Water is vital for the proper functioning of every cell in
the body. It aids digestion, prevents constipation, flushes toxins, supports
kidney function, lubricates joints and muscles, promotes healthier skin, and
helps regulate body temperature.
That’s why we need to drink plenty of water throughout the
day. However, this can prove to be a bit difficult or rather yet boring and
repetitive. So how do we train ourselves to drink enough water every day?
With a few simple tricks, creating some fun rules for yourself,
and maybe investing in a product or two, staying hydrated doesn't have to be so
challenging. Here are our top tips for drinking more water every day.
How much water do we need?
When it comes to water, our bodies constantly lose water
throughout the day through sweating, urinating, and even breathing. To prevent
our bodies from dehydrating, we need to drink enough water daily. This includes
both eating and drinking.
How much water we need to drink is individual. It depends on
many different factors both internal and external. Factors such as your diet,
where you live, the season you’re in, your environment, your health, and how
active you are.
However, a consensus is that women should drink around 11.5
cups a day, and men 15.5 cups.
With that said, let’s see how you can increase your daily
water intake with these couple of tips.
Tips for increasing your water intake
Tie water drinking to a routine
The easiest way to ensure you drink plenty of water
throughout the day is by tying drinking to a routine. For instance, this
routine can be eating meals, going to the bathroom, or washing your hands.
You can decide to drink water before every meal, or you can
sip some water after every bathroom break. It’s really up to you. The goal is
to make it a routine.
Add flavor to your water
Water doesn't usually have any particular taste and that’s
what makes it rather boring in the minds of most people. To change the taste of
water and in that way, make it more exciting to drink, steep some fruit,
veggies, or herbs in your pitcher.
Adding combinations of fruit and vegetables as well as herbs
will also make the water tastier. Remember that the longer you let it steep,
the richer the flavor of water will be.
Decorate your water bottles
Aesthetically pleasing water bottles inspire us to drink
more water. Instead of drinking water from your regular boring water bottles,
you can decorate and personalize your water bottles however you like.
You can add waterproof stickers, and rhinestones, or
personalize it with permanent markers or paint. Or you can purchase stubby holders and personalize them however you want.
The additional benefit of stubby holders is that they will
keep your drink either cold or hot, depending on the drink.
Increase water intake through food
Prioritize food that is high in water. This is a great and
smart way to increase your daily water intake. Add fruits and vegetables with
high water content to your grocery and cooking list. Some top choices include
cucumber, lettuce, celery, zucchini, watermelon, and grapefruit.
Track your water intake
Tracking your water intake can be easy (and fun) with the
help of some of the free apps. The apps are pretty straightforward, they remind
you to drink water and at the same time, track your water intake. They also
challenge you to drink more and reach your daily goal.
So, either apps or you can invest in a smart water bottle
that comes with an accompanying app. The bottle can keep your drinks cold or
hot, while the app sends you regular notifications when it’s time to take a sip
of water.
Get into teas
If water is really not for you, try tea. Tea is nothing
other than flavored water, so you might be more inclined to drink it as tea. In
summer you can drink it cold and in winter hot. You can also choose between various
flavors from herbal, citrus, floral, spicy, and even chocolate teas. Drinking
tea can help you get into a habit you will enjoy and, in that way, stay
hydrated.
Don’t go anywhere without a bottle
It probably happened a thousand times before, you left the
house without your reusable water bottle. This means that all the time you were
out, you didn’t drink any water. You wasted valuable water drinking time and
didn’t get hydrated.
To avoid this, keep filled water bottles around the house,
in your bag, in your car, and even on your bike. This way, you’ll have the
bottle filled and ready to go. So, no more valuable hours of potential water
drinking will be wasted.
Start a friendly challenge
Starting a friendly competition with friends or family can
also be a great way to drink more water. If you’re a competitive person, a
water-drinking challenge will be a great way for you to increase your daily
water intake. Plus, it will help a friend as well.
In conclusion
Drinking enough water is crucial for our health. That’s the
main reason why we need to find ways to increase our daily water intake.
Hopefully, some of our tips will help you start drinking enough water.
