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Hypnotherapy London - Malminder Gill MNCIP
Hypnotherapist in London for individuals & corporates
96 Harley Street, Online & Home Visits (UK & Internationally)

Is Returning To Work Causing Imposter Syndrome?

With lockdown easing, I’ve seen more of my clients returning to their workplaces after more than a year of working from home. Many look forward to the little office delights—those watercooler moments, in-person real-life colleague interaction and cheeky lunches out. However, I’ve seen many clients who are feeling apprehensive about returning to work. It often comes down to post-lockdown imposter syndrome and not feeling good enough.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is, generally speaking, not feeling good enough. It focuses on self-doubt. Despite evidence that you deserve your position or success, imposter syndrome will make you doubt your abilities. It is closely tied to perfectionism and never believing that you’re doing enough.

You can find out more about imposter syndrome in this blog post.

Why Is Post-Lockdown Imposter Syndrome Coming Up Now?

Just like moving into lockdown was a big transition that brought uncomfortable emotions for many, moving out of lockdown brings a whole host of emotions to the forefront. In the last year alone, online searches for imposter syndrome have risen by 150%.

Working at home and spending lots of time at home has become a comfort zone for many. With this in mind, lockdown easing makes going back to the office out of our comfort zone. You are readjusting to something you’ve not had to do in a long time.

When we move outside of our comfort zone, we wonder what the worst-case scenario is. Our minds begin to predict all the things that could go wrong.

I’ve seen clients returning to the workplace who are worried about:

  • Their appearance
  • Presenting skills
  • Socialising with colleagues
  • Getting things wrong
  • Not being able to land pitches like they used to
  • Not creating the same levels of sales or business growth

With 85% of people now feeling incompetent through post-lockdown imposter syndrome, what can you do to stop this feeling from taking over?

10 Ways To Stop Post-Lockdown Imposter Syndrome

  1. Give yourself time to adjust – It’s not always possible to just snapback
  2. Cut yourself some slack – A global pandemic is affecting everyone’s mental health
  3. Be compassionate to yourself – What would you say to a friend/colleague if they were in the same position?
  4. Don’t compare the old-you to the new-you – You’ve grown and evolved in the last year.
  5. Make your ‘what if’ positive – Go from ‘what if I mess this up?’ to ‘what if I impress this client?’
  6. Be open about your challenges – This can help to create a wider discussion and better support.
  7. Fact check your self-talk – For every negative thought, challenge yourself with ‘what evidence do I have against this?’
  8. Get comfortable with discomfort – If you want to grow and develop, embracing this discomfort can help you to thrive.
  9. Don’t set unrealistic goals – You wouldn’t expect anyone else to be super-skilled from day one, so why do you need to be?
  10. It’s okay to be tired – This adjustment is a sensory overload, and feeling tired is entirely normal.

Tackle Imposter Syndrome With Hypnotherapy

If you need more support tackling your imposter syndrome, then hypnotherapy can help you get rid of those limiting beliefs. To find out more, book your free consultation with me by emailing info@hypnosis-in-london.com

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