Staying Hydrated

How much water do you drink?  I used to be so bad about drinking water.  I’m positive that in law school when I had a choice between buying a bottle of soda or buying a bottle of water, the soda won every time.  That’s because when we’re busying working or studying it’s  so easy to overlook healthy habits (and start bad ones).  Needless to say it was a rough three years…

Then I graduated and I started buckling down on my health and really made it a priority.  This included increasing my water intake.  I went from drinking no water, to drinking at least three liters a day.  Four liters on a good day.  It has made a huge difference in how I feel.

Of course, you can’t just jump into it and start gulping a gallon every day.  It  also helps to know how much you should actually drink.  Once you figured out how much water to drink you have to figure out a way to actually drink that amount.  Here is what I have that works:

One. Make it accessible. If you’re like me and don’t see the bottle then it won’t be used.  I keep my bottle water at work right next to my monitor.  It’s a constant reminder to drink.  I also drag my water bottle with me around the house so that I constantly have water available to me.

Two. Spice it up.  If you don’t like plain water there are so many different infused waters you can try.  Strawberries, lemon, mint, cucumber–just to name a few.  Try out different flavors and see what you like.  Also, try it at different temperatures.  I like room temp, but if you need a lot of ice–go for it!

Three. Plan ahead.  For me, the weekends are the worst for when it comes to drinking water. Usually because I’m doing errands and don’t take any water with me.  I’m trying to remedy that by thinking ahead and bringing a bottle with me.  Try to plan ahead during the weekdays as well.  Do you have a two-hour meeting every Tuesday?  Make sure you bring water.  Pot luck event?  Bring your water bottle so as to not tempt you to drink the sugary stuff.   This is easy to remember when you keep your water accessible and visible.

Four. Use a straw.  I drink my water so much faster through a straw than without one.  I’m not sure why, but it has helped me increase my intake now that I use a straw.  I have a reusable pink plastic straw that makes drinking so much easier.

Finally, if you really can’t stand water do as much as you can to hydrate yourself.  Eat water-enriched fruits, like cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon,etc.  If you drink mostly caffeinated beverages, substitute one of those beverages for one glass of water.  And if you still can’t handle straight water, at least try diluting the juices or tea that you drink with extra water.

But the faster you join the water club the better it will be!  Hydration will help fight signs of aging and most importantly it improves your cognitive function so you are clear-headed and better able to analyze and perform.