In Search of Better
  • Home
    • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • About me
  • Blog

8 easy & practical ways to drink more water!

4/5/2019

2 Comments

 
Are you always tired and struggle to concentrate? You might just be chronically dehydrated. Help your physical and mental health by drinking more water with these 8 easy & practical tips!
Girl in hat and Mexican blanket sipping water in the mountains

Living with anxiety or depression is exhausting. It physically exhausts you.

But what if some of that tiredness doesn't come from your mental health problems?

What if it is because you're simply chronically dehydrated?
Some symptoms of being chronically dehydrated:
  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Muscle cramps
  • Constipation
  • Dry skin
  • Bad breath
  • Overeating
You know that I'm all about easy solutions to things. And simply drinking water to feel better? Easy as it gets!

I am very sensitive to dehydration myself. Maybe it's because I once got so dehydrated that I got disoriented and sick for two days (I don't even know how I managed to walk home from class), or because I learned to pay better attention to my body cues, but for whatever reason I feel the effects very quickly.

The truth is that most people go about their days in a state of light dehydration and just accept that they always feel tired or have dry lips. But it's such an easy fix! 
8 easy & practical ways to drink more water
Working out regularly or cooking healthy foods can take such time and dedication it's no wonder it's hard to keep up. But staying hydrated? It can affect your body and mind in such dramatic ways it seems kind of dumb not to, right?

​I would say that the biggest factors in not drinking enough water are simply forgetting to do it/being lazy about it. If you're slightly dehydrated every day you actually get so used to it that you don't really feel thirsty anymore, so no wonder it's so hard to remember!


​So if you're struggling to get enough H2O, here are 8 easy tips to help you out. :)

1. Have a designated water bottle for the house

Drinking from the same water bottle helps reinforce the habit. It gives you a bigger water reserve to carry with you than a normal glass, and you will drink it just because it's there! We are creatures of comfort, after all.

I got a nice glass Contigo water bottle with a silicon cover. It's really good quality and will last me a long time, plus it makes me happy just to see it (it's teal, my favorite color). It's also spill-proof if you have cats who are jerks. . . .

2. Always take a bottle of water in the car with you

I don't know why, but I always feel so thirsty when I'm driving! Even in the winter when it's cold outside. So I make sure to always bring a 750ml bottle of water with me so I can hydrate before and after my errands.
  • Related article: 7 beyond-easy ways to reduce driving anxiety
Girl in hat and red backpack holding a water bottle sitting by a lake
Photo by Ryan Everton

3. Sip on hot water at your desk

This is something I LOVE to do. I got a gorgeous ceramic travel mug when I worked at Starbucks (ocean teal with a golden quote in a snirkly font) and it's the only mug I ever use for hot beverages.

​I used to be a huge tea-lover, but now I actually prefer the taste of simple hot water! I've heard it being called "silver tea."

This is great in the winter to warm you up and it's got tons of health benefits, like:
  • aiding digestion
  • calming the central nervous system
  • improving circulation
  • decreasing stress levels (don't we love that!)
It's also a great way to get up and move around every now and then to get a refill if you have a desk job. :)

4. Have a water cup by the kitchen sink

I always have a cup on the counter, either my Berner Mom mug that I got for Christmas or my D.C. Zoo mug. They serve two purposes; 
  1. They always make me smile, either thinking of our derpy Bernese Mountain Dog or my trips to D.C.
  2. It's easy to quickly grab a drink of water
So whenever you're cooking, or washing dishes, or just passing the sink, make it a habit to have a cup of water. 

5. Replace Gatorade with coconut water

Instead of using Gatorade or Powerade after your workout, try coconut water!

It's rich in electrolytes, like potassium, sodium, and chloride, has a very high water content, and is a lot healthier than the sugar-laden sports drinks!

Woman drinking water from white cup with two hands
Photo by Drew Coffman

6. Flavor the water to keep it interesting

If you've been favoring sodas etc. in the past because water is "boring," this is for you. You can either get a bottle with a fruit infuser built in or just keep a carafe in the fridge filled with any combination of:
  • lemons
  • cucumbers
  • pineapples
  • raspberries
  • strawberries
My personal favorite is cucumber. It just gives it such a fresh taste and smell!

7. Set a timer on your phone

As you know from How to schedule your day -- A guide for the easily overwhelmed, I love the use of timers to remind me of appointments and tasks. If you're really struggling to remember to drink water, set a regular timer to jolt you into action and drink a glass. You can also use a free app like Daily Water for alarms and tracking to keep yourself accountable! Here is a roundup of the 10 best free water apps to use.

8. Eat water-rich foods

You can also get water directly from fruit and vegetables! For example:
  • Watermelon
  • Strawberries
  • Oranges
  • Cucumber
  • Lettuce
  • Zucchini
  • Celery
  • Tomatoes
Broths and soups are also great ways to get more liquid in your diet!
Slices of orange, lime, and blood orange on white/gray surface
​Photo by Brooke Lark
Did you like this article? Please share it on Pinterest! :)

Related articles:
  • 20 easy & healthy life hacks
  • The 20 best investments for your fitness & health
  • Healthy banana pineapple smoothie recipe

Picture
List - 8 easy & practical ways to drink more water
2 Comments
Valerie Wong link
6/7/2019 10:57:20 am

Love this post! Staying hydrated is so important, and these are some great practical tips for drinking enough water every day. I'll definitely be sharing this with my coaching clients. Thanks!

Valerie @ <a href=”https://www.valeriewong.me/blog”>Valerie Wong Wellness</a>

Reply
Erika
6/13/2019 08:20:46 am

I'm glad you like it! I feel dehydrated soo easily so I've had to get creative, haha. I think I'm starting to drive my bf slightly insane with my ever-present "hang on, I'm just gonna fill my water bottle!" ;)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Hi, I'm Erika!

    I know what it's like living with anxiety and depression, but living and living are very different things. I believe in practical tips and methods, and​ I will use them to help you be the brave, daring, darling individual you are.


    Categories

    All
    Health & Fitness
    Life Improvement
    Me & My Thoughts
    Mental Health
    Personal Growth
    Quick Tips


    Picture

    Free mental health planner bundle!

    Daily planner for anxiety, gratitude journal, self-care challenge, workout tracker, and more!

    Thank you!

    If you don't see the email, check your junk folder! It likes to hang out there. :)

    Popular posts


    Open bullet journal on table with greenery
    How to schedule your day -- A guide for the easily overwhelmed

    Woman in boxing stance wearing pink boxing gloves
    4 healthy ways to blow off steam

    Girl in braids and sunglasses sitting on green Beetle
    20 inspirational quotes to motive you when you feel stuck

    Brunette woman sitting in restaurant with yellow coffee cup
    7 reasons I love and recommend the free app You for easy food tracking

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2022 Erika Zheng. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
    • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • About me
  • Blog