It’s crack-of-dawn early, and I’m on a flight. Working swing ER shifts has left me exhausted, barely packed, and running on fumes. But hey, as long as I’ve got my passport and clean underwear, I’m good to go. There’s a mall in every city, right?

I settle in, headphones on, ready to dive into the latest episodes of The Lincoln Lawyer. I’m beyond tired – there aren’t even words for this level of exhaustion.

Suddenly, an overhead announcement breaks through my haze: “Is there a doctor or nurse on board?”

Oh no. Noooooooooo!

I sit for a second, hoping there’s another doctor. To my relief, someone else stands up. Then another. Soon, three medical personnel are helping out. I stay put.

This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been the hero on three different flights before – heart attack, diabetic complications, you name it. Did you know planes have almost a full crash cart? Wild, right?

I can see how eager they are, jumping up to play hero. Not me, though. Not today. I’m a reluctant hero this time around. I’ve worn that cape for 20 years, and today, I’m practicing what I preach: taking care of myself first.

Let me tell you, this was not easy. Every fiber of my being wanted to jump up and help. I’m Captain Save ‘Em, after all. But today, I chose differently. I chose me.

You see, as medical professionals, we’re conditioned like Pavlov’s dogs to save the day. No days off, right? But is that sustainable? Even God took a day off.

I’ve saved a lot of lives, but at what cost? Lost sleep, mental health swings, weight gain, strained relationships. This job takes until there’s nothing left to give. It’s no wonder 41 percent of medical professionals have left since the pandemic, or that physicians have a higher suicide rate than the general public.

Don’t get me wrong – if I was the only doctor on the plane or if they needed extra help, I’d be there in a heartbeat. But what I know now is that it doesn’t always have to be me.

Today, I chose to rest and prepare for a big weekend. I wasn’t mentally sharp and questioned if I should really be practicing medicine in that state. It wasn’t ideal, but I chose what was best for me. And guess what? All turned out well.

Taking care of myself is an active process. I have to schedule it, plan it, force it for my own good. It goes against everything we’re taught as doctors, but it’s necessary. There’s only one me, after all.

So there I was, on that plane, finally putting my own oxygen mask on first. It’s a small step, but a crucial one. Because sometimes, the most heroic thing we can do is take care of ourselves.

Pamela Buchanan is a board-certified physician, speaker, and thought leader dedicated to transforming health care and championing mental well-being. With more than 20 years of medical experience, she is a TEDx speaker known for her powerful talk on “Emotional Flatline,” which explores the emotional toll of high-stress professions, particularly in emergency rooms during the pandemic. As the author of The Oxygen Mask Principle and Emotional Flatline, Dr. Buchanan teaches self-care as a revolutionary act for working mothers, health care professionals, and high achievers.

In addition to her work as a physician advocate and ambassador with the Lorna Breen Foundation, her work extends to coaching and consulting, focusing on helping physicians navigate burnout and preventing burnout in medical students and residents. She strives to keep more physicians practicing. Dr. Buchanan’s mission is to help people break free from burnout, prioritize self-care, and live with purpose.

Dr. Buchanan is the founder of Strong Medicine and can be contacted for coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. She can also be reached on TikTok and Instagram.