We can all agree how important drinking enough water is for your health, right? Well knowing that isn’t enough, most people are dehydrated and have a hard time drinking the recommended amount.
So here’s my challenge to you: use all of these tips I’m giving you here today and apply them for the next week and see how you feel. My guess is you’ll feel lighter, brighter and a bit more energized as well.
When you drink water, your body operates much more efficiently (actually how it’s supposed to) so don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling better all around.
Easy Ways to Hydrate
Get a good water bottle, one that's easy to just grab and take a swig. My personal preference in a water bottle is glass. I like how clean it is; no chemicals leaching into my water, the taste is better and it’s easy to disinfect because it’s nonporous. If your water bottle has a cap on it, I would recommend leaving it off when you’re at the house or in the office because it takes more effort just to grab it and take a drink – and the key to making hydration a new routine is making it easy and gratifying.
Always keep a water bottle with you
As mentioned above, keeping your water with you at all times will ensure consistent hydration. It’s important to be really conscious about how much you’re going to the bathroom as well. When liquids go out, they must be replenished, so make sure to drink a few big gulps afterwards. I bring my water bottle everywhere, especially when I’m running errands and will be out of the house for more than 30 minutes.
When out and about, bring a water jug with you for easy refills.
You’ll find that as you drink more water, the more in-tune you’ll become with your body and you’ll realize even if you’re slightly dehydrated. Just writing this post is making my mouth water, and my mind is questioning whether or not I need more water.
Add lemon oil to water in the morning
I love starting my day off with lemon water. In the fall/winter I like to drink warm lemon water, and drink it with ice in the spring/summer months. Lemon water first thing in the morning starts production of bile in your digestive system and is an alkaline food which helps level out the pH in the body.
I’ve also found drinking warm lemon water in the morning a great way to kick the coffee habit. It’s nice to have something warm in your hands when you wake up, and is really hydrating as well. Just add 1 drop of lemon oil to a 16 ounce glass.
Add mint leaves to water in the afternoon
After lunch it’s common to feel the need for a snack, but sometimes you just need more water. Often times, however, it’s hard to reach for a beverage with no flavor. This is where the mint leaves come in, add in a few leaves for an extra spruce to keep your water interesting and refreshing.
Keep your water bottle full.
This is another easy way to drink more water. Think about it, if you reach for your water bottle and find it’s empty, you will probably wait until your done doing whatever it is that you’re currently doing. But if you never have that problem of grabbing an empty container, you will be more likely to drink more throughout the day. Get familiar with the sound your water bottle makes when it hits the table and it’s empty, that’s the notification for ‘refill’.
Add fruit fruit wedges to your water
I don’t drink a lot of chilled water, but many people I’ve met love drinking cold water. Your body actually burns more energy warming up the water so it can be digested, so there is some benefit to it as well.
Simply chop wedges of lemons and oranges and put them on a baking sheet in the freezer with parchment paper down first. Once they’re frozen solid, transfer to a Ziploc bag or glass container to protect from freezer burn.
If you realize you haven't been drinking water for a couple hours, drink 16-24 ounces right away to catch up.
Life gets busy, we get caught up, we find ourselves behind on a lot of things, and especially hydration. When you realize you’re behind on the count, catch yourself up by guzzling a water bottle full – you’ll feel better in 15-20 minutes when you’re body has absorbed it, with more energy and clarity.
It sounds pretty easy but it’s putting it into practice that is the hard part.
Those are the tips that I use to drink more water; what secrets do you have that keep you feeling good and hydrated?
