Imposter syndrome and burnout are linked for high achievers, here’s how.
Have you ever wondered why, no matter how much you accomplish, it still doesn’t feel like enough? Or why you’re constantly exhausted even though you “should” feel successful?
You’re not alone — and these feelings might be pointing to a deeper connection between imposter syndrome and burnout in high achievers.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is that inner voice whispering:
- “You don’t really belong here.”
- “You’re not as capable as they think you are.”
- “You need to prove yourself.”
It’s a chronic sense of self-doubt and fear of being “found out” — even when there’s clear evidence of competence, skill, and success.
When you constantly feel like a fraud, you naturally work harder to “prove” yourself — staying late, saying yes to everything, double-checking your work obsessively.
This cycle creates unsustainable pressure, and eventually, it drains your energy, motivation, and joy.
High achievers are the most at risk.
Ironically, it’s the most successful, capable people are often the most affected. Why? Because the bar is always set higher — by external expectations and internal perfectionism and pressure.
In light of this prevalent pattern showing up for so many high-achieving individuals today, I got together with fellow coach Amy Grimm of Daring DVM to talk about the hidden link between imposter syndrome and burnout for high achievers, and why constantly feeling “not enough” can quietly drive you to exhaustion, overworking, and chronic stress.
In this podcast episode you’ll learn:
- The reason high-achievers often feel like frauds
- How imposter syndrome leads to burnout, even in people who “look fine”
- Practical coaching tools to build genuine confidence
- Why believing you belong is essential for well-being and leadership
Listen to the podcast to start feeling the way you want:
Listen on Spotify | Listen on iTunes
To conclude, you can feel accomplished and at ease. You can be both ambitious and well. And you deserve to own your success without running yourself into the ground to prove it.
PS. You can grow your confidence and calm at work and in business every week, for free, to get real results. Join The Shift here to get weekly stories, tools and guidance right to your inbox.
