profile

Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists

Doing the Right Thing (or Taking the Easy Way Out)

Published 10 months ago • 1 min read

Doing the Right Thing (or Taking the Easy Way Out)

Recently, I’ve taken on a significant teaching responsibility. I didn’t have to do it, but I’ve done it anyway. Why not take the easy way out and enjoy life more? Friday’s Digest #155

Last week, I didn't publish a newsletter.

That was the easy way out.

Physically, not mentally.

Physically, I had more time on the weekend, one less item on my to-do list, and no financial impact (I don't make money from this newsletter).

Mentally, it was terrible.

I had a crappy sensation all week— a feeling that "this is not right."

Which brings us to the topic of "doing the right thing."

Last week I took on a teaching obligation at work.

A MAJOR teaching obligation.

This commitment starts at 6 am every day and adds about 12 hours to my workweek.

I'm sleeping less, don’t have any breaks, and my research time has taken a major hit.

So why in the world did I take on this obligation?

Because it was the right thing to do.

I've made similar sacrifices before.

So I know it might take months, even years, before I see any benefit from this decision.

On the other hand, I could have taken the easy way out.

A way that would offer immediate rewards:

Like having more sleep.

Enjoying my morning coffee in peace at 6 am.

Starting my regular workday after advancing my research in the early morning.

For now, though, I've chosen to set these immediate benefits aside.

We'll see how it goes.

I'll keep you posted.

Epilogue

If you received this newsletter from a friend and would like to join Friday's Digest, visit https://newsletter.shaysharon.com​

That’s it for this issue.

See you next week!

Shay

Want to learn more from me?

Tip Sheets:

  • My Workflow for Reading & Writing Manuscripts
  • Future Fellows & Postdocs
  • The PhD Journey
  • How To Write an Abstract in 10 Minutes
  • How to Study for the TOEFL

Video Guides:

  • Manage References with a SINGLE CLICK
  • My Workflow for Reading & Writing Manuscripts
  • How to Write an Abstract in 10 Minutes​
  • Make PubMed Work For You
  • How I Use Anki Flashcards
  • How I Studied for the USMLE
  • How I Studied for the TOEFL
  • What's in My Bag​
  • Clinical Photography - The Complete Guide
    ​

7-Day Email Courses:

  • Your Guide to Fellowship
  • How to Survive Residency
  • The Scientist's Handbook
  • How to Start a New Job
  • Your Guide to Dental School

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
​Unsubscribe · Change your email address​

Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists

by Shay Sharon DMD, MD, PhD

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.

Read more from Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists

Something Happened Something happened. And for a while, nothing else mattered. Friday's Digest #157 Table of contents Life Update Tools and Tips Stuff Life Update It's been 9 months since we last met in your inbox. It feels like 10 years have passed. Not 1. Not 2. Ten. At least. On August 28th, 2025, something happened. FDR called December 7th "a date which will live in infamy". (That was the day the US was attacked at Pearl Harbor). I'm not comparing the scale. But I now understand what it...

4 days ago • 3 min read

ChatGPT vs. Gemini: Which AI Should You Use Nowadays Short answer: Gemini. Long answer: Gemini has outperformed ChatGPT for months, especially for health and science. Friday’s Digest #156 Table of contents Life Update Tools and Tips Life Update The last couple of weeks have been extremely difficult for me. You might have noticed changes in my newsletter. I didn't publish two weeks ago and shared a very different newsletter last week. But after these challenging two weeks, I feel like I might...

9 months ago • 3 min read

How Do You Back Up Your Data? “I trust my computer” or “I trust my university file system” are both wrong answers. So, how should you back up your data? Friday’s Digest #154 Life Update Being a surgeon and maintaining a healthy diet don't go well together. I've been struggling with this since my residency days. But recently, I finally found a solution! The challenge was simple: I don't bring food from home. I don’t have the energy to prepare meals in advance, and I don't want to carry around...

10 months ago • 3 min read