It can be either easier or harder. Depends on your consulting pipeline, skills, hourly rate, and the job you're comparing it to. Many jobs are pretty much clock-in, clock-out, which means that before & after work you don't have to worry. In some ways this can be better. Often you can cut back your hours to 4 days a week or some other way. (I did it; more than 1 friend has taken my advice and done this, too.) Consulting is often more stressful and demanding, even if you work much fewer hours. A steady paycheck can ease your mind; consulting pays more, but less steadily (usually). Those are the variables. I chose consulting because we worked in short, but manic, bursts, and pocketed $15-40k at a click. But YMMV.