Staying hydrated is easier said than done, especially when you consider the amount of water you should be taking in daily versus your actual daily water intake. So how do you ensure those numbers balance each other out? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you increase your daily water intake!
Measure it Out
When you fill a glass of water (and refill it) throughout the day, it can be hard to determine exactly how much water you had for the day. So while three glasses of water might feel like an increase to you, in reality, it’s likely nowhere near enough.
Make sure you measure your water out for the day. This way, you have a clear goal for the day and can accurately measure whether you met that goal. When in doubt, measure it out!
Set Time Limits
Setting time limits is easy and super helpful for those with busier work schedules. If you’re gulping down water at night after realizing you haven’t had any during the day, it’s a good idea to set time benchmarks for yourself.
Some individuals use water bottles with marks that indicate how much water you need to drink by a certain time of day, but you can measure out water anyway that’s easiest for you. Just make sure you’re finishing the water by the predetermined time limit, so you don’t fall behind for the day!
Drink Before Meals (Not After)
Many individuals increase their water intake as a means of helping with maintaining a diet, which is why it’s always better to make sure you’re drinking 8 ounces of water before every meal.
This not only fills your stomach so that you don’t overeat, but it also keeps you on track for your water drinking goals for the day, making it a win-win!
Do the Bulk of Drinking During the Day
As previously mentioned, some individuals accidentally fall behind on their drinking during the day, which means that they spend the evening making up for a lost time, which is problematic; consuming too much water in a short period of time can lead to multiple trips to the bathroom throughout the night, which disturbs your sleep cycle.
Ensure you do the bulk of your water drinking throughout the day and taper off at night to avoid this problem. Every hour, you should be taking in about 8 ounces of water, so stick to that goal throughout the day.
Cut Back on Other Beverages
Last but certainly not least, drinking enough water is a big challenge if you typically drink other beverages throughout the day. While this isn’t to say you should cut out all other beverages, you should prioritize drinking water.
So, before you pop the tab of a soda, make sure you’ve finished your eight ounces for that hour. Then you can enjoy your specialty beverage of choice.
There are countless benefits to staying hydrated, as water is not only good for your skin but is also essential to your health and well-being. These tips are a great starting point to ensure you’re on the path to hydration. Make sure you’re monitoring how much you drink daily, and the sooner you implement these practices, the sooner you’ll notice the positive results!