This story is in paid partnership with Diageo.

Progress over perfection. Ever heard of it? At Create & Cultivate, it’s one of the mottos we live by. In fact, we take it so seriously, that we even have it painted on the office kitchen wall. Whether it’s personal or professional, big or small, we believe the lessons lie in the journey, not the destination. While we love dreaming big and thinking of the full picture, we make sure to celebrate the little milestones along the way too because true success is the sum of all your small efforts, right?

As opportunities, responsibilities, expectations, and commitments stack up, so do our to-do lists. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love the hustle. Of course, we do. Just make the time to pause at each step so you don’t stretch yourself too thin. And there’s a myriad of ways you can do that. Our favorite? Celebrating the wins along the way by taking time for self-care such as applying a clay face mask, taking a bath, reading a book, or our personal favorite, cracking open a Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer.

Because taking time out to relax and unwind—and getting in those eight hours of sleep a night—should be just as important as those to-do’s like creating a P&L or sending that client email. So, to help you get there, we tapped the shoulders of our very own hustlers, the team C&C, to ask how they unwind after a jam-packed day. C&C team pro tip: swap your glass of red for a low-cal alternative like our favorite Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer for a guilt-free nightcap. For more pro tips and tricks, follow along to see how our team does self-care and be sure to scroll down to the end to make our exclusive drink recipes and say cheers to yourself for getting through another day!

Danielle Boyce, Graphic Design Intern

“I work two part-time jobs and have two side hustles so I never feel like I have an ‘end of the day.’  I have made boundaries like I can't work or use my laptop after I shower and do my skincare routine. I try and unplug at least half an hour before I go to sleep. But, I usually listen to a podcast or call my friends living in San Francisco for the summer. I like recapping my day with my favorite people, it always puts me in a good mood for the morning.”

Alyssa Sage, Marketing Manager

“How do I unwind? With a bubble bath and my fave book, wine, and candles.” 

Nicole Povey, Coordinator 

“After a long day, I love to wind down with a glass of Pinot Grigio and some bad reality T.V. If I’m not feeling the electronics, painting is my go-to for winding down and resetting.” 

Dana Saperstein, Senior Event Producer

“I unwind after a long day by cooking. Cooking allows me guidelines that I can follow so I don't have to think too much. Chopping is like my meditation. I can zone out. It also provides a little bit of excitement because you never know how it's going to turn out!”

Dre Reyes , Senior Marketing Associate

"I like to unwind by cleansing my face, putting on a face mask and enjoying a glass of wine while I lounge on the couch in my comfy robe. To me, this is the ultimate form of self-care.”

Sacha Strebe, Editorial Director

“For me, unwinding is all about a long, hot, salt bath. There’s nothing quite like it for soothing aching bones, muscles, and to allow some time for your brain to digest the day, detach from the to-do list, and quietly meditate without screens or distractions. I just read that 1kg of pink Himalayan salt (has to be food grade) in a bath is a powerful detoxifier because it extracts the toxins out of your skin and tissues. It’s akin to soaking in an ocean of energy. The process is called dermal absorption because your skin soaks up the minerals from the water including calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, zinc and more. So, I’m hitting up my Amazon Prime account and having a few bags of salt delivered stat.” 

Kylie Tansey, VP Sales

“My fiancé and I are learning to cook together. Cooking always seemed like a chore to us. Now that we have become a little more comfortable in the kitchen, it has become a way that we relax and catch up with each other after a long day. Cheesy as it sounds, I find that having something as simple as time together to look forward to at the end of the day makes even the hardest of days feel more joyful.” 

Spice up  your nightly self-care ritual with one of our favorite Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer recipes below! 

Spiked Piña Colada 

Ingredients:

1 can of  Piña Colada Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer

1 oz. coconut cream

6 oz. fresh pineapple juice

1 cup of crushed ice

Directions:  Combine all ingredients then blend until smooth. Add a fun toothpick umbrella and a slice of pineapple for optimal vacation vibes.

Raspberry Frozé

Ingredients:

1 can of Raspberry Rosé Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer

1 oz. lemon juice

3½ ounces strawberry syrup

1 cup of crushed ice 

Directions:  Combine all ingredients then blend until smooth. Place blender container in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes for the best consistency.