How Imposter Syndrome can drive Burnout

Impostor Syndrome is something many people experience at some point in their career. It often strikes at moments of success – a new job, promotion or additional responsibilities - and can lead to people experiencing feelings of doubt about their skills, talents, or achievements.  They can also feel that they don’t deserve their success, that what they’ve achieved is down to luck, good timing or just being in the right place at the right time and that they'll be exposed as a fraud.

The link between imposter syndrome and burnout is primarily rooted in the psychological and emotional aspects of these experiences. For example, individuals with imposter syndrome often set unrealistically high standards for themselves due to their fear of being exposed as inadequate. The pressure to meet these high standards can lead to increased stress and contribute to burnout. They may also feel the need to constantly monitor themselves to prevent others from discovering their perceived inadequacies. This heightened self-awareness and self-scrutiny can be mentally taxing, another contributor to burnout.

Imposter syndrome can also drive individuals to overwork as they try to prove their worth and competence. The constant need to prove themselves can lead to long work hours, neglecting breaks, and a lack of work-life balance, which are factors associated with burnout. At the same time, people experiencing imposter syndrome sometimes neglect self-care activities and relaxation because they feel they don't deserve them or that they should be constantly working to prove themselves. This lack of self-care can exacerbate burnout as can the negative self-talk and self-doubt that are common in imposter syndrome.

Whilst there is a connection between imposter syndrome and burnout, they are not the same thing. Imposter syndrome is more focused on feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt related to accomplishments, while burnout is centred around exhaustion and reduced engagement due to prolonged stress. Addressing these issues may require different approaches, such as building self-esteem and seeking support for imposter syndrome, and managing stress, setting boundaries, and prioritising self-care for burnout.