Why Your Mental Fitness Relies on Human Connections

Most mornings (as long as it’s doesn’t rain in Vancouver), I start my day with a morning run. During one of those morning runs, my running coach brought up the importance of having meaningful connections with others. He asked, “how many people would you check in on in person, via phone, or text?” It made me realize that I have a lot of connections in my life, but the more critical list could use a few more names. Maybe yours could too?

Mental and physical fitness

It’s important to recognize that our mental and physical fitness are not separate entities but part of the same whole body. Just as we prioritize exercise to keep our bodies in shape, we need to prioritize human connections to keep our minds healthy and happy. It’s essential to have a network of supportive people who we can turn to when we need someone to talk to or simply to hang out with.

I know that some people might be hesitant to make new connections or maintain existing ones due to a fear of rejection or vulnerability. As …