Embedded Files
Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists
Sometimes you feel you have no energy left.
Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists
For two decades, I've been developing tools that have improved my practice in medicine, dentistry, and scientific research.
Join me every Friday to discover a new tool you can integrate into your workflow as a doctor, a scientist, or both.
I believe in sharing knowledge, embracing automation, boosting productivity, and finding joy in the process.
Table of contents
Table of contents
Preface
Main Article
OMFS World
Stuff
Preface
Preface
This week we had cold weather. The freezing -23ºC kind of weather (-10ºF).
Do you know the “feels like” weather definition? They defined it as “feels like -47ºC”.
Yup. That’s cold.
So how do you know when it’s REALLY cold?
The weather forecast refers to it as “arctic weather”.
You get an email from your kids’ school, asking you not to send them wearing shorts. Apparently, some kids here still wear shorts when it’s really cold.
The sun is out. It’s freezing when the sun is out.
So as a follow-up to my last experiment at minus 12, I went outside at minus 23 with no coat, hat, or gloves. This is what I learned:
The cold temperature by itself is not that bad. The cold wind is. It cuts through you, and it’s painful.
Any body part that is not covered freezes in 3 seconds. Ears and fingertips get numb after 5 seconds.
Covering yourself is the key. If you don’t mind the cold, cover your ears and keep your hands in your pockets. Even a thin layer of cloth will break the wind from reaching your skin.
People around here dress the same at -23ºC and at 0ºC, but they also wear a hat at -23ºC.
Short-sleeved shirt with a coat is still my go-to outfit.
I promise to repeat this experiment if we ever get below -23ºC.
Enough about the cold.
This week we’ll discuss a favorite subject of mine - how to DEAL with burnout.
People often advise you “how to AVOID burnout”, but that won’t help when you’re already exhausted.
People often advise you “how to AVOID burnout”, but that won’t help when you’re already exhausted.
My goal is to provide practical tools to get you back on your feet.
Number 25! I should celebrate this number…
“The unconscious mind is a terrific solver of complex problems when the conscious mind is busy elsewhere or, perhaps better yet, not overtaxed at all.”
— Phil Jackson
Main Article
Main Article
😪Do you ever feel that you’ve taken too much on yourself? Instead of doing things you love, you have a busy schedule and an endless to-do list you hate.
🛌You wake up in the morning with zero energy.
🛌You wake up in the morning with zero energy.
☀️ You consider taking a vacation, but it’s only a temporary fix. Once it’s over, you’re back to square one.
One way to deal with it is to set your priorities straight, as discussed in issue #4 (prioritization).
However, sometimes you feel so drained that you’re overwhelmed. Everything seems too much.
However, sometimes you feel so drained that you’re overwhelmed. Everything seems too much.
I’ve been there.
So many times.
Working 40 hours straight, sleeping for 6 hours (only to work another 30 hours), will suck out your optimism and motivation.
It’s called burnout.
It’s called burnout.
So I had to find a way to DEAL with it, even in extreme 100 hours workweeks.
It’s based on two simple concepts:
Energy
Long-term benefit
Here they are in a cute diagram 😉:
For every activity you have on today’s schedule, ask yourself:
Am l energized after doing it 🔋, or drained 🪫?
Will I benefit from it long-term 👑?
Now place each activity in one of the four quadrants (”Q”):
🪫 Q3
Definition: You don’t enjoy the activity. It drains your energy, and you will not benefit from it.
Action: Take this activity off your schedule as soon as possible.
👑 🔋 Q1
Definition: You enjoy the activity and benefit from it.
Action: Engage in this activity every single day.
🔋 Q4
Definition: The activity energizes you, although there’s no long-term benefit to it.
Action: Couple* it with an activity from Q2.
👑 🪫 Q2
Definition: Although the activity drains you, you will benefit from it today or in the future.
Action: Couple* it with Q4 or use my tips and tricks** to make it more bearable.
* Coupling:
Changing your surroundings can do wonders for your Q2 activities 👑 🪫. For example, suppose you need to work on a grant proposal (That’s a Q2 activity for me 👑 🪫). You can go to your favorite park 🌲, coffee shop ☕️, or pub 🍺 (all Q4🔋) and work there.
If you have an exhausting day 🥱 on your schedule every week, treat yourself and your significant other to a nice dinner afterward 🍽️. Make it your official date night 💘.
The sky is the limit.
** Tips and tricks:
Refer back to the prioritization issue. You will read about “swallow the frog 🐸”, turn active tasks into passive tasks, and the 80/20 principle.
A summarizing diagram:
I’ll end with a common question:
“What about my friends and family? I can’t say “no” to them. I can’t just scratch them off my schedule.”
Answer: It’s rare to have family and friends in Q3🪫.
Most times, there’s an inherent long-term benefit (your relationship with them 👑), or you’re energized by spending time with them 🔋.
But in the rare case you have a Q3 with them 🪫, you MUST find a way to change it. Even if it means saying “no”.
“Avoid compulsively making things worse.”
OMFS World
OMFS World
🥼For the OMFS resident - Suturing a lip is a delicate process that requires a precise technique.
After suturing more than 1000 lips 👄, here are my tips:
a. You should always start at the vermilion border, unless there’s an obvious key site. In this case, place the vermilion suture second.
b. Avoid deep sutures whenever possible. If you must, place one deep horizontal mattress.
c. Don’t position your knot on the wound edge. it will separate the edges and make it difficult to take out.
🩺For the non-MD medical professional - Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) diarrhea is a serious infection that affects the intestines and is common in individuals taking antibiotics. Suspect it in unexplained diarrhea that occurs 3 or more times in 24 hours, and diagnose it with a stool toxin assay. Treat with vancomycin or fidaxomicin.
Metronidazole is no longer the treatment of choice, so don’t prescribe it for a C. difficile infection!
Stuff
Stuff
💡Gear I use - Noot K11 kids headphones 🎧. These are the most durable, comfortable, and affordable headphones for kids 👧. They are designed to fit comfortably on small ears and are constructed from durable materials.
My kids use them with their iPods. Nothing like a long drive with firstborn and secondborn singing Beatles and Lady Gaga in the back.
Epilogue
Epilogue
That’s it for this issue.
If you enjoyed this issue and haven’t subscribed yet, you can do so by clicking "subscribe" below.
Subscribing is free, and it will be sent to your email every Friday (no spam!).
Have a great weekend!
Shay
Report abuse