We all know we need to drink more water, but can we actually make hydration, fun? Yes, yes we can!

When I start coaching with a client, we typically go over their entire day including activities, stressors, the food they eat, and what they drink amongst other check-ins. One trick (I suppose not so secret anymore) is to work by dividing a persons day into segments based on their lifestyle and that’s where we make real change happen. You can do this too! As you’re reading these ways to stay hydrated, keep in mind how you can get creative with your schedule and timing to squeeze in more hydration.

1. First thing in the morning

Sleeping can be dehydrating, so hydrating first thing in the morning is key. Try adding lemon, fresh minced ginger, lime, mint or try any of the variations of Infused Waters. I recommend drinking something warm or hot in the morning to stimulate digestion and bowel movements (hello, happy belly) followed by drinking more water or tea. Fill a reusable bottle before leaving the house and put it in your car to sip on the way to work. Have a goal to drink one whole container on the way to and from work daily to create this as a habit.

2. After breakfast/before lunch time

Think of the space in between meals as being your “hydration times”, this is how my clients learn how to stay hydrated throughout the day versus just hydrating well in the morning but not keeping up with it all day long which inevitably doesn’t help us reach the goal! From kombucha, sparkling water, tea, water with lemon, to chia seed water — the key is to make it feel a little special so it gives you extra motivation to stay hydrated after lunchtime when most people typically hit a 3:00 pm energy crash. Sometimes that energy crash can come from eating too many processed sugars or even whole food carbohydrates at lunch with too little protein or healthy fats, it could be stress related, emotionally related, or it could just mean you’re slightly dehydrated.

FIT TIP - I hear too often many of my clients tell me “I hate water,” “I don’t like the way it tastes,” “I forget to drink enough water,” etc. Water doesn’t have a taste and maybe therein lies the whole challenge of drinking enough or more water. Could it really be the cholrine taste you don't like? The fact that it lacks flavor or has a bad aftertaste can keep people from drinking it. Now, of course, simple and plain water is a perfect choice, but if that’s not going to do it for you, let’s infuse it!

3. After lunch/before dinner

For most of us, this time period after lunch and before dinner usually means you’re about to leave the office to go home or you’re at least wrapping up your workday — not everyone has a 9-5 but here’s an example of how you can use hydration as a way to start a routine that signals to yourself, work is done for the day. Again, I’m a big fan of routines since they help hardwire our brain to these routines, which affects our behavior and ultimately how we feel. So why not make a special drink — sparkling water with lemon, kombucha, matcha, etc.

4. In the evening

I love drinking tea throughout the day, but especially at night. We know there’s something comforting about rituals and routines that help us maintain our healthy habits, and even the simple act of making tea can help trigger relaxation if we establish this as part of our evening

routine. From turning the kettle on, putting a tea bag in the mug, pouring the hot water, adding lemon, and putting it on a tableside, it’s one of my favorite routines and I’ve turned a lot of my clients onto this evening ritual too! Not all tea is the same, look for herbal teas that don’t contain caffeine; my favorites are Yogi - Night Time, Chammomile, Hibiscus, and Peppermint. Another tip, if you’re not in the mood for hot tea (hello, hot summers) try a tea mocktail made by brewing Hibiscus tea, then adding ice cubes to chill, add sparkling water, fresh sliced strawberries and a little mint and you have a fancy mocktail that tastes delicious and keeps you hydrated. Be sure to stop drinking one hour so more before bed to ensure a good nights rest and midnight trips to the bathroom.

Share your ideas @thewellnessmixer

Cheers!

Rachel

#HYDRATE #WATER #WELLNESS #NUTRITION #INSOMNIA #TIRED #DIGESTION