Consultant Life Hacks I Wish I Knew at 25

Fifteen years ago, I thought I had it all figured out. Fresh heels, printed decks, a high ponytail, and a phone that never stopped buzzing! Welcome to consulting. What I didn’t know was how much of this lifestyle could be made smoother, cheaper, and a little more fun, if I’d only picked up a few hacks along the way.

So here it is, my little black book of practical tips for thriving in consulting, staying sane, and yes, squeezing out every perk while still being a high-performer. Because if the firm’s paying for Uber, why not get home in a Tesla?

1. Use the Uber Late-Work Rule

Most big firms will cover your Uber ride home if you're working past a certain hour, typically 9 or 10pm. Here’s the trick, book it even if you’ve just finished, or are about to leave. Use that time to wind down, not rush. And for those in cities with long commutes, don’t be afraid to punch in your actual home address, not just the nearest tube stop. It’s allowed, just don’t turn it into a weekend getaway to Brighton.

Bonus tip: Save the receipts if the expense system glitches. Trust me, chasing down a finance team in Mumbai three weeks later is not a wellness ritual.

2. Schedule Exercise Like It’s a Client Meeting

Still grinding at 7pm? That means free food. Most consultancies give you a Deliveroo or Uber Eats allowance, typically around £25. Now, before you click “Add Lobster,” remember this isn’t just about indulgence. It's about stacking.

Order enough for lunch the next day. Yes, I was that girl reheating miso salmon at 1pm, and no, I have no regrets. You work late, you eat well, that’s the rule. It never hurts adding some extra stuff for breakfast, my tip is don't indulge unless you're feeling it and take advantage of the cost cap to make your you have a stocked fridge for other times during the day.

Pro tip: Skip the junk. Your gut will thank you during that 8am team call where everyone’s on camera but no one’s blinking.

3. Schedule Workouts Like Client Meetings

You wouldn’t miss a client workshop, so stop skipping your workouts. Book them in your calendar like they’re non-negotiable. I used to take 7am Pilates and be back at my laptop with a smoothie in hand by 8:15. It was either that or having my back sound like a glow stick every time I stood up from the client table.

If your office has a gym, great. If not, use ClassPass or free YouTube workouts. Consultants love frameworks, so treat this like one, the “Body, Brain, Burnout” model. Miss two, and the third’s inevitable. Remember that exercising improves your head at work!

4. The Hotel Hack (Shhh)

Travel project? Good. Staying at the Marriott three nights a week? Even better. Sign up for loyalty programs early. You’ll rack up points like a seasoned flight attendant. I once booked my entire honeymoon on hotel points, my now husband still thinks I splurged. I didn't pay for any hotels during leave and utilized my credit and got free upgrades or my husband paid.

Extra: Many hotels offer free breakfast. Even if the team isn’t meeting until 9, show up at 7:30, eat, and then go for a walk or journal. That hour of calm is golden in the chaos of client delivery.

5. Set Personal KPIs

Look, I know OKRs and KPIs make most consultants twitch, but hear me out, set personal goals too. Maybe it’s “No calls after 8pm unless it’s the Partner’s Partner.” Or “Three lunches eaten away from my desk per week.” Micro-habits lead to macro-balance. I used to track “coffees consumed standing up” as a warning metric. Five? Time to sit and breathe.

6. Build Your ‘Exit Deck’ Early

This isn’t morbid, I promise. Keep a running doc of your achievements, client feedback, certifications, and that time you saved a deliverable 10 minutes before a pitch. When performance review season hits, you’ll be ready. And if you ever want to move on (or in my case, start a blog like this), your highlights are ready to go.

Final Thoughts from the ‘Aunty’ in Me

If I had a pound for every time I burned out before realising I hadn’t had a hot meal in two days, I’d have retired earlier. But seriously, consulting is a brilliant career. It shapes your thinking, your confidence, and your wardrobe. But don’t let it shape your health or drain your joy.

Use the perks. Hack the systems. And take time to stretch, breathe, and laugh, ideally at your own jokes.

Because if I can run a half-marathon at 39 while still billing 60-hour weeks, then darling, you can order your sushi and book that Pilates class guilt free.