Take off your shoes and socks before elevating your feet. Shoes can cause blood to pool in your feet and encourage swelling. Socks can do this too, particularly if they are tight around the ankle. Give your toes a quick wiggle to get your blood flowing. Stretch your body out on a long couch or bed, lying on your back. Make sure you have lots of room and that you don’t feel you’re going to roll off the couch. Prop up your back and neck with a pillow or two if it makes you feel more comfortable. Avoid lying flat on your back if you are pregnant and past the first trimester. Your uterus can put too much pressure on a central artery, actually suppressing blood flow, which is the opposite of what you want to do. Place a couple of pillows behind your back so you are propped up at a 45-degree angle. Place pillows underneath your feet and ankles to elevate them. Stack as many as necessary to elevate your feet to the level of your heart. Raising your feet to heart level will help drain pooled blood from your feet and make it easier for your heart to increase circulation. You may be most comfortable putting a pillow or two underneath your calves as well to support your elevated feet. Regular 20 minute intervals of elevation should reduce the swelling. You can use this opportunity to catch up on email, watch a movie, or accomplish other tasks that don’t require you to stand.  If you have an injury, such as a sprained ankle, you’ll want to elevate your foot more often. Try to have your foot elevated for a total of 2-3 hours each day.  If you find that your foot swelling doesn’t go down by using this routine for a few days, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Even slight elevation will reduce everyday swelling. Use an ottoman or footstool to lift your feet off the ground whenever possible while seated. Raising your feet will increase blood circulation. You can purchase a small footstool for under your desk if you spend lots of time sitting at work. Use an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel to ice your elevated feet for up to ten minutes at a time. Wait an hour between ice applications. Doing this can reduce swelling further and ease any discomfort you’re experiencing. Always use a barrier between the ice and your bare skin. If you’re feeling the need to ice your feet more frequently due to swelling and pain, make an appointment with your doctor.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Remove your shoes. Lie down on a comfortable couch or in bed. Use pillows to raise your feet up to the level of your heart. Keep your feet elevated for 20 minute intervals throughout the day. Place your feet on a footstool when sitting in a chair. Apply ice if it feels good.

Q: You will easily be able to tell dead palm leaves from their brown color and dry texture. Palm leaves can become damaged from a variety of reasons but the most common is because of weather. Be sure to only cut the leaves and do not yet prune the stems or trunk.  Start from the outermost layer of leaves and work your way in. If you want to prune the stem all the way back to the trunk because of damage, you should note that this will probably affect the flowering capability. Cut the stalk with a clean and sharp knife about ½ to 1 inch from the trunk. Regular pruning will allow your banana plant to remain looking lush. Make sure you have waited until you have harvested any fruit and until your plant has flowered before you prune the stem. If any suckers have sprouted away from your main banana plant, you will need to cut them down as they have a tendency to spread. It is suggested to leave at least one main sucker for your actual banana tree. The main stalk is often referred to as the maiden or mother plant. If you have a fruit bearing tree, a stalk will only bear fruit one time.
A: Trim any brown dead leaves with garden shears. Use a sharp blade or knife to prune the stem. Cut any suckers that have sprouted.

Article: A desk is an essential part of your room. You can use it to do your homework, surf the web, write in your journal, etc. Choose one that fits your needs as well as your personal style; maybe you want a simple, streamlined desk or perhaps you need one with lots of drawers or built-in shelves. Don’t forget to pick a chair to go with your desk, and ensure it is the right height for writing or typing comfortably.  If possible, try to sit at the desk before you buy it. That way, you’ll know whether it’s comfortable and a good size for you. A desk can also double as a vanity where you can do your hair and makeup. An interesting bed frame is a great way to personalize your room; consider a funky headboard or even a sleigh bed, depending on your style. A bedspread or comforter can also be a statement piece for your room. Choose a bold pattern or a fun texture to add personality to your room. If your walls are patterned or filled with poster and photos, you may want to stick with a solid bedspread to keep the room from becoming too busy.  Add fun throw pillows for extra comfort and style. You can change the whole look of your room by adding new bedding, so pick bedclothes that fit your style! If getting a new bed isn’t an option, you can change the look of your old bed by painting the head and footboard or adding upholstery. You’ll likely want a space other than your bed for you or your guests to sit on. Beanbag chairs are relatively cheap and are super comfy. Gaming chairs are great for those who love to play, or you could add ottomans that open for extra seating as well as storage. Pillows also make great seating, so set out some colorful or printed pillows if you can’t get new chairs. If you don’t have a lot of space to work with, ottoman storage cubes are a perfect option. These can serve triple duty as seats, storage containers, and little tables! It’s usually best to start with your bed and move on from there. Keep in mind those activities you thought of when planning your new space. Create zones for different purposes, such as sleeping, working, relaxing, and playing. You can use a curtain, or even furniture, to separate the spaces, like putting a desk in the middle of your room to separate your sleeping area from the space where you watch television or play video games. Think about your daily routines when you’re arranging your space. For example, you’ll need to have plenty of room in front of your dresser so that you can easily open the drawers when you’re getting dressed in the morning.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Pick a desk. Dress up your bed. Set out seating. Decide where things will go.

Article: Even though cats aren't known for being the friendliest creatures, often preferring to be by themselves rather than constantly in owners' arms, they should not be constantly trying to get away from people. This can be a sign that they need a reduction in environmental stressors.  If your cat consistently ducks out of the room or dodges behind furniture every time someone enters the room, you should try to figure out what's wrong. New cats may hide more than cats who are accustomed to their homes, so don't be alarmed if your new cat hides for a while after moving in. If you have a cat cohabitating with other pets, it should be easy to tell if aggression is a normal behavior or not. If your cat consistently snaps at or picks fights with animals it used to play happily with, the cat very well may be stressed. Your cat may be sick instead of stressed, so identify any stressors that could be triggering this behavior before heading to the vet. You are also probably attuned to how your cat interacts with other humans. If your cat used to be warm toward people, or even passively accepted their presence, and suddenly starts lashing out, you have a problem. Again, if you are mystified by this aggression, take stock of your home environment and identify any stressors. If there aren't any, the cat may be sick.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Notice when your cat isolates itself. Be concerned about aggression toward other animals. Address aggression toward people.