times in your career. Especially if you are technologist working with non technical people can be extremely exhausting. What worse large consultancies tend to promote sales people and project managers over technical ones. So you may end up reporting to person that is not senior technologist but a good politician. It’s difficult but good news is in large consultancies like Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG and alike you always can hunt for new boss. Networking help you introduce yourself evaluate potential new bosses you want to work for. Also in BIG4 it’s possible to move between countries so if one country doesn’t have right projects you can find better role and boss in another city or country.

Managing stress and avoiding burnout as a consultant requires prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries. Start by recognizing your limits and giving yourself permission to take breaks when needed. Incorporate stress-reducing activities into your daily routine, such as mindfulness exercises, exercise, or hobbies you enjoy. Practice effective time management and delegate tasks when possible to prevent overwhelm. Cultivate a supportive network of colleagues and mentors to lean on for advice and encouragement. Finally, remember to celebrate your successes and acknowledge your efforts, even in the face of challenges. By prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries, you can better manage stress and avoid burnout in your consulting career.

Plan for regular holidays and time offs. Detach yourself during these times - switch off phone, laptop. Inform all stakeholders about your unavailability well ahead of time. Ask to respect your boundaries during this time off period.