GA's 7 Hydration Hacks

Drinking enough water everyday is one of my weekly goals and I fail at it almost every week. IT IS SO DIFFICULT for me to drink enough water. I am constantly annoyed at how terrible I am at this seemingly simple task. So, here are some water facts and 7 hydration hacks I use to help me fail less. 😊

Adequate water intake is essential:

·       Our bodies are made up of roughly 60% water – normal bodily functions work better with H2O.

·       Some side effects of not getting enough water are headaches, irritability, dark urine, diarrhea, and dry skin – just to name a few.

·       Normal water intake can reduce bloating and overall fatigue

·       Water is good for us – This is NOT new news :/

Even with all these general H20 facts I find it difficult to intake the “recommended” amount of water. There are a few different recommended water dosages:

·       General rule of thumb is about a 1/2 gallon of water - 64oz.

·       More specific - is your body weight divided by 2

o   Ex. You weigh 155 then you should drink 77.5oz

·       Athletes or those training at a moderate to high intensity most day should get closer to his/her body weight in ounces per day (that’s a lot of water)

HYDRATION HACKS I USE:

1.       Get a large water bottle that you can see through. Those meatheads that carry around a gallon jug may be annoying, BUT luging around a big bottle of water and being able to actually see how much water you consume is an “in yo’ face” reminder that is kind of hard to forget.

2.       Flavor or infuse your water. You can Google or Pintrest so many funky water cocktails (I did it – I was impressed), but I’m lazy enough to not remember to drink water so making fancy water is probably out of the question… I just add fresh mint to mine! It’s easy. Grow your own mint; it grows like wildfire (I suggest potting it; I put it in the ground a few years ago and it takes over everything- Every. Thing.). From here you can just walk to your porch, snap off some mint, rinse it, and toss it in your water. *Pro tip: put mint over ice & shake or muddle the mint before adding water for extra flavor.

3.       Down a glass every time you brush your teeth. I keep a glass in the bathroom for my daily allergy meds and probiotics so I fill her up and voilà an extra 8oz in the water bank first thing in the morning. I tend to forget at night more than I should confess, but it’s there and the added convenience is half the battle.

4.       Pedialyte. Yea… it’s for children, BUT it’s great for replenishing electrolytes and improving hydration levels. When I can tell I’m toeing the line between euhydration and dehydration I’ll add a drink like Pedialyte to my day. (I found an adult electrolyte drink called Biolyte that is great too)!

5.       Use a straw. This one is ridiculous but it’s amazing how well it works. I guess picking up the glass/bottle is just too much to ask…I drink significantly more water through a straw than without – the human brain is a funny thing.

6.       Drink fancy water. I’m 100% a water brat. Purified spring water is my preference. I rarely drink from the faucet. I know that’s a little ridiculous, but there is a significant difference in the taste and I will pay more money for something that tastes better if it means I’ll actually drink it!

7.       CHUG IT!!! Take a quick trip down memory lane back to your tailgate or bonfire days and CHUG! As fast as you can, down the hatch! On days I’ve really slacked on my water intake I’ll stand over the sink with a pint glass and chug as many as I can. You’ll get full quickly doing this, but it’s fast, fairly pain-free, and gets the job done.

HACKS THAT I’VE HEARD ABOUT BUT NEVER TRIED:

1.       Water apps – free apps that remind you to drink water. *I’m too stubborn for this one.

2.       JUST DRINK THE DAMN WATER. *This makes the most sense…

Drinking an adequate amount of water is crucial but still exceedingly difficult. Experiment and find hacks that work best for you! Increasing accessibility and making tasks more desirable is a common life hack that has been proven to work when trying to create a new or improve upon a habit. We are more likely to repeat habits when we are constantly reminded, have an incentive, or find pleasure out of a task. No need to try to recreate the wheel!

Drink up!!