The Friday Five 8.9.19
Quote I am pondering, in honor of the late Toni Morrison
World-renowned writer Toni Morrison, the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, passed away this week at age 88. The author of Beloved and 10 other novels, many children’s books and two screenplays, Toni Morrison has countless inspiring quotes. But our favorite remains:
“If you wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”
The truth behind this quote is humbling. In order to move on and soar to greater heights, we must let go of the negative things we hang on to. Rest in peace, Toni.
13 ways to incorporate self-care into your day
How many of us schedule time for ourselves? And we don’t mean saying, “Oh, I’ll get that run in later tonight.” We mean actually putting on your calendar a 45-minute appointment for you to put on the sneakers and get out there. Scheduling time for yourself is just one of the 13 ways to take care of yourself each day, according to this article in Success magazine. Other favorites of ours include listening to a podcast, taking your time waking up (hint: don’t reach for that phone right away!), and make time for play.
What is an “ESI” and how do I know if I need one after a car accident?
Many of our clients end up going to a pain management doctor who evaluates them to see whether they are an “ESI” (Epidural Steroid Injection) candidate. An ESI is an injection into the epidural space of the spine that includes both a corticosteroid and a numbing agent. It is minimally invasive and can relieve pain in the neck, back, arms and legs that is caused by inflamed spinal nerves. Pain can be reduced for several days or even much longer.
Unfortunately, the ESI does not make an actual herniation smaller, but it does have the potential to significantly reduce pain. There may be some minor discomfort from the injection, and it is always recommended that a second person should come along to drive the patient home. Normally, you will be re-evaluated after about 30 days to see how much the ESI helped to reduce your pain and whether it is still working to reduce such pain.
Always feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Try these three time-savers
Everyone I know deals with the same phenomenon: that there just isn’t enough time to get done all of the things we need to while still spending quality time with our family and friends. In this article on three proven ways to save time, readers are encouraged to assume the attitude that every minute that does not work for you works against you. Analyze your day and find where the time “leaks” are so you can restructure your calendar. Be honest about when you are most productive and plan accordingly. Make note of regular daily interruptions and do whatever it takes to eliminate them. What would you do with more time?
How to use the palm of your hand to check steak temperature
Did you know that one of the best ways to keep meat juicy is to allow it to rest for 10 minutes before cutting into it? However, this delicious trick poses a dilemma for steak-lovers: if you don’t cut into the steak, how do you know its doneness? If you don’t have a meat thermometer laying around, use the palm of your hand. This cool infographic shows you how to determine if your steak is rare or well-done (or everything in-between). Pretty cool!