It’s safe to say that the past few weeks have tested everyone’s internal optimism meter but it’s while no-one is denying the challenges that we’re facing, it’s important to see the silver lining, or as Katie Dunlop says “choose joy.”

It can be as simple as moving your body, taking time for an at-home facial, or sharing a cocktail with a friend via video chat to stay connected and present during this time.

Enter the Spritz Social.

To kick off this mindful movement, our CEO, Jaclyn Johnson joined Katie Dunlop, the founder of Love Sweat Fitness for a live workout and wellness chat over a Ketel One Botanical Spritz—keep scrolling for the recipe so you can make it at home too!

While the girls shared a lot of tips and advice around self-care and community (which we will get to below!), Jaclyn and Katie also wanted to highlight Ketel One Botanical’s #TipsFromHome initiative. Since bartenders are among those who have been seriously impacted by COVID-19, the Ketel One Botanical team wanted to find a way to give back. So, every time you use the hashtag #TipsFromHome with #DiageoDonation and tag @KetelOneBotanical, Diageo will donate $1 up to $1 million to participating charities such as the USBG Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.

Make sure to show your support by using the hashtag #TipsFromHome with #DiageoDonation and tag @ketelonebotanical so we can help bartenders across the country!

Now, let’s get to the cocktail! Aside from the amazing taste, the best part about Ketel One Botanical is that it’s made with 100% non-GMO grain, and it also has no carbs, no sugar, and no artificial sweeteners, which are all key things Dunlop looks for. “Being someone who is really aware of what I’m putting into my body, having those ingredients, having no added sugar, and using non-GMO grain is so important, and I just love that it’s all in one bottle—all you need is a little soda water and fresh garnish.”

“It makes me feel like a mixologist,” Jaclyn chimes in. “It feels very complicated but it’s so easy and it’s only 73 calories per glass which is great.”

Keep reading to hear more from Johnson and Dunlop’s chat along with their top wellness advice and tips to stay positive.

JACLYN: How have you been staying positive during this time?

KATIE: This time definitely has been a challenge. I think for a lot of people it’s such a shift being home so much and if you are used to going to work out classes or to gyms or just to meet up with your friends to work out, it’s a big mental shift, not to mention all of the other things that people are going through right now—that can be really stressful.

It’s been really important to stick to my routine as much as possible. That has been extremely helpful. I have always been an at-home workout girl so that part is normal to me, but the biggest thing is scheduling that time into my day and making sure I have that dedicated 10 or 15 minutes. Then I know that I’m going to do something for my body, that’s my time. This has not only been great physically but mentally it has also helped me stay on track.

What’s the first step you should take when starting a fitness community?

My community was built from my 45-pound weight loss journey, so I think the biggest thing is really finding a reason to connect with other people. You have to have some kind of common goal and common interest that motivates you to come together. So, for me, it was finding other women who understood what I was going through and what I went through. Being able to share that experience was really unique. Having that purpose, or you can say your “why” or whatever it is, just something that you feel really passionate about and are able to share but also give a unique perspective on.

And maybe on something that’s missing. So, for me, I didn’t have a community going through my own journey and I really felt like I needed to feel connected to other people and I couldn’t find that anywhere. So, that’s why I was able to start Love Sweat Fitness and now that community has really grown massively over the last two years. But I think the key is having that clear vision of what you want to see.

How have you been sleeping? Normally I can sleep anywhere but lately, it’s been a little stressful and we’re also in a new house, so I think it’s also the newness of that. So, what tips do you have?

I’m actually sleeping better now than I have normally. I’m typically a bad sleeper, I always have been. I feel like I always need a lot of sleep and I’m always tired, but I’m not great at being a solid sleeper. So, for me, going back to routines, I have a very specific night routine that I start a half hour before I actually want to get into bed, and it’s everything from my skincare that I try to treat as a little mini–facial every night and really take time, not just throw it on. From putting on my essential oils, dimming the lights, reading, listening to music.

Having that routine really just sets your body and mind into sleep mode—that’s helped a ton. But exercise will help you sleep better too. Just being able to move your body throughout the day and giving it a little work is definitely a huge help too.

I’ve really been trying to focus on self-care—slowing down my skincare routine, doing a face mask once a week—things I don’t normally do all time, but now I have a little extra time to think about it.

Do you have any mantras that help you stay positive?

My whole life, my mantra has been “choose joy.” My mom has always said that to me in every situation, so my mind always goes there. That’s the biggest thing for me is just trying to stay focused on all the good things that are happening and not to take away from some of the really sad and unfortunate things that are going on right now but I think trying to see the good in most situations, find the things that are uplifting and positive, and my community is a source of positivity.

I also search the #TeamLSF hashtag and I see thousands of women posting and encouraging each other and sweating it out. That gives me so much joy and helps me realize I am not just here for me, I’m here for this whole community to stay positive, to uplift each other, to come together, and that’s really, really powerful.

Now, you can kick off your own Spritz Social with friends and say “cheers” over a Ketel One Botanical Spritz by using the simple (but very delicious) recipe below:

To learn more about Ketel One Botanical, visit ketelone.com/botanical.

This post is sponsored by Ketel One Botanical. Please drink responsibly.

PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD TO THOSE UNDER LEGAL DRINKING AGE

LEGAL NEWSLETTER DISCLOSURE:

KETEL ONE BOTANICAL. Made With Vodka Distilled With Real Botanicals And Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. © Double Eagle Brands, B.V.  Imported by Ketel One USA, Aliso Viejo, CA.*

*Note:  Any KOB materials that feature the bottle and/or NO Sugar, NO Carbs claims also requires the additional following statement either above or below the mandatory line in the same size type: Per 1.5 oz.: 73 Cals, 0g Carbs, 0g Protein, 0g Fat

PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD TO THOSE UNDER LEGAL DRINKING AGE. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.