Reframing: selfishness
For many high performers, especially those carrying visible and invisible responsibilities, prioritising personal wellbeing can feel uncomfortable. Protecting wellbeing involves saying no, delegating properly, blocking time for joy (yeah, really), prioritising hard and protecting time for things like exercise, time to make a proper lunch - and sleep.
It’s wild how often basic (and essential) things like this come with guilt or the question “am I being selfish?”
This International Women’s Day, as Rebecca Rennison gears up to explore reframing outdated workplace narratives in her Reframing MACHO event on 9th March, we think it’s time to challenge this one too.
Imagine a world where prioritising wellbeing wasn’t looked at as selfish at all, but essential? (We breathed a huge sigh of relief just imagining it!)
Why this matters → (30 sec read)
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If you’ve ever felt guilty for taking a break, saying no, or protecting your energy, you’re not alone, but if we’ve learnt anything so far this year it’s that burnout doesn’t prove dedication. Exhaustion isn’t a badge of honour!
When you protect your mental and physical wellbeing, you’re not withdrawing from your work, try to re-frame it as safeguarding your ability to do it well.
When you delegate tasks, you give yourself more time to spend in your zone of genius. When you say no to more of what drains you, you can say yes to more of what energises you.
Wellbeing isn’t indulgence, it’s maintenance, and maintenance is what makes sustainable success possible!
For leaders → (30-second read)
The culture you model becomes the culture your team absorbs.
If leaders equate ‘overwork’ with commitment, teams will follow, often at a cost. When leaders visibly prioritise wellbeing, set boundaries, delegate effectively and protect their energy, they redefine performance standards.
Wellbeing is not separate from leadership capability, no. Wellbeing is leadership fuel, it fuels clarity, resilience, better decision-making and better results.
Reframing “selfish” behaviours as strategic wellbeing sends a powerful message: sustainable contribution matters more here than performative “busy-ness”.
Bringing it all together
Many workplace norms still reward constant availability, emotional stoicism and relentless output but Rebecca Rennison’s Reframing MACHO theme challenges those outdated expectations, including the belief that putting yourself first is somehow selfish.
Selfishness is taking without regard for others whilst wellbeing is sustaining yourself so you can continue contributing. They are not the same thing.
Work Life Harmony isn’t about equal balance or endless sacrifice, it’s about alignment between your energy and your effort, your values and your time, your ambition and your capacity.
When we reframe wellbeing as responsibility rather than indulgence, we create healthier individuals, stronger teams and more sustainable leadership.
Reflection
If protecting your wellbeing feels selfish, what might change if you re-framed it it as the very thing that sustains your success?
🔔 coming up on The Work Edit:
This week we’re gearing up for International Women’s Day by re-framing a few key topics. Tomorrow, we’re reframing “Good Men” vs “Bad Men”.
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International women’s day
Redefining macho
Monday 9 March 2026
12:00 13:00
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Rebecca created the “Redefining MACHO” framework to encourage better male allyship and foster a more diverse and inclusive workplace. This framework consists of five simple, actionable steps that everyone can implement today to enhance DE&I within their organisations and the broader business community.
M = Meaningful Mentor
A = Amplify Awareness
C = Capture Confidence
H = Harmony with Home
O = Orchestrate Opportunities
Rebecca will discuss how this framework can unlock numerous small actions that collectively support the development of diverse teams, actively champion equity, and ensure that inclusion is experienced by all. She has conducted several “Redefining MACHO” workshops and events, gathering valuable feedback and real-life examples that provide a clear roadmap for change.
She will also share her “Work Life Harmony Handbook” and “Confidence Boosting Alphabet” to help SMASH Imposter Syndrome.