Let’s face it, most of us could do with increasing the amount of water we drink. Unless of course you’re one of the lucky ones who actually loves drinking water and doesn’t struggle with this like I do!
Chugging down energy drinks and coffee might make it easier to get through a rough day juggling all the stuff that needs to be done at home or work, but it doesn’t do much for your health. We all need a decent amount of clean, fresh water to keep all of our cells operating at their best. Use the chart below to determine how much water you should drink each day.
When you drink enough water, it can help to improve the look of your skin, keep you younger for longer, and even help out with things like painful joints.
Unfortunately, it’s surprisingly tricky to remember to keep drinking water through the day – particularly if you have a pretty hectic schedule.
Here are some tricks you can use to ensure you drink more water:
Use your water bottle like a clock.
This is such a popular tip these days that you can actually get water bottles with times stamped on them. Alternatively, just mark lines on your water bottle to correspond with certain times.The idea is to have a big enough bottle that you can chug down a decent amount of H20 throughout the day. If you need to fill your bottle once at work, the lines could count for 8, 10, 12, and 2 for the first half of the day, then 4, 6, 8, and 10 for the second half. It’s up to you to determine how quickly you drink your allocated amounts of water, but the more you chug – the better!
You don’t have to go out and spend a lot of money on a new water bottle…my hubby and I just have these gallons jugs of water that we refill everyday and put these markings on the side to help us stay on track with our water.
Always have water handy.
It’s tough to remember that you should be constantly drinking water if you don’t have any available. To improve your chances of meeting your quota, keep a high-quality refillable water bottle with you at all times. If you don’t want to run between the kitchen and your desk too frequently when at work, it’s worth getting a large enough bottle. You can get full gallon-sized refillable bottles – or use a basic one like I do! Though it might sound simplistic, the reality is you’re a lot more likely to sip at water if it’s convenient. So why not make life easier for yourself?
Drink a glass of water every time you eat.
One of the best ways to get into the habit of drinking water is to do it every time you do something else. For instance, if you’re eating something – whether it’s a meal or a snack, try drinking a full glass of water even before you start your meal. This will not only help you drink more water, it will help you feel fuller so you’re likely to eat less. You can also choose water as a beverage with your meal instead of a sugar filled soda. Drinking water before and during a meal also has other benefits. Water can aid in digestion, so you’re less likely to get a tummy ache, and it can make you feel fuller, so you don’t overeat or binge on unhealthy foods.
Set alarms on your phone.
Try setting a few alarms each day to remind you to drink a bit of water. Even if you ignore one of your alarms, like when you hit the snooze button each morning, you should be able to get a decent amount of hydration this way. If you have a fitness wearable or a smart watch, you can also set alarms on these that remind you to drink more water too.While you’re at it, consider using your water consumption reminder as a reminder to get up and move around too. You can kill two birds with one stone by stretching out your limbs and rehydrating.
Shake up the flavor.
If you consider water to be boring, you can always change things up a bit. Muddling fresh herbs like mint and basil into your water can give it a unique taste, so you’re more inclined to want to gulp your drink down. You can also use water infuser bottles so you can add fresh fruits to your drinks too. I have two flavor enhancers I love…Stur and True Lemon. You can find these at most grocery stores. I get mine either at the Neighborhood Walmart market or sometimes Amazon. Not only do infused drinks taste a little better, but they can also have a range of other benefits. Many people swear by using drinks infused with mint and lemon to improve the performance of the metabolism.
Rehydrate Yourself!
While drinking more water might not seem like the most important item on your to-do list, it can make a real difference to your health. Committing to just one of these strategies could help you to significantly improve your hydration!
