Drinking More Water - Five Practical Tips

Staying well hydrated throughout the day is really important for remaining fit and healthy. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that we drink one litre or eight glasses of water per day, even more if you have been exercising. If that have proven difficult for you, then here are some tips that will help you remain well hydrated throughout the day.Tip One - Drink a glass of water every morningOne of the first things that I do in the morning is to drink at least one glass of water. If I have been exercising it is often two as I need to re-hydrate. Often when you wake up in the morning and you are busy having breakfast and getting ready for work, we can forget to do some simple things. By incorporating my morning drink into my routine, I know that I am already off to a good start for my body.Tip Two - Carry water with youWhen you are out and about, especially on the weekend, it can be too easy to race around and forget to drink water. I try to carry a bottle of water with me most of the time so that when I am thirsty, I do not have to stop and buy a drink or risk being tempted by something sweet and fizzy. I can get my errands done with minimum fuss and make sure I am still consuming enough water during the day. This is really important in hot weather when it is so much easier to become dehydrated, often leaving you feeling flat and tired.Tip Three - Buy a jug or water bottle for workMost of us will grab a drink of water when we are walking around at work but often this is not frequent enough to adequately hydrate throughout the day. If you buy a larger container for water that can sit on your desk, then you have a clear measure as to whether you have drunk enough on any given day. This is a great technique as you can easily measure your daily intake and gauge the appropriate amount for your body over time.Tip Four - Ask for water when you are outWhen you are catching up with friends, particularly if you are drinking coffee or alcohol, it is a really good idea to ask for some water as well. Most restaurants offer tap water for free and you will often find that if it is there, you will drink it. Given that beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol will dehydrate you, it is good to offset their effect at the same time. In the case of alcohol, it can also help manage your alcohol consumption throughout an evening when it can be tempting to drink more out of thirst. A terrible mistake that normally leads to a very sore head in the morning and lots of Calories that you ultimately have to burn off!Tip Five - Check out your colourIf you are in doubt as to whether you have drunk enough water in a day, there is a simple way to find out, and that is to look at the colour of your urine. The colour should fade throughout the course of the day from a dark yellow in the morning to almost clear by the evening. If you have not been drinking enough water then you will notice that this is not the case and you know to grab a glass of water as soon as possible.I hope that these tips are practical and help improve your water consumption. It may seem like overkill but water consumption is really important to help you stay fit and healthy. Keep it up and if you have any other tips feel free to let me know.