The not-so-dynamic duo of imposter syndrome and burnout

In this post, I will complete the examination of some of the most common symptoms of the Sunday Scaries and this time we are looking at imposter syndrome and burnout.

You’ve had a long history of success in your career so this feeling of being an imposter is particularly baffling, not to mention frustrating and frightening. Your sense of confidence in your abilities is close to zero and you wonder when the other shoe will drop. When will your boss and your peers notice that you are in over your head? You feel like a fraud on the inside, while you spend an exhausting amount of effort in keeping up the successful external appearance.

The crazy thing is that imposter syndrome makes you doubt yourself despite the absence of confirming evidence because it is a cognitive distortion. You judge yourself and undervalue your contributions to your success. You set unrealistic expectations and then confirm your suspicions when you can’t meet them. It’s all so exhausting and you fear you can’t keep going in your efforts to hold it all together.

Now, let’s look at the other half of this not-so-dynamic duo. Burnout as a word signals a terrible sense of negativity and hopelessness. It sounds like an awful destination that is arrived at after an exhausting and fraught journey. And so it goes with the symptoms of the Sunday Scaries. All that anxiety, dread, worry, overwhelm and imposter syndrome drops you off in the land of burnout. Bleak indeed.

Burnout comes with mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. You may feel exhausted, demotivated, and unable to concentrate. It is important to note that individual responses to circumstances can vary, leading some to experience burnout while others do not. Burnout can also build and change over time.

So what can we do about these career-crushing symptoms? In the case of imposter syndrome, you don’t want to ignore it because it won’t just go away. Instead, pause and notice your thoughts and feelings. Then assess the situation. What actual evidence do you have that you are inadequate in this situation? What evidence do you have of your competence in this situation? Now, you can reassess the situation with real vs imagined evidence and a much more balanced perspective of your capabilities.

With burnout, everything feels exhausting, difficult, and in some sense, without hope. So, look for a small and quick win to combat these feelings. It doesn’t even have to be something you tackle at work. It could be stepping outside and pulling a few weeds or scheduling that overdue oil change for your car. The point is to achieve that flash of satisfaction that helps to spark your motivation.

Curing the Sunday Scaries is not an overnight process, however, it is very possible to do. Taking these initial steps will provide a bit of momentum to clear the way to career ease.

Perhaps you would like a guide to walk with you through the getting unstuck from the Sunday Scaries process. I am happy to help. Grab a time and we can talk about it: https://calendly.com/northdawncoach/consultation