“The root of all health is in the brain. The trunk of it is in emotion. The branches and leaves are the body. The flower of health blooms when all parts work together.” – Kurdish Saying
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We all know that drinking water is a vital part of staying healthy but the majority of us are still not drinking enough every day. Some of us find it difficult to remind ourselves during a busy day, and some of us just don’t like the taste of plain water (plot twist: not me). There are so many benefits to drinking water such as clearer skin, flushes out toxins, helps with digestion, and overall, makes us feel happier and healthier.
So in today’s post, I thought I’d share my 8 tips to building a habit of drinking more water every day, the lazy girls way.
1. Make it visible
Out of sight, out of mind. If you want to drink more water, then you need to make it visible. Put it somewhere it can be seen. Running errands, keep it in your hand or on the car seat. For those of us working at a computer, keep it on your desk.
2. Make it accessible
Now that you’ve made it visible, the next step is to make it accessible. This means keeping it nearby and within arms reach. The simple act of carrying a bottle with you will help you to get that one extra cup in. When you’re at home, have a designated water cup (or bottle) and carry it with you as you move from room to room.
3. Make it easy
Make the barrier to entry, in our case, drinking more water, so low that it would be impossible NOT to do. I found that using a lid became one of those barriers when it came time to refill and couldn’t be bothered to do it every.single.time. So I removed it and now it’s one less thing to worry about.
To take it one step further, I also use a metal bendy straw so that I can drink whilst I’m typing. #productivity
4. Make it satisfying
Another tip that goes along with the above, is to make it satisfying. Not everyone will love drinking water and over the years, I know many people don’t drink enough because it is tasteless and boring. Luckily, for these people, knowing is half the battle. Try adding some lemon, fresh fruit or flavoured drops to keep things interesting. You can even go the extra mile and get one of those carbonated machines and add bubbles to your plain water. Find what works for you.
5. Use a larger than average cup
Drank all your water and now you’re stuck in meetings so you can’t refill? What about being so lazy you can’t be arsed to go to the kitchen? We’ve all been there. The solution: use a larger cup, jug, pitcher, bottle – whatever you choose. Just make sure it’s large enough for more than one regular serving so that you don’t have to go back and forth to the kitchen to refill that often.
6. Add sea salt
On that note – have you found that you’re getting all the water in but now you’re spending your life going to the bathroom every 15 minutes? Try adding a pinch of sea salt, a couple times a day. Sea salt helps the body absorb water for optimal hydration, as well as helps the body stay hydrated for longer periods of time. Basically, it means the water doesn’t go through you as easily because it’s absorbed better. Oh, and the water probably won’t even taste like salt, in fact most people report that the water tastes much better and even quenches their thirst more.
7. Find your perfect temperature
The temperature of water has a big impact on the amount that I drink. I know, seriously. Room temperature? Buegh. Ice cold? Load me up, baby.
Figure out your optimal preference and make it happen. I know that I will 100% drink 10x more water if it’s cold, despite knowing the health benefits of drinking warm water.
I find it be more refreshing so I keep bottles of water in the fridge that I can refill or add ice. On the other hand, if your preference might be room temperature then leave some out ahead of time.
8. Get a designated bottle
If you find that something still isn’t working then I have one more for you. It’s a bit splashy on price for what it is but if you find that something still isn’t working then this one is for you: get a Hidrate Spark Smart Water bottle. This bottle is designed for exactly this reason – 1) it tracks your water intake throughout the day and 2) it freaking glows to remind you to stay hydrated. If you don’t want to splash the cash, then get a bottle that either has time markings on it or grab a marker, post it note and split the day on it.
Now what?
So now that you have all those tips, you’re probably wondering when you’re supposed to drink all this water. Find what works for you and your schedule. I personally tend to drink the majority of my water in the first half of the day. Other than that, try to hydrate before, during and after the meal for these reasons 1) You’ll be less likely to overeat if you’re adequately hydrated. 2) The food will usually have more salt in it, and thus the water will help to flush it out. Lastly, you’ll feel miles better, making tomorrow morning easier.
I hope this helps. Stay hydrated out there, friends.
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