Importance of Applying your Own Oxygen Mask First

An early leadership learning for me, one that became even clearer when I started working as an executive coach, is the importance of applying your own oxygen mask first.

It’s not selfish.  It’s essential.  It enables you to look after your own wellbeing, so you are actually able to support others.

Recently, this lesson has become very real for me. I had a total knee replacement, and everyone - especially the surgeon and my wonderful physio, said the same thing: take the time to recover and focus on you.

Six weeks in, I can say I listened (amazing I know!).  And I’m now seeing the benefit, not just for myself, but in how I can show up for others again.

During that time, I had to accept help…more than I’m used to.I had to rest when my body told me it was tired. I took the pain relief, used the ice packs, and committed to my rehab exercises.

Structure helps me, so I set daily reminders for what needed to be done.  It kept me focused, even on the days it felt slow.

Am I ready to play 18 holes of golf?  NO!  But I can now walk 3km without pain, which I haven’t been able to do for over six months.  And I know my endurance will continue to build.

Applying my own oxygen mask meant giving myself permission to prioritise recovery.  I spoke with my clients, set clear expectations, and my out-of-office reflected the same. One client said to me recently, “I’ve been using your time off to get ready to work with you.”  That stuck with me.

It also meant not doing many of the things I normally would, like writing my fortnightly blog, responding quickly to emails, or following up with clients.  I thought I might have time for all of that, of course I didn’t.  Because my health needed to come first.

And in reality?  Those things waited.  Just fine.

There was also time for a few good murder mysteries and some entertaining podcasts, nothing too serious.

So, what is more important than our own wellbeing?  Ensuring we are here, and able, for the long term?

It’s not selfish. It’s honest.

So, don’t wait for a knee replacement.  Where might you need to apply your own oxygen mask right now?