Happy Friday!
Kendall here, chatting about something we all know we need to do every day — drink more water! As warmer temps approach, more outdoor living and dining commence and more adventures occur thanks to vaccines, I thought republishing this water post was super timely!
Shaking up our routines is the easiest way for our water intake to fall by the wayside. When I forget to drink enough water, it doesn’t take long for me to feel the effects — in my energy, my skin, my hunger levels, and my mood! I get more headaches, am more prone to snacking, and more exhausted than usual. If you haven’t been drinking as much water as you should, check out these helpful tips to get into a good water groove!
How much water should you be drinking?
Find what works for you! Use trial and error to determine an amount that makes you feel good and that makes your pee mostly clear. (Sorry TMI but it’s true!) Some say to drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water throughout the day, while others say to drink half of your body weight in ounces (i.e. take how much you weigh, now divide that in half–that number is how many ounces per day to aim for!)
5 easy tips to help you drink more water
Make it the first thing you do each morning
The easiest routine I had in place when it comes to hydration was chugging a glass of water as soon as I woke up in the morning, and I don’t know how I fell out of this routine! It’s the best way to start your day on the right foot and replenish your body after an 8+ hour fast. If you normally head straight to your coffee machine in the morning, try chugging a glass of water while your cup is brewing, or keep a water bottle on your bedside table for a fool-proof way to get water first thing in the morning. (And if you hate the taste of water in the morning, keep reading for a great flavored water tip!)
Invest in a great water bottle
Next up: selecting the right water bottle for you! I like to have a big one so there are fewer refills needed during the day, but find something that fits your lifestyle/bag/workstation. It’s much easier to keep track of your water intake with big water bottles, than small cups of water! Also, water bottles are much more appealing than a cup of water that’s been sitting out for hours, and they hold their temperature, ice ratio much better than regular glassware.
If you’re looking for a new water bottle, Jess and I both LOVE this Hydoflask! (It’s 36 oz so I only have to drink two to hit my minimum water goal!) Pro tip: if you prefer to drink water from a straw/spout setup, Hydroflask has different tops you can get, like this straw lid and this sports cap!
Set mini-goal deadlines
I think the biggest factor that led to my water intake nosedive during quarantine was my lack of structure during the day. Before, I would have built-in deadlines that I would try to drink a certain amount of water by. A cup before leaving the house, a water bottle before noon, two refills before clocking out for the day, and so on. Now, when I wake up and think of drinking so much water before heading for bed again, it seems like a daunting task.
Try setting mini-goals for yourself, and even incorporate them into your calendar or to-do list. Scan morning emails? Drink water. Jump on your team’s Zoom call? Drink more water. Breaking for lunch? Drink water! You can even bring a water bottle with you on a walk or to run an errand to get extra ounces in. Reaching for water during transition times helps remind you to keep drinking and doesn’t seem so overwhelming. (Not to mention, it’s kind of fun to have easy goals to hit! When faced with drinking water or cleaning the kitchen, water doesn’t sound so bad, right?)
Add flavor
While I’ve always been a fan of the taste of water, I know many others aren’t- especially when it comes to consuming greater quantities of it. Adding flavor to your water is the perfect way to overcome this struggle!
Enjoy some lemon water first thing in the morning, take some fruit-infused water out on the patio with you in the afternoon or wind down while taking a bath with some cucumber-infused water. Tip: Using frozen fruit is a way to cool down your water and flavor it! Check out these 8 infused water recipes to get started! Pro tip: most flavored water is best 2-4 hours after making it or overnight for a richer taste.
Even easier? Jess recently influenced me to try Waterdrop tablets, too! (Check out her IG highlight on them.) They add a delicious hint of real fruit and plant extract flavor to water to help you drink more. Plus they’re vegan, GMO-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free have zero added sugar (very lightly sweetened with Stevia) and are enriched with vitamins! These are great for flavored water in seconds! (Especially love the ‘Boost’ flavor, which is a Blackcurrant Elderflower, ‘Youth’ which is Peach Ginger and their new ‘Love’ flavor which is pomegranate goji berry!)
Also, they just gave her an even better code, so use JESS15 at checkout for 15% off!
Try a 1:1 alcoholic drink to water ratio
My last tip for getting extra water during your days comes into play around happy hour! Whether you’re at home or out with friends, try alternating your alcoholic drinks with glasses of water. This helps you get more water, spaces out your alcohol intake, which can come in handy during day parties or long nights out with multiple stops, and it can help with your hangover the next day! Give it a try — you still get your cocktails, but you’ll feel so. much. better when you stay hydrated! Think about how thirsty and parched you feel waking up after a night of drinking? Get ahead of things with this simple trick!
