The Daily Valet. - 2/6/23, Monday
✔️Are You Working Too Much?
Monday, February 6th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I work a lot, but I actually don’t think I qualify as a “workaholic” …
Presented by
Today’s Big Story
Are You Working Too Much?
The Hidden Link Between Workaholism and Mental Health
We're seeing a huge shift in how we work lately. From remote and hybrid work to the possibility of four-day workweeks, it seems like a lot of us have swapped the “hustle and grind” culture for a more sustainable work-life balance. But do we even know what that looks like?According to Psychology Today, the concept “workaholism” has vanished from most discussions today, but not because we have a handle on it. Rather, because working too much is now a completely normalized condition rather than a pathology.The concept of workaholism was first coined in the 1970s. Author and professor W. E. Oates described it as “the compulsive and uncontrollable need to work incessantly.” And he defined a workaholic as anyone who spends more than 50 hours a week working. (Sound familiar?) But there's a difference between needing to work longer hours and “an excessive need to work” that interferes with our bodily health, personal happiness, and interpersonal relations.That's when it kicks over into an addiction. And according to The Atlantic, researchers today find that workaholism is a common addiction in response to people's personal distress. But like so many addictions, it actually worsens the situation it's meant to alleviate.Working all the time is also rooted in a fear of being alone with ourselves and our thoughts and feelings. Many of us find it increasingly hard just to be rather than constantly to do. It is a catch-22 situation: The more we work, the less rich our non-work life will become. When we finally do pause, we might find that our lives have become quite empty—that they lack nourishing relationships, joy, warmth and fun. If you can relate, you might want to talk with a therapist ... or your boss.
Sound Familiar?
Are those late nights you’re pulling a sign of something deeper? Here's how to tell if you're a workaholic.
Latest Jobs Report Crushes Estimates
Unemployment Falls to the Lowest level in 53 Years
Speaking of work, the American economy added more than 517,000 new jobs in January—far exceeding expectations and showing that the U.S. labor market is still strong. The unemployment rate officially fell to 3.4% last month, which is actually the lowest level since the summer of 1969.The unexpectedly strong hiring gains raise questions about whether the economy, which had been losing momentum over the past several months, is starting to pick up steam again. According to the Wall Street Journal, a survey of economists only expected around 187,000 new jobs in January. “It was a phenomenal report,” one economist told CNBC. “This brings into question how we're able to see that level of job growth despite some of the other rumblings in the economy.”In another sign of confidence among workers, people voluntarily left their jobs at about the same rate as they did in November. Quits as a share of the overall employment base have fallen slightly from 3% at the end of 2021, but plateaued over the past few months. Overall, in 2022, about 50 million Americans quit their jobs.
FYI:
Artificial intelligence may not be replacing most jobs (yet), but it's fascinating how easy it is for chatbots to win over recruiters.
Partner
Don’t just pick up any old flowers for Valentine’s Day. This company has made a name for themselves with tasteful arrangements that suit a variety of styles.
Did You Watch the Grammys?
It was a historic and surprising Night
The 65th Grammy Awards, which returned to the Staples Center (officially Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles for the first time since 2020, kicked off Sunday night with a performance by Bad Bunny. The first artist who performs exclusively in Spanish to be nominated for album of the year, the reggaeton/Latin trap phenom opened this year's ceremony with a banging set (and later won Best Musica Urbana Album).It was a night of historic wins. Viola Davis became the 18th EGOT winner when she took home her first Grammy—in the storytelling recording category. Kim Petras and Sam Smith's chart-topping collaboration “Unholy” won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance. Smith sat back while Petras accepted the award, giving her the spotlight as the first transgender woman to win in the category.Harry Styles's “Harry’s House” won album of the year, Lizzo won record of the year for her retro dance anthem “About Damn Time.” Both beat out Beyoncé in their categories, but Queen B's accomplishment resonated throughout the evening. Accepting her 32nd career award, Beyoncé surpassed Georg Solti, the classical conductor who had long held the title of the most career wins by any musician. It's hard to imagine another artist coming close to that record.
The Winners:
Pitchfork has the full list of who took home a Grammy last night.
Subway Switches Things Up
And it will likely result in a better sandwich
The world's largest restaurant operation just keeps getting bigger and more successful. Subway says it had a record-setting year for sales in 2022, bolstered by a menu revamp and store renovations. And there's more to come.You might've noticed that despite an emphasis on freshness and customization, Subways don't have deli slicers on site. Unlike other popular quick-service sandwich shops (Jimmy John's or Jersey Mike's) that slice their meat in-house, your local Subway receives its deli meat pre-sliced. Why does that matter? According to The Takeout, when deli meat is sliced on site, it retains more moisture than the pre-sliced stuff, since less of the meat’s surface area is exposed to air and consequently dried out. That’s a difference you can taste, even when the meat is tucked into bread and all dressed up with fixings.But now, Subway is in the process of adding deli slicers to every location. Which means your meat will be sliced fresh (and maybe even to your personally desired thickness?). But that also means that orders could take longer and there are more opportunities for foodborne illnesses. I guess the real question is: How much do you trust your local sandwich artist?
Meanwhile:
McDonald's is testing out strawless cups as part of the brand’s sustainability plan.
In Other News
He’ll explain why voters should give him a second term.
Have you heard about ...
Partner
Better Blooms Show You Care
Treat that special someone to a truly special arrangement
This is the big day. Valentine’s Day is not the occasion to show up with some sad flowers that came home with you from the grocery store. Or the tacky yet underwhelming arrangements that often get marked up for the holiday. We like turning to UrbanStems. The brand has a solid reputation thanks to their tasteful arrangements that suit a variety of styles and budgets. Which means they're as good for your significant other as they are for your best friend or even your mom. After all, who doesn't like being known as a gentleman who sends flowers?Flowers are the ultimate romantic gesture. But they can also be a token of your affection, a reminder that you're thinking of someone or simply a stylish bouquet that you know will make someone's day a bit better. And while quality roses are always a sure bet, don't be afraid to go outside the norm and select blooms that feature your partner's favorite color. You'll always get points for trying.
Bouquet of red roses.
$85
Bouquet of purple roses, aster and alstroemeria.
$55
Bouquet of spray roses.
$60
Bouquet of red roses and ranunculus in a bronze vase.
$175
Bouquet of red and pink roses.
$90
Bouquet of roses and mini calla lilies.
$90
Shop Now & Save:
Get 15% off your order now w/code SPECIAL15
Shopping
What We’re Buying
Todd Snyder's First Cologne
What would you create if you were to make your first fragrance? For designer Todd Snyder, he wanted to capture that “invigorating feeling you get in the morning when you climb over a sand dune and smell the ocean for the first time.” To capture that vibe in a bottle, he worked with one of the coolest fragrance houses today, D.S. & Durga. “We started off by talking about these masculine citrus fragrances from the Nineties,” says perfumer David Seth Moltz. “And the challenge became updating that and incorporating coastal notes like wooly beach heather.” The end result ($190) is a light, clean scent that dries down into a deeper, warmer musk throughout the day.
Want More?
The five stylish items you should buy this week
Morning Motto
Don’t let the bastards get you down.
▾
Follow:
Share today’s motto:
