Yes, we know drinking water is good for us. We know we are supposed to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. We know what we are supposed to do, but we sure have a hard time doing it. Don’t we?

It’s human folly at its finest. But for the spiritually tuned and aware, we have to find ways to make it easier for us to do what is best for our mind, body, and soul. So we must drink water! Everyday… again and again.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Remember if you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. So take that opportunity to down as much as you can.

Be careful of water poisoning aka hyperhydration. This can happen when you drink water excessively, which throws off the balance of salt/electrolytes in the body. The amount of water per person differs by activity level, body mass and other such factors.

Usually this happens in “water drinking contests” or during extreme physical sports, drinking gallons of water within a few minutes. Our kidneys can easily process 1 to 1.5 liters of water. This state is unlikely for most humans, but there are some forewarnings to prevent this. Watch for light headedness, nausea, headaches, chest pains, or vomiting.

Drink It

They say we have to drink pure water without the additives, sugars, and chemicals. Most don’t like the bland taste of water and opt for the sugary or caffeinated drinks. Let’s make it a bit easier on ourselves and find ways to change our behaviors and thought processes.

Here are some tips I use to make it easier for me to drink water.

1.  Make it cold… Ice cold

It seems simple. But cold, icy water works for me. For some reason, I am able to drink loads of water ice cold versus luke warm. Especially on a hot day, I can down loads of water if there are some ice cubes in it. It seems easier going down and seems to refresh my thirst without that bloating feeling. It’s all in my head perhaps, but it works for me.

So often throughout my day I am filling my recyclable water container with ice and water to keep it fresh and frigid.

Warning: Ice takes more volume than water. It’s a science thing, that I don’t care to get into. So if you are using a lot of ice, know that you will have less water in your glass.

2. Spruce up that H2O

I don’t mean adding the drink powders and Tang. I have nothing against Kool-Aid. Tropical Punch happens to be my favorite. But we are talking about drinking more water.

So instead of the powders, I add a lil’ bit of juice. Apple and grape juices are wonderful for this because just a tiny amount of juice goes a long way in flavoring your boring water. Oranges works but the citrus doesn’t quite flavor it well. Pomegranate and cranberry can have a bitter taste so it may take a bit more juice to give it a decent flavor.

Some use tea, but be mindful of the additives and caffeine that it contains. We want to keep the water as pure as possible, but add just a hint of flavoring to make the water tolerable.

I have added fresh or frozen fruit to add a subtle taste to my water. Sometimes I slightly mash the fruit to release the flavors. Strawberries and citrus fruits work well. I like to add a twist of lemon/lime with some mint leaves as well.

For those without alcohol dependencies, adding a slash of red wine, lemon and ice will make a wonderful H20 concoction to drink on a summer day. Notice I said a splash of wine. Anything more will just be drinking wine, not water.

3. Change Your Game

If your goal is to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, make the intentions of drinking water as much as you can. Carrying around a water bottle increases the chances of H2O consumption. To be eco-friendly, avoid all those disposable bottles. Spend a few dollars and get an aluminum bottle for maximum eco-friendliness, or just a high density plastic container. So reuse! One of these bottles can reduce much plastic waste/use.

There will be moments of your day that will be easier to drink than others. For me, I am often thirsty in the mornings and late nights. For some reason, these times are great for water intake. But drinking H2O at night will often interrupt your sleeping patterns, so adjust according to your body.

Here are some other opportune times and tips:

·       During and after meals are great times to consume water. It is a bit easier to drink more when the food is salty or dry. If you like to eat sweets, down it with some water to wash that sugary treat down.

·       Instead of sipping maybe gulp! Some people can drink more water simply by drinking from a straw.

·       During and after workouts or walks.

·       Drink from different types of glasses and bottles. Small cups in many doses or one large container.

·       Schedule different parts of your day to drink water. Imagine water is like your daily medicine or supplement. Water is important to your diet, so treat it so.

What other tricks and tips do you have?