In our first ever post featured here in MĒ MAGAZINE, to introduce us as a brand we will walk you through what we at MĒSENTIALS will refer to as our "CORE FIVE".
These are the five core essentials that we feel are ingredients of absolute necessity in every persons daily life. The five also make up the base foundation on which our brand was created in the first place.
One might think these core essentials sound somewhat obvious, basic or even outright boring. Yet, believe me when I say this, so many people will never get all these right.
So let's get to it.
SLEEP
Why sleep?
Sleep is crucial for both our mental and physical health. When we sleep, our body and brain gets well needed rest and repair, it regulates our hormone levels, and consolidates memories. Adequate sleep (≈8h/ night, generally) is vital for cognitive function, emotional regulation, and maintaining good mental health. Lack of sleep can increase the risk of mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. Enough sleep however, will, you guessed it, help us to decrease risks like these while simultaneously blessing us with a list of benefits so long I would not be able to fit everything into this one post.
MOVEMENT
Why move?
We say movement and just not working out, because a "workout" can be done in so many different ways. Movement is broad and so is the spectrum of beneficial activities within it that you can do in your day to day life. Walk, go to the gym, run, or play tennis. All of it should be included because all of it will serve you. Like sleep, movement is crucial for both mental and physical health. It will help you maintain a healthy weight, strengthen your body, muscles and immune system, as well as improving your mood and stress tolerance. For example, physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of depression by up to 30% and reduce the risk of chronic disease like heart disease, stroke and diabetes, by up to 50%. Well, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
DIET
Why diet?
Did you know, the gut is often referred to as our "second brain"? This is because it contains millions of neurons, neurotransmitters and other chemicals that regulates digestion and communicates directly to our brain. The "gut-brain" connection plays a critical role in maintaining physical and mental health. In addition to this, the gut actually contains more than 90% of the body's serotonin, which regulates your mood, appetite and sleep. Imbalances in the gut "microbiome" may also be linked to mental health disorders and inflammation. By now, the very famous saying, "you are what you eat", is probably starting to make a whole lot of sense to you. At least it should. By nourishing our gut with a healthy diet (which can be different for different people) in combination with the other four core essentials, we can transform our mental wellness and overall health.
MINDFULNESS
Why be mindful?
Mindfulness can be described as the practice of being present, fully engaged and aware in the current moment. Without judgment or distraction. It involves paying close attention to our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations and to be able to accept/ inspect them, without the need to interfere. Meditation is one form of mindfulness and something we could not recommend enough. Research has shown that by practicing mindfulness we can become more present, engaged and resilient in our daily lives. Whether through meditation or simply by "being mindful" in our daily activities, we can cultivate a greater mental clarity, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing. As our friend Eckhart Tolle so simply puts it - "Your entire life only ever happens in this moment". So be mindful of it.
PURPOSE
Why purpose?
Your purpose is your why, and why is having a strong "why" that important? Well, what is it really that makes us climb mountains, run marathons or build brands? Other than that it would be a cool thing to do, of course. Deep inside of us all there lies a core reason, a more profound cause or mission that drives us forward, and more often than not the number one reason for failure in these pursuits or in life in general is the lack of purpose, or not knowing why you do what you do. With this being said, finding our why and our purpose can really be a powerful tool to help us lead a more fulfilling life and guide us forward. We really do stand by the famous quote by Simon Sinek and kindly encourage you all to "Start with why".