How to Drink More Water Regularly

By momthcr

Many people need to drink more water! Water is essential to life and helps our bodies to run efficiently. We are largely composed of H2O and if we want to achieve optimal health, we must stay hydrated. This article offers tips to help you drink more water.

Things You'll Need:

• water and lots of it!
• portable container

1. Step 1
   

   GREAT START
   Drink more water by starting every morning with a nice glass of refreshing H2O. Do this before you eat or drink anything else. Our bodies can become somewhat dehydrated during the night. This practice will help to get your morning off to a great start.

2. Step 2

   FIGURE OUT SPECIFIC NEEDS
   Determine exactly how many ounces of water you need to drink each day. This will help you drink more water in the long run. Most of us have heard that we need to drink between six and eight cups per day. That amounts to between forty-eight and sixty-four ounces every day. It really depends on your weight, diet, and activity level. The climate, temperature, and how much perspiring you do are also important factors in determining if you need to drink more water. (See link at end of article.)

3. Step 3

   ALWAYS ON THE GO
   Carry a portable water bottle with you wherever you go if you are serious about your desire to drink more water. Figure out how many ounces your container holds and then determine how many times you will need to refill it to meet your desired goal. Sip on it slowly throughout the day or have fixed times when you drink a pre-determined amount. Just make sure you get through all or most of it.

4. Step 4
   

   GET RID OF IMPURITIES
   Get a filter and add it to your faucet. This is good for the environment and can help encourage you to drink more water. If you buy bottled water, be sure to recycle. Try drinking your water at room temperature because ice cold water can be more difficult to drink in large quantities. Try switching out sugary juice drinks and sodas with flavored vitamin water. There are some popular brands on the market.

5. Step 5

   TAKE NOTE
   Your body will let you know whether or not you need to drink more water. Pay attention to the color and smell of your urine. Urine that has a dark yellow or brown color or a particularly strong odor may be an indicator that you DO need to drink more water. Optimally, urine should be very pale yellow to clear and there should not be much of an odor at all.

6. Step 6
   

   PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
   Try not to wait until you feel thirsty to drink water because your body has already become dehydrated by this point. Do your kidneys a favor by drinking up ahead of time. It is also a good practice to drink more water BETWEEN meals. Drinking water while eating can impair digestion.

7. Step 7

   FEEL GREAT!
   When you are drinking enough water, you can probably feel a major difference. Your skin is clearer, your eyes appear brighter, you feel especially positive and are more energized all around! So start now! Develop habits that encourage you to drink more water on a daily basis!