It’s been a tough old year-and-a-half, but introducing little moments of pleasure can result in the feel-good factor everyone’s been craving.

Remember hearing the immortal words ‘happy hour’? No, us neither. It’s been too long. Dancing the night away without a care in the world with a few boozy bargains in tow, is all but a distant memory. But what if we were to say ‘joyful hour’? Or ‘joyful moment’? It’s like the one you’re used to but without the fuzzy feeling the day after. And, therefore, without the cheap, sweet alcoholic drinks that you really don’t need to feel happy.

The dictionary definition of joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. In fact, a mere mention of the word conjures up images of smiling faces, people having fun, laughing and enjoying life. But no one has felt like doing any of those things amid a pandemic. Simply trying to stay positive has been enough.

‘The last year has given many of us the opportunity to consider what is most important, connect with the simple pleasures, and understand what truly brings us joy in a way that our fast-paced lives didn’t allow for pre-pandemic,’ says positive psychologist Sophie Cliff, aka The Joyful Coach. And she’s got a point, there have been some positive changes, but you’ve got to strive to put them into practice.

Appreciate every day

As you step into summer, you need to go in search of joy. After all, joy is always there for the taking, waiting for you to reach out and grab it with both hands, every single day.

It doesn’t need to be an hour, either. Ask someone when they last created a moment of joy for themselves. No doubt excuses will come flooding in. But it’s so important to carve out some time for excitement. ‘Studies show that prioritising joy has an abundance of benefits – it improves our physical and mental health, increases our resilience, gives us a greater chance of success at work and improves the quality of our relationships,’ says Sophie. ‘But most importantly, when we are prioritising joy, we are truly making the most of every day.

‘As humans we are wired for two things – avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. Joy and excitement help us to tap into those little moments of pleasure, which in turn, helps us to feel more alive. Additionally, joy in particular helps us be more present in the moment – when we experience joy, we truly slow down, and that can be very rewarding in our hectic world!’

Pack your summer with happiness

So, while the sun is shining and you have a tasty Caleño cocktail in your hand, find a moment (or 10) to experience joy again. ‘The number one thing I do that helps me to appreciate life and invite in more joy is to practise gratitude,’ adds Sophie.

‘When we focus on what we’re thankful for, we let go of worry and comparison and tune into all that is good. I like to write a little list of the things I’m feeling grateful for each morning, but even just doing it once a week can be really powerful.’

Need more inspiration? Check out these top tips:

• Sing your favourite song out loud, no matter where you are.
• Cook a new recipe with ingredients you’ve always wanted to try but never had the courage.
• Dance, to any music you hear, whether you’re good or not. Who cares!
• Do something spontaneous, such as hosting an impromptu BBQ. Those are always the best nights!
• Recreate an activity you did as a child, be it drawing, colouring or even hopscotch. Remember that?
• Go for a walk to reconnect with nature. So many people take their surroundings for granted but just stop and listen to the birds or the critters in that long grass near your home.
• Treat yourself! Buy something you’ve had your eye on for a while or even just a delicious doughnut.
• Call a friend and tell them about your day. If you have any good news, share it with them!
• Light a candle and relax with a feel-good book.
• Rewatch a film or event that you know makes you happy.

Getting into the (non-alcoholic) spirit

Born out of pure frustration when founder Ellie was on an alcohol-free night out and couldn’t find anything decent to drink, Caleño has been gifting people joy with every sip. The range of distilled non-alcoholic spirits is inspired by Ellie’s Colombian roots – vibrant colours, tropical flavours and Latin beats of her homeland have been bottled up for our pleasure. 

Caleño Light & Zesty (£18 for 50cl bottle, £24 for a pack of 12 ready-to-drink cans) is a distilled fresh infusion of tropical, citrus and spice botanicals, featuring pineapple and papaya notes as well as the iconic golden Inca berry, which is sweet yet tangy. You simply serve it over ice and top with tonic.

Caleño Dark & Spicy (£18 for 50cl bottle) is packed with tropical notes of pineapple and coconut, combined with a light ginger spice, smooth vanilla and hints of fresh lime. This is superb served over ice and topped with soda and a generous squeeze of lime. 

So this summer, whatever the weather, make it full of brightness, colour, joy and Caleño!

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