One of my biggest weaknesses is not drinking enough water. I’ve been like that all my life – part of the reason I don’t drink enough is that I usually don’t feel thirsty and so I forget to have sips of water on a regular basis!
Even though I know how important it is to stay hydrated, it’s for some reason a habit that I fail at every single time! I often manage to get on a good path for a couple of weeks then just fall off again. So, I’ve decided that I have to be more conscious about it. Here are some of my tips for staying hydrated (or at least attempting to!).
Tip 1: Try to make water more appealing to drink.
While I have no issues with the taste of water, I tend to actually WANT to reach for that glass if it looks pretty or has a bit more flavour to it. One of my favourite ways to add flavour to water is adding lemon, cucumbers and mint/basil. You can also use soda water (but I don’t like fizzy drinks) or add other fruits such as strawberries.
Tip 2: Make getting filtered water easy.
We used to have one of those refillable water filter jugs but without fail one of us would ALWAYS forget to fill it up. And if you have one, I’m sure you’ll know what a pain it is to wait for the water to filter and fill the jug when you really, really want a glass of water.
I was sent the WaterLogic Hybrid Water Purifier system to test out. I wasn’t sure if it would suit our lifestyle but I’m happy to report it has found a permanent place on my counter top! It not only filters the water but purifies it too with UV purification technology. What’s also great is that there;s no waiting. Just fill the reservoir with water, push the button and drink! For cold water you can add ice directly to the reservoir or remove it and put it in the fridge. It might seem a pricier option at $199.99 but the system actually tells you when the it needs maintenance which is only about once per year.
Tip 3: Use hydrating products on your skin.
Writing about numerous beauty products on my other site has taught me the importance of using hydrating products on your skin! If your skin isn’t maintaining the moisture you’re replenishing it with, then you’re losing out on many of the benefits of hydration in the first place!
Choose a day cream with SPF for protection too. Neutrogena’s Deep Moisture Day and Night Creams are good examples of products you should be using daily. A combination of Vitamin D3 and glycerin will instantly relieve any dryness you may be experiencing, but more importantly is works deep into the skin to boost its ability to hold on to moisture longer.
Tip 4: Eat moisturizing foods.
This is probably my favourite tip. For some reason I find it much easier to remember to eat than to drink, so it was great to learn that moisturizing foods can help with hydration too!
Some of my favourite hydration boosting foods are watermelon, strawberries and yogurt.
I like to eat my yogurt with fruit and granola but I was recently sent some AMAZING gourmet morning yogurt recipes from The Edible Story here in Toronto. Here are a couple I would love to try!
Green Tea & Avocado Yogurt
- 250 ml of fresh yogurt
- 1 tbsp of avocado puree or 2 tbsp of fresh avocado diced
- 40 mg of green tea extract
- 1 tbsp of honey
Lemon Grass and Toasted Coconut Yogurt
- 250 ml of fresh yogurt
- 1 tbsp of shredded coconut, toasted to golden brown
- 1 tsp of cane sugar
- 2 tbsp of milk, steeped with lemon grass
Hope you enjoy!
Can you share with me any tips for staying hydrated?
I looooooove cucumber water. Lemon water is tasty too, but cucumber is my fave in the summer. 🙂
At first I thought cucumber water would be really weird but I had it at a spa once and fell in love!
Since my work requires me to sit a lot in front of computer, I didn’t have time to go for a water break. So what i did was to have a small pitcher/jug+glass filled with water within my reach on my desk. So, whenever i saw it, i could just drink. This would give me a reason to move away from computer (go to ladies room), and at the same time i finally have a few minute to stretch and move my leg :-).
Smart idea! I’m getting better about drinking water at the office but sometimes you just work away and completely forget!
I am OBSESSED with adding lemon to my water – it makes it so much better. There are supposedly health benefits, as well, but I think it’s really just from being hydrated. 🙂
Hahaha – glad to know that trick works well for you!
I have trouble having time to stay hydrated! These are some great tips. I use a straw, makes me drink way more than usual. http://www.yummomummo.com
Oh so funny about the straw – never thought about that! I’ll give it try!
I have the same problem of not drinking enough water to stay hydrated 🙁 These tips could really help me reach out for more water. Thanks Elaine! xo
I hope they help you out Sharon!
I love your H2O tips…during the summer when I have to go out during 10 am to 5 pm and its hot I take my water cup with me to keep cool and hydrated!!
Ursula aka Blueridge Beauty
Yes when you’re out all day it’s SO hard to stay hydrated! Smart to keep a bottle with you at all times! I need to start doing that!
I don’t drink enough water because I never feel thirsty. I drink instead a lot of coffee and tea. First thing in the morning I always drink a cup of warm water with a few slices of ginger.
I’m guilty of drinking coffee and tea a lot too! Water + ginger first thing in the morning sounds like a great habit! I’m unfortunately not a huge fan of ginger 🙁