Objective: Explore the interconnected aspects of health using the Tree of Wellness metaphor.

• Create a personal "Wellness Tree," identifying branches (symptoms), the trunk (underlying causes), and roots (lifestyle and environmental factors) in your own life.
• Reflect on how addressing root causes could improve overall well-being.
• Share insights with a peer or journal your findings for deeper understanding.

Objective: Recognize the interconnectedness of your body's systems.

• Set aside 10-15 minutes in a quiet space. Close your eyes and mentally scan your body from head to toe. As you focus on each area, consider how that part of your body interacts with the others. For example, think about how the tension in your shoulders might affect your breathing or how your posture impacts your digestion.
• After the exercise, jot down any connections you noticed. How might stress or discomfort in one area influence another? Reflect on how this awareness might influence your approach to maintaining overall health.

Objective: Encourage the adoption of holistic health practices.

• Start a health journal where you record daily observations about your physical, mental, and emotional state. Track simple things like your energy levels, mood, digestion, sleep quality, and any stressors.
• At the end of the week, review your entries. Look for patterns or connections between different aspects of your health. For instance, did poor sleep affect your stress levels or digestion? Consider how these insights might guide changes in your lifestyle, such as improving your sleep hygiene or managing stress more effectively.

Objective: Understand the structure-function relationship and how posture affects overall health.

• Spend a day consciously observing your posture during various activities (e.g., sitting at your desk, walking, lifting objects). Notice how your posture changes throughout the day and how different postures affect your comfort and energy levels.
• Reflect on how your posture might be influencing other areas of your health. For example, does slouching make you feel more tired or less focused? Write down any observations and consider making small adjustments to improve your posture and, by extension, your overall well-being.

Objective: Introduce the concept of self-regulation through a simple relaxation practice.

• Practice a deep breathing exercise designed to activate the body's relaxation response. Find a comfortable seated position and close your eyes. Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six.
• Repeat this cycle for five minutes, focusing on the sensation of the breath and the calming effect it has on your body. Afterward, reflect on how this exercise made you feel. Did you notice any changes in your physical or mental state? Consider incorporating this exercise into your daily routine to support your body's self-regulation.

Objective: Begin adopting holistic practices by assessing and improving your nutrition and hydration.

• Keep a detailed log of everything you eat and drink for 2-3 days. Include details about portion sizes, timing, and any physical or emotional responses to the food or drink (e.g., energy levels, mood changes).
• At the end of the logging period, review your intake. Are you consuming a balanced diet that supports your body's needs? Are you staying adequately hydrated? Identify one small, specific change you can make, such as drinking more water, reducing processed foods, or incorporating more whole foods into your meals.

The thing about living is that if we live long enough, most of us will experience a lot of love, success, and joy but also a lot of failure, loss, and sadness. This past year has been a challenging time for many, no matter how long you have lived.

However, there is hope.

The human body is an incredibly complex system and we have come so far in how we understand what it does. There are numerous ways of thinking, ideologies, and theories that have merged from the medical field. Just as different as those theories, what is even more different is each person's need when it comes to health and wellness. There is no one size fits all approach. That's where functional medicine comes into play. Read on to learn everything you need to know about functional medicine so you can make the best decision for your health!