Imposter Syndrome and Retirement
“Face it Til You Make It” is the cure for imposter syndrome.
An obvious variation of fake it til you make it, we all face high-stress situations when we feel inadequately prepared. Imposter syndrome is common in medicine and other professions. You don’t make it in medicine if you don’t face your fear and move forward through crises where a patient’s life depends on your expertise and knowledge.
I wonder how common imposter syndrome is in retirement. Are there any lessons from the medical ward that might help with imposter syndrome in retirement? And why is facing it better than faking it?
Face It Until You Make It
Why fake something when you can face it?
In retirement, like in every other transition in life, there are novel challenges that may lead to imposter syndrome. We know retirement can be one of the most stressful life transitions, despite pictures of fruity drinks and tropical beaches.
When faced with a stressful transition, should you “fake it”—pretend you know what is going on until you do, or “face it”—think deeply and purposefully about the situation and its associated feelings?
This is an important question to ask after the honeymoon period of retirement when you discover new challenges and opportunities that improve life. Let’s start with a definition of imposter syndrome.
What is Imposter Syndrome
Impostor syndrome is “an inability to internalize success and the tendency to attribute success to external causes such as luck, error, or knowing the (right) people.”
You might feel like a fraud if you cannot believe your personal or professional success is deserved.
Both men and women, young and old, and those from different cultures and social strata are affected by imposter syndrome. It is often tied to low self-worth. It happens when people who are awesome doubt their self-efficacy or self-worth.
Imposter syndrome is prevalent in physicians where the adage “see one, do one, teach one” often involves the placement of long needles in veins, spinal canals, and (heaven forbid) arteries. How common is imposter syndrome in physicians?
How Common is Imposter Syndrome in Physicians
A metanalysis found that imposter syndrome is present in 22% to 60% of physicians. It suggests gender, low self-esteem, and institutional culture are positive associations, and social support, validation of success, positive affirmation, and both personal and shared reflections are protective. Finally, “Overall, (Imposter Syndrome) was also associated with higher rates of burnout.”
Imposter Syndrome in Retirement
Impostor syndrome in retirement is a low-grade yet pervasive sense of insecurity. You might have self-doubt about your efficacy as a person now that you are retired, or perhaps even feel like a fraud.
Despite evidence of being valued (by children, grandchildren, hobbies, volunteering, side gigs, etc.), this sense of insecurity in your role as a retiree persists. Interestingly, it might be set off by an anniversary, achievement, or other significant event.
“Everyone else is an impostor, too.” –Tina Fey
I cannot find data on imposter syndrome in retirement, and there is only one hit of relevance in my literature (read: google) review. Yet, as an early retiree doubting my efficacy as a retired person with a low grade yet pervasive sense of insecurity in my new role, I only imagine others feel this way too, and, certainly, this is an under-discussed phenomenon.
Retirement commonly causes adjustment disorder. Obliquely, as adjustment disorder shares causes and features of imposter syndrome, the two are linked in my head. My glass is half full.
How to Mitigate Imposter Syndrome in Retirement
Lets look at a list of ways to mitigate imposter syndrome in retirement:
- learn to accept compliments
- understand that imposter syndrome in retirement is common
- acknowledge accomplishments
- find role models or mentors
- mentor younger folks!
- let go of perfectionism
- reward yourself for effort rather than accomplishment
- understand that this is not a ‘secret’ that you cannot be mentioned
- talk openly about feelings of inadequacy
- it is ok to fail! Retirement has a learning curve
- give yourself grace; continue to try new things
- monitor your inner dialog and be curious when you experience imposter syndrome
- questions if your beliefs are true and supported by facts in evidence
- affirm small wins
- express vulnerability and share personal stories
- above all else, have self-compassion and some grace!
Imposter Syndrome in Retirement
Imposter syndrome is common in medicine and, maybe more common and annoying than drug reps. I think that joke dates me. Are drug reps a thing anymore?
I imagine imposter syndrome is also common as an adjustment in retirement. After all, retirement is a stressful transition for perfectionists who expect continual high performance since that is all they have known their whole life.
Kids might be at risk for imposter syndrome either through exaggerated overt over-praising (“you are the smartest kid in the world”) or by setting unrealistic expectations. A deeper understanding of imposter syndrome may help us from inculcating imposter syndrome in our children.
Retirement is a stressful period. As a result, one might occasionally feel like a fraud or question your role.
Move past imposter syndrome, don’t fake it; face it til you make it. Find a way to have joy and express vulnerability. Share stories in small groups. Finally, those further along in retirement may describe their “failure resumes” to de-stigmatize and normalize imposter syndrome in retirement.
By reframing thoughts to recognize accomplishments and acknowledging skills, hard work, and perspicacity in retirement, we might put a new face on imposter syndrome.
