As a chemical engineer, I’ve been trained to approach problems with structure, logic, and precision. When I worked in biomimetics research or managed engineering projects in the medical field, everything came down to systems—how inputs, outputs, and feedback loops worked together to create desired results. Over time, I realized that this systems-based mindset doesn’t just belong in a lab or on a factory floor. It applies to life itself—especially when it comes to our health.
Like many professionals, I used to think about health as something separate from work—something I squeezed into the margins of my day. A quick jog, a salad instead of fast food, or a few extra hours of sleep on the weekend. But after becoming a mother and eventually transitioning into self-employment, I began to see things differently. Health isn’t a side goal—it’s a system. And when we treat it that way, everything changes.
Seeing the Whole Picture
Systems thinking teaches us to look beyond individual parts and see how they interact. In engineering, if a machine isn’t working properly, you don’t just fix the broken part—you look at how the entire system is functioning. Are the inputs consistent? Is there a bottleneck? Is one component under stress because another one is out of balance?
This mindset helped me make sense of my own wellness. When I started thinking of my body and mind as an interconnected system, I stopped treating symptoms in isolation. If I was feeling tired all the time, it wasn’t just about sleep—it could be about stress, nutrition, or movement. If I felt mentally foggy, I looked at hydration, screen time, or even emotional strain. Nothing exists in a vacuum, and health is no exception.
Inputs and Outputs: What We Put In Matters
In engineering, inputs drive performance. If the quality of your inputs is poor, you can’t expect optimal results. The same goes for health. Our bodies and minds respond to what we feed them—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
For me, this meant re-evaluating how I approached daily habits. What kind of food was I putting into my body? Was I moving enough to stay energized, not just physically but emotionally? Was I making time for silence and reflection, or was I constantly running on autopilot?
These questions helped me set up better “inputs” for my system: more consistent exercise (I love running, walking, and jogging), time outdoors, home-cooked meals, and even something as simple as baking with my kids. These aren’t just hobbies—they’re wellness strategies. When my inputs are aligned, my outputs—my energy, my focus, my patience—are better, too.
Feedback Loops and Self-Correction
One of the most powerful aspects of systems thinking is the concept of feedback loops. In engineering, a feedback loop tells a system whether it’s operating as intended and allows it to adjust in real time. In life, feedback can be subtle—a tension headache, a sleepless night, or a feeling of burnout.
I’ve learned to treat these signals as data, not as failures. If something feels off, I pause and reflect. What has changed in my inputs? Have I been sitting too long without movement? Skipping meals? Carrying emotional stress that I haven’t addressed?
Rather than pushing through, I try to self-correct. That might mean taking a walk, calling a friend, stretching for 10 minutes, or turning off devices an hour earlier. Small adjustments keep the system functioning and prevent breakdowns before they happen.
Designing for Sustainability
Engineers are taught to build systems that last. We don’t just want something that works—we want something that continues to work, even under pressure. That’s how I think about personal health now. I don’t want short bursts of wellness. I want a sustainable system I can maintain in all seasons of life—whether I’m juggling work deadlines, raising kids, or simply trying to stay grounded in a fast-paced world.
For me, that means finding balance rather than perfection. I don’t aim to be the healthiest person in the room. I aim to be consistent. To move daily, to eat foods that nourish, to stay mentally and emotionally aware. I’ve stopped chasing quick fixes and started focusing on long-term habits that fit into the life I actually live.
Lessons from the Lab
My time as a research assistant taught me one important truth: most solutions are found through observation and iteration. You don’t figure it all out at once. You make a hypothesis, test it, observe the outcome, and make small adjustments.
I apply the same method to wellness. If a routine isn’t working, I don’t give up—I tweak it. If my sleep is off, I don’t just buy a new pillow; I look at the whole picture—caffeine intake, stress, screen use. Every solution is a process. And that process is more important than any one result.
Final Thoughts
As engineers, we’re trained to find patterns, solve problems, and improve systems. Personal health deserves that same attention. It’s not about becoming obsessed or rigid—it’s about becoming intentional. When we treat our well-being like the complex, dynamic system it is, we stop guessing and start understanding.
Whether you’re an engineer or not, systems thinking can transform the way you approach health. Look at the inputs. Watch for feedback. Design for sustainability. Iterate as needed. And most importantly, remember that your body, like any good system, wants to work. It just needs the right conditions to thrive.
By applying the same mindset I used in the lab or in corporate project management, I’ve found a new sense of control and peace in my everyday life. Health isn’t a mystery—it’s a system. And it’s one we can learn to navigate, one thoughtful step at a time.