How to work out imposter syndrome in 60 minutes

Imposter syndrome isn’t just a buzzword. It’s that quiet, nagging fear that you don’t belong, that you’ll be found out, that your wins were luck, not skill. I’ve felt it many times across my career from my first job in sales to stepping into editorial rooms at big magazines, pitching clients as an entrepreneur, and even posting my own work online.

What's interesting is that the moments when you’ve actually earned your seat at the table are often the same moments you feel most like an outsider.

Here’s the workout I use when those thoughts creep in. Think of it as 60 minutes of mental training or a routine designed to reset your perspective and remind you of what’s real.

What imposter syndrome really means

At its core, imposter syndrome is self-doubt dressed up as humility. It shows up when you step into new roles, push into creative risk, or simply raise the bar for yourself. The feeling isn’t proof that you don’t belong. It’s usually proof that you’re growing.

The danger comes when you let it freeze you and when the story in your head stops you from doing the work you’re fully capable of doing. The good news is, I think you could work out imposter syndrome.

The 60-minute imposter syndrome workout

Warm-Up (5 minutes: breathe and notice)

Start with five minutes of slow, intentional breathing. Not to “empty your mind,” but to notice where the tension sits. Breathwork helps me slow the pace just enough to see the thoughts for what they are... thoughts, not facts.

Round 1 (20 minutes: name the imposter)

Write down the exact sentences running through your head. Not vague feelings, but word-for-word: “I don’t belong in this role” or “I’m not good enough to be here.” The act of naming the thought out loud or on paper strips it of some of its power.

Round 2 (30 minutes: stack your wins)

Now, do the heavy lifting. Write down your wins — the project you pulled off, the time you turned a setback into progress, the clients or colleagues who trusted you. When I’ve been at career lows, revisiting those upswings reminded me I’d been here before — and I’d always found a way forward.

Cool Down (5 minutes: affirm your worth)

Finish with affirmations, but make them specific. Not “I am worthy,” but “I am a strategist who has built content systems for global brands.” The more grounded the statement, the more believable it feels.

When imposter syndrome is actually a sign

There’s another layer to all this. Sometimes imposter syndrome is a clue, not a problem. I felt it most when I was in sales jobs I didn’t care about. That wasn’t self-doubt, that was my gut telling me I was in the wrong room.

So ask yourself: is this imposter feeling showing up because I’m stretching into growth? Or because I’m forcing myself into a role that doesn’t fit? One requires grit. The other requires honesty.

You’re not alone

Almost everyone I’ve respected has admitted to feeling like a fraud at some point. Which means the feeling itself is proof you’re in the arena. Don’t fight to eliminate it. Train yourself to move with it.

Try this workout once a week. Like physical training, consistency compounds. The more you practice, the more you’ll see imposter syndrome for what it is... a temporary story, not your reality.

Tools for the inner critic

If you want help reframing those thoughts in real time, I’ve built a few tools to make the process easier:

• CounterQuestion — a GPT that answers your self-doubt with one disarming, perspective-shifting question.
  

• thought or fact — a GPT that helps you separate what’s really true from what your inner critic is making up.
  

Because sometimes the fastest way to quiet the imposter is to interrogate it.