Life coach: Mental wellness just as important as physical health

Cory James
·1 min read

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Many people spend a lot of time in gyms, fitness studios or working one-on-one with trainers to achieve a certain look.

Life and mental health coach Cheryl Bridges said people should also put forth the same effort in exercising their brains. Bridges said prioritizing the health and well-being of your mind impacts your emotional, psychological and cognitive functioning.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates more than one in five adults in the U.S. are living with some form of mental illness – Bridges said that is one reason mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness.

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“Really, self-care activities are going to be something you are going to prioritize so that you can build your resilience for things that are going to come in life,” Bridges said. “Be able to manage relationships. Be able to just cope. That’s why we want to make sure we are mentally fit.”

When it comes to a mental fitness routine, Bridges said people should spend at least five minutes a day finding time for self-care, incorporating positive habits and talking about their feelings with an expert, family member or friend.

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