How to combat your inner impostor when you work from home

We know that working from home can be amazing: no commute, flexibility around the school run, and staying in your slacks until midday. However, we're now starting to see some downsides of remote work, particularly how it can fuel that nagging voice of impostor syndrome.

You know the one?

"You’re not doing enough." "Everyone else is coping better." "Any minute now, someone’s going to realise you’re not actually qualified for this."

Yep, that one. If it sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you're certainly not broken. Impostor syndrome affects a whopping 82% of people at some point in their lives. Impostor syndrome is that deep, persistent feeling that your achievements are due to luck or timing rather than skill—despite evidence to the contrary.

Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes first coined the term in 1978 to describe how high-achieving women often internalised failure and dismissed success. Today, we know it affects people across gender, seniority, and industry.

In small doses, impostor syndrome can motivate us to keep learning and hold ourselves to high standards. But more often, it holds us back, contributes to anxiety and burnout, and sabotages careers.

Interestingly, it’s not always the thoughts themselves that cause the most harm—it’s how we respond to them. That’s where the 'impostor syndrome family' comes in.

Senior Practitioner Coach and Occupational Therapist Anna Croucher explores more about the types of impostor syndrome and how working from home can exacerbate the symptoms. Plus she looks at ways you can combat your inner impostor.