Keeping yourself hydrated daily is a body necessity, no matter what the temperature outside might be. Besides it being a basic requirement for your organs and system to function properly, the benefits of drinking enough water are well-known and include clearer and glowing skin and better digestion. I won't even try to sell it to you 💅🏼
Even though the benefits are clear, sometimes it's just not so easy to get yourself to drink enough or more water. Perhaps it's a habit you haven't managed to build (I plead guilty! 😳), you don't really feel thirsty, or you are just used to drinking other liquids regularly, like soda or coffee.
Whether you don't enjoy drinking water or you simply can't get yourself to drink more, here are 7 effortless ways to increase your daily hydration (from less to more extra ✨):
Try with iced water
If you're one of those people that are just used to drinking soda regularly and can't get close to a glass of plain water, I got you. Ice cubes are a really easy way to sneak in some additional water inside your soda. In the summer months, you could also make a shift to iced coffee or prepare ice lollies to lick "ice cream style" (minus the calories, plus the hydration!).
Build easy habits
Identify opportunities in which you could effortlessly grab a glass of water and try to make it a habit. For instance, you could set the rule of drinking a glass of water when you wake up, before every meal, every time you take a break during the day, or after you return from the toilet. You don't have to force yourself to implement all of these at once, just think about the ones that could be natural to you and would be easy to remember.
Drink herbal tea after dinner
Think about drinking a cup of herbal tea before going to bed. Teas with camomille, lavender, valerian, passionflower, or lemon balm not only taste amazing but will also relax your system and help you fall asleep.
Infuse your water
Get one of those bottles with a fruit compartment and infuse your water with some flavor! Add lemon, strawberry, apple, cranberry, cinnamon, mint, cucumber, orange, blackberry, watermelon, or any fruit you like. If you don't enjoy the feeling of drinking simple water, it will definitely make a difference.
Download a tracking app
There are TONS of water reminder apps you can try to track your intake and ensure you're drinking enough throughout the day. You can find paid versions, free versions, more traditional, more tailored or personalized, and simpler ones. Just open your app store and prepare to feel overwhelmed! These are my favorite free apps:
Waterful comes with a super cute hydration coach that cheers you on to keep you on track, adjusts your daily goal depending on the weather conditions, includes challenges, AND can be integrated into Apple Watch for on-the-go reminders and updates.
Plant Nanny is a tracking app that gamifies your water intake to keep you motivated. Every time you drink a glass of water, it also waters your app's plant pet, tamagotchi style! There are plenty of adorable, little plants you can choose from and it's lovely to see them grow and thrive as you build good hydration habits.
Spice it up!
If you had already heard about the above recommendations or these are just not enough to make a difference in your drinking habits, it's time to take it to the next level. There are two products that have worked to spice my water up, and I would recommend:
Waterdrop creates flavoured microdrinks out of fruit and plant extracts, which are compressed in the shape of a small cube that you can just add to your water bottle. I've been buying their capsules for years as they are sugar free and packed with vitamins. They have so many available flavors, that it's nearly impossible not to find one that works for you. Additionally, their packaging includes minimal plastic. A 10/10.
AirUp is an innovative solution that I discovered just recently. They have created the world’s first scent-based taste drinking system. Mmm yeah, exactly as it sounds 👀 Their aroma pods give your water the "taste" of coffee, cherry, peach, and more just by tricking your brain through your sense of smell. It contains no sugar, no artificial aromas, no fat, no salt, nothing. You'll only be consuming plain water. German innovation at its best.
Get a smart device
If you don't want to spice your water up and free tracking apps are not really working for you and you suspect you would benefit from a more personalized or accurate tracking method, a smart device might be the solution.
Ulla is a universal bottle attachment that blinks if you forget to take a sip and on an hourly basis. It's an affordable, and completely offline solution that doesn't require any app integrations.
In a similar fashion, but way more connected and personalized, you can try the MyEqua Smart Bottle or REBO bottle. Both are fully insulated and include tracking sensors that remind you to take a sip while being fully in sync with their respective apps. These bottles can be pricey but desperate times may call for desperate measures.
And remember, drinking water is not the only way to stay hydrated. There are fruits and veggies that are mostly water.
Cucumber, Tomatoes, Spinach, and Broccoli are made of at least 90% water
Brussel sprouts, Oranges, and Apples are made of at least 80% water
Try incorporating more of these into your diet to continue hydrating your body without the need of drinking water constantly.
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