Drink More Water More Often (And Enjoy It)

Water is an essential part of life—it’s really, really good for your body. From digestion to skin health to immune function, and even helping to repair wounds, water infuses your body with amazing benefits. All that, and not a single calorie—what’s not to love?

All life on earth relies on water, and yet nearly 80 percent of Americans may suffer from chronic dehydration. That sounds scary, and for good reason—dehydration can wreak havoc on your body. Symptoms include dry skin, headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, and rapid breathing. You may think you’re close to a panic attack when all your body is asking for is a glass of water.

So, why aren’t we all sipping away on the good stuff? For one thing, it’s boring. Not everyone is pumped to drink water with so many convenient, tasty alternatives to choose from—sugary sodas, buzzy energy drinks and macchiatos, and concentrated fruit juices. Or you may find it’s hard to keep hydrated due to modern-day technological distractions. Whatever the reason, you won’t know you’re dehydrated until symptoms manifest, at which point it’s too late.

I mean, definitely still drink water when you feel the symptoms of thirst, but the goal is to stay hydrated to avoid dehydration in the first place.

I used to really struggle to stay hydrated, but with a few tips, it’s easy to ensure your 64-ish ounces a day. Here are seven tips to help you find the best way to hydrate.

Seven Tips to Help You Stay Hydrated

1 – Start Early

After eight hours of slumber, your body is bound to be thirsty. Drink one glass of water to start your day, before consuming any food or social feeds. Add an ounce of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or a powdered probiotic for added digestive benefits.*

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Even dogs need a morning routine ##morningroutine ##mypawesomeday ##morningroutinechallenge ##samoyed

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You may not always wake up on the right side of the bed, but water makes every morning better.

2 – Keep It Convenient

Be sure water is within arm’s reach throughout most of your day. Top off a chic tumbler with ice-cold water for your workspace, and have a collapsible water bottle handy for when you’re out and about. And if you’ll be away for several hours, fill up a large canteen for constant refills to keep hydrated.

3 – Make It Fun

If you just aren’t that into water—yet—it’s OK. Infuse your favorite flavors by submerging freshly sliced or muddled fruits—lemons, strawberries, blackberries, oranges, blueberries—for several hours or overnight. (Cucumber and mint are great, too). Grab a diffuser bottle to carry your fruity concoction on the go. And as a tasty bonus, you get to eat the fruit at the end!

4 – Sip Smart

Tech can be a force for good when it comes to how to stay hydrated. Set hourly reminders to refill your tumbler or simply search “water” on your phone’s app store to find an app to prompt you to get your sips in. There are even Bluetooth-enabled smart water bottles. And before you knock the idea of smart sipping, the Hidrate Spark is gorgeous. Who wouldn’t want to drink from that beautiful bottle?

5 – Taste the Purity

The simple things in life are the best. And in the case of water, the purest sources are the safest—and tastiest. Brita makes filtration pitchers in varying shapes and sizes. My roommate and I keep ours refilled to stay hydrated. Or you can step up your game with a built-in purifying system on any tap or through your whole house.

You could also buy disposable water bottles, but that’s just wasteful.

Skip the plastic on your quest to keep hydrated.

6 – Add Some Fizz

OK, maybe it’s just me, but I am totally hooked on sparkling water—any brand, any flavor, any time. Infusing your H₂O with a little carbonation adds fun effervescence to every sip. Make your own for zero waste and just the right amount of fizz, or you can buy canned and bottled sparkling waters with all sorts of natural flavor infusions. Just be sure to recycle responsibly.

7 – Eat to Hydrate

Plenty of your favorite foods contain water. Watermelon is 92% water—it’s in the name—but strawberries are also aquatically gifted at 91% water content. It’s a similar story for cantaloupe, peaches, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach and broths. Next time you go out for pho, take comfort in sipping from a warm bowl as you stay hydrated.

Watermelon is 92% water, and a tasty way to stay hydrated.

Savor Every Sip

I hope these hydro tips help you find a new, favorite way to stay hydrated—they certainly helped shape my water drinking habits. Start sipping today to put your dehydration worries to rest!

References: Wikipedia │Medical Daily│USGS│WebMD│HealthLine