Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think about the last moment when you felt great success. What surrounds you at that moment? Maybe it’s community. Maybe it’s a sense of overcoming. Likely, there’s a thread of hard work and determination. Now, another question: In that success, did you prioritize others? Or did you prioritize yourself and the work at hand? Open your eyes. 

There’s a misconception that self-care is selfish, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. To work well, you must first be well. No one knows this better than AthletaWell Guides, accredited wellness professionals who have built businesses dedicated to supporting women on their well-being journeys across mental health, nutrition, movement, sleep, and more. If you dive deeper into each of the guide’s secrets to success, you’ll find that they succeeded by prioritizing their own well-being—and this storyline is a common thread on AthletaWell.

AthletaWell is an expert-led community platform committed to empowering and motivating women on their well-being journeys. It was created to break the mold and build a community to bring women together in a safe space to share experiences, exchange real advice and get access to vetted leaders and experts to navigate wellbeing together. 

Here, we dive deep into advice from five Athleta Well expert guides who prioritized their own well-being to help serve others. Take it from them self-care and service are not mutually exclusive. 

1. Allow Yourself the Grace To Fail: Margeaux House, certified yoga instructor; Founder, This Curvy World

“Failing is part of learning and growth. Instead of being hard on yourself when something doesn't work out the way you imagined, use it as an opportunity for growth.  We tend to be harder on ourselves than anyone else. Don't give up. Try a different approach using the knowledge you gained.”

2. Be the Student and the Teacher: Nichomi Higgins, Licensed Marriage & Family Psychotherapist

“I always tell my clients, if you take nothing away from me, take away the fact that you must give yourself permission to be the student and the teacher in all aspects of your life. As high performers and experts in our respective lanes, we often fall victim to the myth that in order to be successful we must have all of the answers, or else our credibility will be ruined. So we end up anxiously avoiding mistakes and risks like the plague. When I gave myself permission to be both student and teacher it became easier to ask for help, share my fears vulnerably and fend off perfectionism. More importantly, this permission promotes mental agility when it comes to change.”

3. Don’t Try To Go It Alone: Dr. Natalie Crawford, OBGYN 

“Find people you trust and allow them to help you. One of the biggest barriers to growth is controlling everything yourself. Instead, view your time as a limited resource, and allow others to help you.”

4. Reframe Challenges As Growth Opportunities: Lauren Rosen, Licensed Marriage & Family Psychotherapist

“Being less-than-great at things is inevitable when you’re living on your growth edge. If you’re challenging yourself and struggling, you may find that your typical go-tos are frustration and self-flagellation. If we recognize that doing a clunky, clumsy job of something is an inevitable part of learning, we can give ourselves more grace to learn. We might even have more fun in the process of learning.” 

5. Take Advantage of the Mornings: Dalina Soto, registered dietician

“Prioritize a morning self-care routine, like morning coffee reflection with breakfast or a morning snack. Stay hydrated—when we are on the go, we forget water! Carve some time for stretching throughout the day if you sit a lot. Get the blood flowing! 

Ready to dive into even more from AthletaWell? Create your free account on AthletaWell today to meet AthletaWell Guides and visit your nearest Athleta store to sign up for the WellPro Program, designed for wellbeing professionals like you. You'll receive 25% off product in store and online plus exclusive opportunities to connect with Athleta and their customers.