Transitioning into a consultant role is a significant and professionally rewarding milestone, but also accompanied by new responsibilities, expectations and competing demands on time and energy. For many doctors, the challenge is not simply about learning to do the job but integrating this expanded responsibility with a fulfilling and sustainable personal life which has its own growing responsibilities and changes.
Work-life integration is not about achieving perfect balance. Instead, it is about designing a professional life that supports your wellbeing, relationships and sense of purpose whilst also enabling you to grow and thrive as a consultant. This is made easier with targeted planning and preparation and by making the effort to stop to reflect and adapt regularly as you settle into your new role.
Here are a few points to help you start:
It helps to understand the new demands early. Your role as a new consultant will bring with it increased clinical responsibility, decision making autonomy and often leadership expectations. These are not just changes in your workload but also increase your mental load.
Before you start your new role, and to avoid the overwhelm of increased workload and mental load:
Reflect on what aspects of your current routine may need adjusting.
Anticipate peak‑demand periods (e.g., roster cycles, on‑call load, term transitions, personal events, and responsibilities). Use this to help create a sustainable system.
Consider what you want to protect - family connection, exercise, study, downtime, or other commitments. Use this to set boundaries.
Think through what support you have professionally and personally. You do not need to navigate this transition alone.
Prioritise your wellbeing as a core part of the role.
How can you shape the role to be the role you want?
This early awareness helps prevent reactive coping later and puts you in a better position to transition to the role with confidence and clarity to ensure you establish a sustainable work-life balance.
We will expand on the points we have highlighted in future instalments of this Stepping Up to Consultant series. In the meantime, if you would like further support as you start considering how you will integrate work-life balance into your role as a consultant please remember AMA Victoria offers a wide range of coaching services and supports many members at transition points throughout their careers, especially during the transition to consultant.
To find out more, visit Professional Development and Careers or book a career call to speak with a member of our team.