Why Getting Hydrated Should Be Your Next Wellness Goal

What’s the easiest way to improve your health? Drink more water.

There’s no doubt drinking more water during the day improves your overall health and well-being. And, if you’re looking for the proof, let’s look at the article from the American Journal of Human Biology by Rosinger (2019) that stresses the importance of “body water homeostasis” in creating an optimal environment for physiological and cognitive functioning throughout the day.

What’s that mean? Basically, to keep everything running smoothly and correctly, you need lots of water. To think clearly, you need lots of water.

But how much do you need?

The National Academy of Medicine recommends different levels of water intake for both men and women to meet their daily needs. This recommended level of water intake (also known as “adequate intake”) for moderately active adults varies by gender; 3.7L for men and 2.7 L for women. That’s just under a gallon for men and about ¾ of a gallon for women, for those of us who aren’t metric lovers.

So, if we know that staying hydrated is great for our health, then why haven’t we done it already? Let’s nail down a few simple ways to “fill up your cup” and make hydration an easily accomplished goal.

• Get yourself a new water bottle.

  This is your new buddy throughout the day. Fill it up and carry it with you wherever you go. I recommend a bottle that can easily fit in your purse or backpack or hook on a strap so there’s no excuses for leaving it behind.
  
  

• Set a goal and track your progress – aka: Write It Down!

  Start with a goal of 21 days of tracking to help kickstart the habit of improving your water intake. Keep track of how many bottles you drink each day over the course of those 21 days. The daily goal will depend on the size of bottle you chose; however the total should be at least the daily recommended amount (see above).
  
  

• Drink tea before bed.

  Finish each day with your favorite decaffeinated tea. This is a great ritual to wind down the day, while also staying hydrated. Add some honey to sweeten it up if you’d like, or not. I promise this will become an enjoyable part of your bedtime routine and an easy way to meet your daily water intake needs.

Go grab your water bottle. Time to get hydrated. This is the best and easiest thing you can do for your health!