How to finish off the Impostor Syndrome in just five minutes
Impostor Syndrome is a very nasty demon that keeps stalling your projects by causing you to keep postponing them. Of course, like all demons you can learn a few lessons from him too but only as long as you keep an objective mindset and during the planning and organizing phase of your work. While working, you should always kick away this demon and put him at bay otherwise you'll keep painfully trembling before progressing each step on your project or milestone.
Impostor Syndrome is especially nuanced in freelancers, digital nomads and "Work From Home" people in general due to following reasons:
1. There is no project manager at home to boost your morale (with mere encouraging words, he can make this demon vanish in an instant!).
2. Even the professional atmosphere at your workplace helps in keeping this demon at bay, especially if your colleagues are encouraging and the office aesthetics are good.
3. There is a feeling of loneliness which can often turn into despair if a client rejects your project or the project goes wrong due to some other reason. The demon thrives in such environments.
Now coming to the title, its not only possible but very easy to kick this demon in only five minutes, all you have to do is buckle up and write down a few things. You see, the Impostor in you thrives because of his genius arguments. You should work on this milestone but not right now, he thus argues. Maybe after paying the electricity bill? How about after watching that TV show on History channel? But surely after reading that self-help and motivation book you bought last week?
Now, go through all these stupid reasons the Impostor gives you and write them on a piece of paper one by one. Please note, its very important to actually write this down, mere mental verbalization isn't enough because your mental energy isn't enough to fight the demon directly just yet. Now, against each reason, write down another reason detailing why that should not prevent you from working right now. If you're able to do this sincerely, the demon will vanish instantly because he doesn't have a leg to stand anymore!
But wait, don't make celebrations just yet. Like all those evil demons shown in movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, this one hasn't really died yet, it may return again when you sit to work next time. You must sincerely keep practicing this ritual time and again until it becomes a habit and/or the Impostor stops interrupting you again. Most important of all, you must get on to work immediately and sincerely after writing down those reasons.
Sometimes, the Impostor has cast such a bad spell on you that you may not even realize that you are postponing your work! The project submission deadline arrives and you're suddenly taken aback, it happens. In that case, you must actively keep asking the Impostor, "Why should I not work right now? Tell me the reasons?" throughout the day. And you know what to do once you have the reasons!
Also don't despair if you don't get it right the first time. We are humans, we are imperfect by default and become perfect by practicing. Keep practicing this and you should be fine.
Impostor Syndrome is especially nuanced in freelancers, digital nomads and "Work From Home" people in general due to following reasons:
1. There is no project manager at home to boost your morale (with mere encouraging words, he can make this demon vanish in an instant!).
2. Even the professional atmosphere at your workplace helps in keeping this demon at bay, especially if your colleagues are encouraging and the office aesthetics are good.
3. There is a feeling of loneliness which can often turn into despair if a client rejects your project or the project goes wrong due to some other reason. The demon thrives in such environments.
Now coming to the title, its not only possible but very easy to kick this demon in only five minutes, all you have to do is buckle up and write down a few things. You see, the Impostor in you thrives because of his genius arguments. You should work on this milestone but not right now, he thus argues. Maybe after paying the electricity bill? How about after watching that TV show on History channel? But surely after reading that self-help and motivation book you bought last week?
Now, go through all these stupid reasons the Impostor gives you and write them on a piece of paper one by one. Please note, its very important to actually write this down, mere mental verbalization isn't enough because your mental energy isn't enough to fight the demon directly just yet. Now, against each reason, write down another reason detailing why that should not prevent you from working right now. If you're able to do this sincerely, the demon will vanish instantly because he doesn't have a leg to stand anymore!
But wait, don't make celebrations just yet. Like all those evil demons shown in movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, this one hasn't really died yet, it may return again when you sit to work next time. You must sincerely keep practicing this ritual time and again until it becomes a habit and/or the Impostor stops interrupting you again. Most important of all, you must get on to work immediately and sincerely after writing down those reasons.
Sometimes, the Impostor has cast such a bad spell on you that you may not even realize that you are postponing your work! The project submission deadline arrives and you're suddenly taken aback, it happens. In that case, you must actively keep asking the Impostor, "Why should I not work right now? Tell me the reasons?" throughout the day. And you know what to do once you have the reasons!
Also don't despair if you don't get it right the first time. We are humans, we are imperfect by default and become perfect by practicing. Keep practicing this and you should be fine.
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