Want to drink more water but somehow always fail to keep it up? This might happen because you’re too busy, forgetful, or simply not motivated enough. But no matter the reason, we gathered the best tips for staying hydrated and drinking enough water a day. If you don’t drink enough water, keep in mind that you are not the only one. In fact, many of us are well aware of the importance of staying hydrated as well as the bad consequences of not drinking enough water, yet, we still don’t drink as much water as our bodies need per day. So just don’t worry and click on NEXT to find out how to drink more water and stay hydrated.
11. First, determine how much water should you drink each day
A simple trick to figure out how much H2O your body needs to stay hydrated is measuring the average amount of water you should drink throughout the day to make sure that the color of your urine is light yellow or clear. Once you figure it out, start closely monitoring your daily water intake to ensure consuming that exact amount daily. You may find it more practical to use either pen-and-paper charts or some awesome apps, like Daily Water, WaterYourBody, or Waterlogged.
10. Keep your water cold
Of course, water temperature preferences vary from one person to another, but chances are you’re one of those who would drink more water if it is refrigerator-cold and would hardly finish up the whole glass of water if it’s room temperature. One good trick to get yourself to drink water is to always keep extra water bottles in your refrigerator, in addition to a few in the freezer for when you’re heading out.
9. Add some interesting flavors to your water
Sometimes, water gets boring. So when you find yourself craving something more interesting, just try to add a different flavor to your glass of water. A wonderful and fun way to naturally flavor your water is by using a water bottle with an infuser. Also, adding limes and lemons is a tasty and healthy choice, not to mention that these citrus fruits are always available in the grocery store at very reasonable prices. As for seasonal options, you can go for berries, watermelon, orange, or cucumber. Or you can consider adding some great herbs, like lavender, basil, or mint.
8. Set as many timers or alerts as you need
Motivation and willpower aren’t always enough to get you to maintain a regular hydration routine. So if you keep forgetting to drink enough water throughout the day, you should simply set periodic timers or alerts on your smartphone to be reminded of your daily water intake. For extra fun, try setting a water-themed song to your alert ringtone.
7. Mark deadlines on your water bottle
If you need a solution that’s a little more strict, draw specific deadlines and water levels on your water bottle using a permanent marker so you’ll know exactly how much water you still need to drink or should have drunk during the day. Try to respect the deadlines you set for yourself at all costs, and don’t forget to refill your bottle!
6. Use a straw when drinking water
As a matter of fact, using a straw will make you drink more water in a short amount of time. Maybe that’s why restaurants usually serve drinks with straws. So just apply the same trick to drink more water and ensure staying well-hydrated.
5. Eat spicy food
Try eating some dynamite chicken fajitas or extra spicy curry, and you’ll find yourself reaching for water more than usual. Spicy food can kick-start your taste buds and make you thirstier, which means you’ll be drinking more water. Even though the water may not soothe the burning sensation inside your mouth after eating spicy food, at least it will make you keep gulping down more.
4. Buy the perfect water bottle
If you really love your water bottle’s design and colors, then chances are you’ll want to use it every day and carry it everywhere. Whatever shape, color, or style, just make sure you fall in love with your reusable bottle from the first sight. Also, getting a reusable water bottle (that you like) is definitely healthier than refilling a disposable water bottle.
3. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink some water
You should keep in mind that thirst is a bad sign of hydration status because, by the time you’re feeling thirsty, your body has already lost enough water to make your work performance go down by about 30%. This may lead to unexplained fatigue or irritation. But on the bright side, you can avoid all of this by sipping water throughout the day. Make sure to carry your water bottle everywhere so you can drink up now and then, ensuring your body stays well-hydrated.
2. Replace your dehydrating beverages with water
Having caffeinated or sugary fizzy drinks can reduce your body water, making you more prone to dehydration (especially if you don’t drink enough water throughout the day.) While caffeine triggers the kidneys to excrete water, sugary soft drinks pull water from the surrounding tissue to water down the drink’s concentrated sugar, thus decreasing the body’s hydration level. Make sure to avoid these types of drinks as much as you can, or even better, replace them with plain water, especially when the weather is hot and humid. You can try to make it a habit to drink a glass of water immediately after waking up every morning.
1. Consider eating your water
Foods that help you stay hydrated include zucchini, broccoli, strawberries, capsicums, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon, radishes, celery, lettuce, and cucumber. However, even though these fruits and veggies have a high water content, you shouldn’t rely only on them for your daily water intake. To stay hydrated, you should also drink actual water. It’s just a perfect solution to include more water-rich foods into your diet as a way to level up your water intake. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you have other useful tips and tricks on how to stay hydrated or wish to share your own experience. Also, be kind enough to share this information with people you care about.
