“DRINK MORE WATER!!”

You have probably heard this a million times. You have probably searched “how many liters of water do I need to drink every day,” and then end up drinking way less than what the experts say. Let’s be honest, between our morning coffees, classes, and endless scrolling, we tend to forget to water our bodies.  Your body tries to communicate that it needs more hydration, but if you are not paying attention, those signals can go unnoticed.

Your bodies have more than one way to express that you are not drinking enough water. Remember the thirsty feeling you get in your mouth? That is one of the last ways your body says, “HYDRATE ME!”. Dehydration can be seen in your skin, energy, and even mood. Let’s find out the important signs to look out for when not drinking enough water.

Your skin starts to look dry

When you are not drinking enough water, your body switches to keep the important organs hydrated. For your body, your skin is not it. When you feel dehydrated, your complexion starts to look dry, tired, or flaky. Your skincare routine is important, but nothing can fix hydration like that from within.

Skin looking dry and dehydrated is one of the main ways your body asks you to hydrate it. Watch out for what your body is trying to tell you.

Feeling tired often

Not drinking enough water can harm you in more than one way. It can heavily affect your energy levels. Water helps carry oxygen to your cells, and when you don’t drink enough water, your blood starts to thicken, making the process slow. Dehydration can make you feel sluggish, drained, and foggy.

Feeling tired often? Try maintaining your hydration levels instead of reaching out to energy drinks and more caffeine.

Your urine is dark yellow

This is one of the peak ways your body shows dehydration. So, how do you find out if you are not drinking enough water from a urine check? If your urine is dark yellow or has a strong odor, it is a sign of not been drinking water. Hydrated bodies produce pale yellow or almost clear urine. When your body sends you a signal through your urine color, take it seriously.

Your lips and eyes feel dry

As winter is nearing, it is common to have dry lips, but it is also a way to check if you are not drinking enough water. Dry lips, itchy eyes, or a scratchy throat are signs of dehydration. Hydration keeps your mucous membranes moist and your body comfortable. So, before you grab a lip balm, make sure to have a glass of water.

Feeling hungry even after eating

Hunger signs don’t always mean your body needs food. Sometimes, your body is signaling a need for water through hunger signals. When you are not drinking enough water, your body can confuse the signs of hunger and dehydration. Next time you feel snacky, sip some water and see how you feel.

You might just be in need of hydration. Many nutritionists recommend drinking a glass of water before meals or before reaching for a snack. Over time, this habit can help with better digestion and balanced eating patterns.

How to trick yourself into drinking enough water

Knowing the signs of not drinking enough water is one thing, but fixing it is another. This is a safe space to be honest, chugging water every other hour is boring (been there!). Our brains are wired not to want to do the hard things, but there are clever and simple ways to trick yourself into staying hydrated. Let’s look at a few ways!

1. Make water fun

You don’t need to drink plain water to feel hydrated; try adding some flavors. Tossing in slices of lemon, cucumber, and mint can make your water more appealing and make you want to take. These infusions can give a refreshing twist to the water without any added sugars. When the water feels appealing, you will automatically look for the bottle more often

2. Tiny little reminders

In the hustle of life, it can be so easy to forget to take water in the day. Set gentle reminders on your phone or get a hydration app. To make hydration habits even stickier in you, you can curate tiny habits like drinking water before brushing your teeth, before every meal, or in little breaks you take. Over time, your brain will associate those actions with hydration.

3. Don’t like drinking? Eat your water!

If you are not drinking enough water, it is fine! You can eat your water. Foods like watermelon, cucumber, oranges, lettuce, and tomatoes are more than 90% water. Add them to your meals to boost hydration and enjoy flavors naturally. These fruits are so high in antioxidants and nutrients, nutrition which can provide health benefits as well as hydration.

4. Start and end your day with water

Your habits can change the way you live life. A simple habit of drinking water as the first thing of your day and the ending of the day can help you with hydration. Your body loses fluid overnight, through breathing and sweating. Rehydrating your body in the morning sets your system up for a day, while nighttime can help maintain balance while you sleep.

5. Use a measured bottle

Motivation works hard when it is visual. A fun, reusable bottle can actually encourage you to drink more. Choose bottles with motivation marks that show your progress and quotes that help you remain hydrated. When you see how much water you have drank, you are likely to train your mind to stay hydrated often.

Notice how good it feels

Give yourself one week where you commit to remaining hydrated. Pay attention to the little differences that happens when you take water. You might see clearer skin, lighter mood, fewer headaches, and better health. When you realize how good it feels, you will be naturally motivated to drink water. It is always about feeling your best!