CHEM 19
Steps to a Healthier You Winter 2023

This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

What is health and wellness? We all know how to be “healthy”…right? But why is it sometimes so hard to choose a salad over fries? We will explore these questions and more. This course is based on 2 assumptions: 1. We all have an inherent desire and innate ability to move towards healthier versions of ourselves. 2. This is a lifelong process that begins with understanding ourselves-our values, habits, likes/dislikes, upbringing, etc. In this class, we will work with practical tools for self-discovery and -reflection that will then inform how we set wellness goals to promote lasting healthy habits. We will use the 6 pillars of health from Lifestyle Medicine (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, relationships, decreasing substance use) as a guide with which to examine our current state of wellbeing to identify where we can begin to take specific and achievable steps towards health and wellness. Class time will be spent primarily on experiential learning through instructor-led exercises and discussions. Additionally, students will complete outside assignments aimed to develop self-awareness and integrate class material into their lives. We will use selected readings from a variety of books including Robert Lustig’s Metabolical, Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Full Catastrophe Living, Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, Robert Sapolsky’s Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score, Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and James Clear’s Atomic Habits. Evaluation will be based on class participation, completion of assignments, final 10-page paper or equivalent project/presentation that demonstrates a level of engagement with class material. We will meet 10AM-1PM on 1/4, 1/6, 1/9, 1/11, 1/18, 1/20, 1/23, 1/25. One (minimum) individual meeting with the instructor will be scheduled to address personal concerns and/or help focus the final paper/project. Contact instructor at [email protected] with any questions.
The Class: Format: lecture
Limit: 12
Expected: NA
Class#: 1073
Grading: pass/fail only
Requirements/Evaluation: 10-page paper or equivalent creative project/presentation
Prerequisites: Desire and interest in self-reflection, personal growth, and making healthier lifestyle changes.
Enrollment Preferences: Priority will be given to Seniors. If overenrolled, a statement of interest (a little bit about yourself and your interest in the course) will be used for student selection.
Unit Notes: Tracy Hu, MD '13 will graduate in June 2023 from the John Muir Health Family Medicine Residency Program in Walnut Creek, CA. Afterwards, she plans to start a non-profit direct primary care clinic with a fellow residency colleague.
Attributes: EXPE Experiential Education Courses
WELL Winter Study Wellness

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