My father always told me, its not how you start, its how you finish, McCarthy told cheering fellow Republicans.

Eager to confront President Joe Biden and the Democrats, he promised subpoenas and investigations. Now the hard work begins, the California Republican declared. He credited former President Donald Trump for standing with him and for making late calls helping get those final votes.

Republicans roared in celebration when his victory was announced, chanting USA! USA!

Finally elected, McCarthy took the oath of office, and the House was finally able to swear in newly elected lawmakers who had been waiting all week for the chamber to formally open and the 2023-24 session to begin.

After four days of grueling ballots, McCarthy flipped more than a dozen conservative holdouts to become supporters, including the chairman of the chambers Freedom Caucus.

He fell one vote short on the 14th ballot, and the chamber became raucous, unruly.

McCarthy strode to the back of the chamber to confront Republican Matt Gaetz, sitting with Lauren Boebert and other holdouts. Fingers were pointed, words exchanged and violence apparently just averted.

At one point, Republican Mike Rogers of Alabama, shouting, approached Gaetz before another Republican, Richard Hudson, physically pulled him back.

Stay civil! someone shouted.

Order restored, the Republicans fell in line to give McCarthy the post he had fought so hard to gain, House speaker, second in the line of succession to the presidency.

The few remaining Republican holdouts began voting present, dropping the tally he needed. It was the end of a bitter standoff that had shown the strengths and fragility of American democracy.

The tally was 216-212 with Democrats voting for leader Hakeem Jeffries, and six Republican holdouts to McCarthy simply voting present.

The nights stunning turn of events came after McCarthy agreed to many of the detractors demands including the reinstatement of a longstanding House rule that would allow any single member to call a vote to oust him from office.

Even as McCarthy secured the votes he needs, he will emerge as a weakened speaker, having given away some powers and constantly under the threat of being booted by his detractors.

But he could also be emboldened as a survivor of one of the more brutal fights for the gavel in U.S. history. Not since the Civil War era has a speakers vote dragged through so many rounds of voting.

The showdown that has stymied the new Congress came against the backdrop of the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which shook the country when a mob of Trumps supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying the Republicans 2020 election defeat to Biden.

At a Capitol event Friday, some lawmakers, all but one of them Democrats, observed a moment of silence and praised officers who helped protect Congress on that day. And at the White House, Biden handed out medals to officers and others who fought the attackers.

America is a land of laws, not chaos, he said.

At the afternoon speakers vote, a number of Republicans tiring of the spectacle temporarily walked out when one of McCarthys most ardent challengers, Gaetz, railed against the GOP leader.

Contours of a deal with conservative holdouts who had been blocking McCarthys rise had emerged the night before, and took hold after four dismal days and 14 failed votes in an intraparty standoff unseen in modern times.

One significant former holdout Republican Scott Perry, chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus, who had been a leader of Trumps efforts to challenge the 2020 election tweeted after his switched vote for McCarthy, Were at a turning point.

Another Republican holdout, Byron Donalds of Florida, who was repeatedly nominated as an alternative candidate for speaker, switched Friday too, voting for McCarthy.

Trump may have played a role in swaying some holdouts calling into a meeting of Republican freshmen the night before, and calling other members ahead of voting. He had urged Republicans to wrap up their public dispute.

As Republican Mike Garcia nominated McCarthy on Friday, he also thanked the U.S. Capitol Police who were given a standing ovation for protecting lawmakers and the legislative seat of democracy on Jan. 6.

But in nominating the Democratic leader Jeffries, Democrat Jim Clyburn recalled the horror of that day and told his colleagues, The eyes of the country are on us today.

Electing a speaker is normally an easy, joyous task for a party that has just won majority control. But not this time: About 200 Republicans were stymied by 20 far-right colleagues who said McCarthy was not conservative enough.

The House adjourned Friday until late in the night, giving time for last-minute negotiations and allowing two absent Republican colleagues to return to Washington.

Newly elected Wesley Hunt of Texas arrived to vote for McCarthy to applause, days after his wife had given birth as did Ken Buck of Colorado.

The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House, much the way that some past Republican speakers, including John Boehner, had trouble leading a rebellious right flank. The result: government shutdowns, standoffs and Boehners early retirement when conservatives threatened to oust him.

The agreement McCarthy presented to the holdouts from the Freedom Caucus and others centers around rules changes they have been seeking for months. Those changes would shrink the power of the speakers office and give rank-and-file lawmakers more influence in drafting and passing legislation.

At the core of the emerging deal was the reinstatement of a House rule that would allow a single lawmaker to make a motion to vacate the chair, essentially calling a vote to oust the speaker. McCarthy had resisted allowing a return to the longstanding rule that former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had done away with, because it had been held over the head of Boehner. But it appears McCarthy had no other choice.

Other wins for the holdouts are more obscure and include provisions in the proposed deal to expand the number of seats available on the House Rules Committee; to mandate 72 hours for bills to be posted before votes; and to promise to try for a constitutional amendment that would impose federal limits on the number of terms a person could serve in the House and Senate.

Before Fridays ballots, Democratic leader Jeffries of New York had won the most votes on every ballot but also remained short of a majority. McCarthy had run second, gaining no ground.

The longest fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.

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AP writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking and video journalists Nathan Ellgren and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.

Daily habits keep our brains healthy, and as the New Year kicks into full swing, its a great time to think about small ways to incorporate new tools into your routine. 

Research shows that taking breaks, practicing gratitude, and trying something new can support brain health. Here are some ways to strengthen your brain this year and take care of yourself: 

Limit multitasking

When we multitask, we subconsciously tell our brains that some things are not worth remembering, Dr. Marc Milstein, author of the book The Age-Proof Brain: New Strategies to Improve Memory, Protect Immunity, and Fight Off Dementia, previously told Fortune. 

The seconds we spend constantly oscillating from task to task prevent certain pieces of information from going from our short-term to long-term memory. 

Try the pomodoro method, where you strategically alternate between tasks and breaks. If you focus on a single task for 25 minutes, youll be more productive and retain more information. 

People are surprised how much more they remember when they just slow down a bit in a world where we are forced to multitask and move to the next, says Milstein. 

Find moments of joy 

Last year, I tried the UC Berkeleys Greater Good Science Centers Big Joy Project, which consists of doing seven days of seven micro-acts of joy to reduce overwhelm and instill happiness. 

While bits of stress can be healthy, chronic stress can harm the brain, affecting thinking, memory, and mood. Small acts of joy can disrupt this stress cycle. 

I listened to a short meditation, completed an act of kindness, started a gratitude practice, and reached out to a friend. 

While small acts of joy arent meant to fix underlying mental health conditions, they did take me out of an elevated state of alert and allowed me to feel more gratefulwhich many experts tout as a way to improve mood and anxiety. 

Go for a brisk walk 

When we feel stressed or burned out, our brains can slide down a worry cycle that can feel debilitating and impossible to break. Researchers discovered that stressful events are associated with an increased risk for mental and physical illness. 

More worry creates more discomfort, which leads to more avoidance. People get trapped in a cycle of trying to avoid uncertainty or discomfort, which feels good in the short term but makes anxiety worse, Lynn Lyons, psychotherapist and author of The Anxiety Audit, previously told Fortune. 

Quick physical activity breaks can help break the cycle and interrupt stressful thought patterns. Try going on a walk when you feel youre spiraling. Dr. Thomas Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), says walking as a form of exercise can improve both physical and mental health, even calling it the closest thing we have to a wonder drug. 

Pick up a hobby

Trying something new can stimulate the brain by releasing dopamine, or the feel-good hormone. Research has shown a new hobby can also improve mental health, and in many instances, keep us connected to a community and give a feeling of belonging. 

Branching out beyond the normal routine can instill confidence in us and help us get out of a rut, by allowing our brain to make new connections and memories.

I tried rock climbing this year even though I am afraid of heights, and I found that I had no choice but to focus on getting to the next boulder, which helped me practice being present and mindful. 

Overcoming new challenges through activities and staying mentally active at any age can strengthen the brains cognitive abilities and help lessen the risk of Alzheimers and dementia. Puzzling, for example, can help our memory and problem-solving skills. 

Dont feel you have to spend copious amounts of money on music lessons or commit to a multi-hour boxing class each week. Start small, and even think about some of the activities you enjoyed when you were younger. How can you re-incorporate those into your week? 

Practice choice reduction 

Its estimated that adults make roughly 35,000 decisions a dayand many are made subconsciously. Battling choices throughout the day takes brain power and can cause decision fatigue, ultimately depleting us. 

When faced with an abundance of choice, our brains get overwhelmed and cannot make decisions as easily or efficiently. To alleviate the brains range of options, practice choice reduction. Put out your clothes for work the night before along with your packed lunch, and set a to-do list so you dont need to feel overwhelmed about what to do when youre in a rush. Save brain energy for the choices that matter most. 

Use self-affirmations, (they dont need to be the cheesy kind)

Self-affirmations have scientific backingthey can improve confidence and self-esteem. Start by assessing your values and thinking about ways you have affirmed those values, experts say. 

This is about really upholding the values that you care about and to think about why theyre important to you, Dr. David Creswell, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University and researcher in self-affirmations, previously told Fortune. For example, if maintaining strong connections with people fulfills you, reflect each day on a time you felt close to someone as a way to affirm that value. 

Creswell says that practicing value-based affirmations can help activate the brains reward system, which makes us feel pleasure and encourages us to continue to uphold the values that make us feel happy. 

Venture to your favorite store 

Retail therapy, or browsing in your favorite store, can actually improve your mood. It can be another way to break the stress cycle, and calm yourself down. 

Whether youre adding items to your shopping cart online or visiting your favorite boutique for a few hours, you do get a psychological and emotional boost. Even window shopping or online browsing can bring brain-fueled happiness. But again, you want to make sure it doesnt get out of hand, says Dr. Scott Bea, a clinical psychologist in an interview with Cleveland Clinic. 

Its no surprise convenience stores have aisles detected to self-care for the anxious shoppers who linger for a distractionand maybe will leave with a few face masks and scented candles (in moderation, of course). 

Adding climate impact labels next to food items decreased high climate impact beef orders by 23%, according to the study from Johns Hopkins Universitys Bloomberg School of Public Health. And including low climate impact labels next to entrees like chicken sandwiches, salads, and fish dishes increased such climate-healthy choices by about 10%.

Researchers provided thousands of online participants with a sample menu, asking each to order a single item for dinner. Some were provided with a menu with high climate impact labels, some with low climate impact labels, and some with no labels.

These results suggest that menu labelingparticularly labels warning that an item has high climate impactcan be an effective strategy for encouraging more sustainable food choices in a fast food setting, the studys lead author, Julia Wolfson, associate professor in the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School, said in a press release.

Beef production is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the food and agriculture sector, according to the study. Reducing red meat consumption on a large scale would significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, the authors contend.

Such labels could also benefit public health. Eating red meat has long been linked to health issues like colorectal cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, according to the study.

Using a 100-point scale, researchers rated the healthfulness of each menu item. They found that participants who had received a menu with high climate impact labels tended to choose menu items that were better for their health. Admittedly, however, none of the menu items were optimally healthy, the authors noted. In fact, the authors pointed out that the labels could end up negatively impacting public health by making low climate impact items seem healthier than they really are.

If customers perceive an undeserved health halo around climate-friendly dishes, such labels could wind up encouraging the consumption of unhealthy food, Wolfson noted. So we have to look for labeling strategies that create win-wins for promoting both more sustainable and healthy choices, she added.

Getting restaurant chains to participate in such labeling may require legislation, Wolfson recently told CNN. While such labeling is relatively rare in the restaurant industry, U.K. Mexican food chain Wahaca includes two labels by each menu item: one with calories, and the other with carbon footprint, BBC recently reported.

As of April, the U.K. required restaurants that employ more than 250 people to list calorie count on their menus. Wahaca decided to take things a step further.

When the government started telling us that we had to put calories on our menus, we thought it was a nice opportunity to start talking about carbon, Thomasina Miers Miers, Wahacas co-founder, recently told BBC. 

Calories are not a brilliant way to determine how healthy food is and theyre definitely not a good way to determine whether its good for the planet.

U.S. food chains Panera Bread and Just Salad began including carbon footprint notes on at least some of their menu items in 2020, though the practice is not widespread, industry publication Restaurant Business noted Thursday.

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When they got around to asking for Leos birthday, the Reddit user whose account has since been deleted, wasnt buying in.

I told them a fake birthday without even knowing the sign associated with it. It turns out, that, based on this information, Im a Leo, Leothe name Fortune gave the anonymous zodiac scammerwrote on Reddit about a year ago. They practically fell all over themselves telling me how much sense that made. You have such a creative spirit! or Youre so generous! or (my favorite) Youre so VITAL.'

Leo doesnt believe in the validity of astrology. More accurately, they said in the Reddit post its one of the dumbest and most unscientific things anyone could believe. Leo said they would quicker give credit to flat Eartherswhich may be extremebut theyre certainly not alone in their dismissal of astrological signs. At the same time, its an increasingly prevalent topic of conversation in offices across the country, as people embrace star signs as a way to explain why their computer is on the fritz (is Mercury in retrograde?) or why they will never get along with their boss (Geminis and Scorpios are polar opposites).

Astrology is not a very scientific way to answer questions, according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology. It doesnt meet the criteria for scientific testing, despite dabbling in some scientific knowledge. But that doesnt stop some 70 million people from reading their horoscopes every day, according to the American Federation of Astrologers.

As the industry has exploded in recent yearsrevenue for U.S. astrology-based apps grew nearly 65% in 2019 to $40 million and hit $44 million in 2021 before coming back down to earth last yearthe use of zodiac signs to explain behaviors, personalities, and the like has clawed deeper into the zeitgeist and everyday conversation. So maybe its not surprising its leaving a mark on the workplace.

The ripple effect of astrology-obsessed millennials entering middle and upper management roles cant be overlooked as a factor. According to a 2012 National Science Foundation study, roughly 58% of respondents age 18-24 believe astrology is based in scienceand those people are now 29-35 with jobs (at least some of them, probably).

I thought it would be kind of funny to do this and then reveal to them later that Im not a Leo at all to see how they reacted and covered for themselves to justify their ongoing belief in magic star influences, Leo continued.

The lie, however, made its way to their boss, who Leo says believed that being a Leo meant there were certain projects and opportunities at work theyd be perfect for. They started getting more challenging and promising work because of their fake sign; how Leos boss viewed them and the impact they had on the company and coworkers changed.

After a presentation to clients, I was recently told that my Leo spirit was really carrying the team through such a difficult deadline, Leo wrote. Now Im genuinely worried that someone is going to figure out my real birthday.

Taking it all with a grain of salt

Theres some validity in using astrology and zodiac signs in a work setting, both to determine where someone might excel and what might motivate them, as well as when it comes to building a team, celebrity astrologer Susan Miller tells Fortune.

Yes in terms of compatibility, astrology can help with that. But you have to be very careful, Miller says. We dont do astrology profiling. You cant cross out a whole section of the zodiac because you had a bad experience with one person.

Miller, a 14-time best-selling author whos garnered something of a cult following since launching her Astrology Zone website, where shes published horoscopes since 1995, said learning someones sign could be useful in a job interview setting, but the problem is too many people are astrology hobbiests. Miller often finds herself defending her industry against the everyday, first-date star-sign reader or the overwhelming number of social media astrologersnot to mention the Leos of the world.

Whoevers doing the chart should be certified, Miller says. There are a number of certifications one can get to make them an accredited astrologer. And even then, Miller acknowledges astrologists dont know everything. If I read your chart I wouldnt know everything about you. Im going to do my research and follow up, ask for more detail.

Star signs in the workplace

Miller says she has never incorporated zodiac signs into her hiring practice, but there are companies that haveshe obviously sees the appeal. Cat Lincoln has been using office astrology at her influencer marketing company CLEVER for years. Its a way to simply better understand each other, knock down walls, and allow people to be their whole selves at work, the 53-year-old Gemini tells Fortune.

CLEVER isnt trading in actual astrology, Lincoln says, though the 22-person staff does know each others signs. Astrology is just a part of her management style, that also includes using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and other personality tests to foster a transparent and safe space in order to better communicate and understand how they work together.

We dont make business decisions based on astrology, Lincoln says. But its humanizing. Its fun, and it kind of lowers peoples defenses to call it office astrology. Its definitely a business decision to treat people like people.

Corporate America has long relied on personality testsone could argue another pseudo-scienceto help with people management. Tests like Myers-Briggs, Gallups CliftonStrengths Assessment, Color Code, and the DiSC model are all variations on a workplace staple that seek to pin down employees talents, leadership styles, and communication strengths and weaknesses among other things.

Offices are no strangers to the personality hire either. Think of personality hires as the glue guys, the funny, or simply entertaining coworker who keeps things light with all the charm and charisma often lacking in corporate settings. They can be invaluable to a workplace, as long as theyre not dragging down the work of course.

One could argue theres room for astrology to nestle in among the rest of these corporate personality assessors meant to motivate employees and cultivate a company culture. But its one piece of the puzzlea starting pointlike anything else.

The best way to use astrology would be to encourage a persons talents, Miller says.

No manager wants to end up with a Zodiac scammer like Leo, who put themselves in an uncomfortable position just to fit in.

I am basically caught up in a lie thats based on nonsense to begin with and Im really confused about what to do, Leo wrote. I will probably never tell anyone at work this information Imagine my boss firing me for pretending to be a Leo? Thats SUCH a Pisces thing to do