The Daily Valet. - 1/20/22, Thursday

✔️ About Those Resolutions

January 20, 2022

Thursday, January 20th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I’ll be honest, I did not work out this morning …

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

About Those Resolutions

This isn’t about a lack of willpower

Have you kept up your New Year’s resolution? If so, you made it past “Quitter’s Day.” A study by the fitness app Strava analyzed data from 98.3 million uploaded exercise activities and determined that the 19th of January is the day when most resolutions are abandoned.

But for those still holding on, be prepared: About 64% of people eventually give up on their resolutions by the end of January, according to a 2021 study. Meanwhile, a different survey found that the average American expects to give up entirely by February 4th.

While it may seem to be the culprit, your lack of willpower is not the reason why you abandon your resolution each year. It has more to do with the fact that resolutions are so large: “I am going to get healthy.” Making one grand sweeping goal is simply unrealistic, a renowned therapist tells InsideHook.

What’s a better goal? Maybe “I will work out everyday” (more on that below) or “I will journal at the end of every night”. Those are specific, measurable goals. Not only do you know what you want to accomplish, but you can create a system to get you there.

According to several psychotherapists, the three most common reasons people struggle to keep their resolutions include not being specific enough, using negative language and making resolutions about what you don’t want (versus ones centered around what you do want).

Or maybe you weren’t interested in making a resolution at all after what’s been called “one of the worst years in American history.” An overwhelming 61% of those surveyed by a recent Economist/YouGov poll said nah to any resolution whatsoever. Hey, there’s always next year, right?

↦ FYI: A recent survey found that of those who’ve previously set resolutions, 68% have never fully achieved one.

What’s Happening With Russia?

Moscow has deployed additional forces along Ukraine’s borders

President Biden addressed the brewing conflict between Russia and Ukraine during a press briefing Wednesday, saying of Russian President Vladimir Putin, “my guess is he will move in.”

U.S. officials have issued a series of warnings about Russia's threatening military buildup on the border with Ukraine, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying in Kyiv earlier Wednesday that Russia could invade “on very short notice.” But it's still unclear whether Putin himself has decided what comes next.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the White House has approved $200 million in new defensive military assistance to Ukraine, saying on Wednesday that the U.S. “will continue to provide Ukraine the support it needs.” That sum includes Javelin antitank missiles, U.S. officials said, though the administration has stopped short of providing offensive weapons to Ukraine and said it won't use direct military force to support the country.

What exactly does this mean? Biden said that Russia will be “held accountable if it invades” but added that “it depends on what it does.” Asked later if he was effectively giving Russia permission to make a small incursion, Biden stressed the importance of NATO having a unified response and noted that differences amongst the bloc's members do exist.

↦ FYI: Russian forces are moving to bracket Ukraine on three sides. The deployment of troops in Belarus expand the Russia’s considerable presence north of Ukraine.

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Pet Cloning Is Real

And people are already genetically replicating their cats and dogs

They say social media ruins everything. I don't know if that's true, but it certainly plays a role here. The idea of cloning your beloved pet is a complicated and nuanced discussion. Just because we can, does it mean that we should?

But in a bleak reflection of our self-obsessed society, pet influencers are cloning their pets for internet clout—and to continue making content after the original animal has died.

Input introduces us to several content creators who said cloning helped them grieve their loss. Of course, the investment has also allowed them to keep the Instagram accounts going. Just how much is it? ViaGen Pets is a leader in the field and charges between $35,000 to $50,000 to create an embryo from an animal's original cells that's then transferred to a surrogate mother.

Although the clone might have the exact same DNA profile as the original pet, it will still develop its own temperament and personality. “It is not a reincarnation,” a company rep told Newsweek. “It is the essence of that original animal and I think that's what our clients are looking to get out of cloning. I don't think the majority of them are looking to replace that animal, they're looking to get a part of that animal back.”

↦ FYI: ViaGen Pets has already cloned almost 1,000 pets.

Make Exercise a Daily Habit

5 proven ways to stick to your routine

Maybe your fitness routine has been less than consistent over the past few months. Perhaps you made a New Years resolution that's been tough to stick to or you're simply ready to kickstart a regular workout regimen.

We all know that consistently is key when it comes to fitness. And while 79% of American adults say they feel generally happier when they stick to a regular exercise routine, 48% also said they're too busy from work and other obligations to exercise at all.

It's an important distinction: desiring to exercise and actually doing it. So how do you adapt your lifestyle to incorporate exercise as a daily habit? By being proactive about the process.

We spoke with a few experts to get the five crucial steps to take in order to develop a healthy routine that you can stick to going forward.

↦ Read: How to make exercise a daily habit

In Other News

↦ Voting Bill Collapses, Democrats Unable to Change Filibuster

↦ China Warns Foreign Olympic Athletes Against Speaking Out on Politics at Winter Games

↦ One-Third of People Have $100 or Less in Their Checking Account—Here’s How Much Experts Say You Should Have

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

This ode to Andre Leon Talley

Luxury hand sanitizer

What if they extended Manhattan?

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What We’re Wearing: Working From Home

Although working from home allows for more flexibility in dressing, that's no excuse to not look put together. A nice cotton zip jacket looks great with sweats, but is much more stylish than a standard hoodie. Our unofficial WFH shoe is the Boston clog—cozy with or without socks. Lastly, incense and a water bottle are a must for your mental and physical health. Light these sandalwood sticks to help you get in a meditative mood before your hectic day begins and upgrade your hydration with a sleek bottle that will make you want to drink more.

↦ Get It: Our WFH kit