It is widely accepted that the average person needs 2 to 2.5 liters of water a day, this increases for us runner types. We’ll be writing another article soon about how and why it is important to hydrate and drink water, but for now, we’ll focus on a few quick tips to meet the Recommended daily intake.
4 Tips to Drink More Water
1. Make a Plan. Yes, as simple as it sounds, adding this bit of structure to your day and committing to drinking water at certain times does actually help. I have my 500ml bottle with me at all times and try to have one during the first hour at work, another before lunch, one just after lunch and one on the way home. As simple as it sounds, that is 2 litres consumed by just sticking to a personal plan and deadline
2. Keep it handy. You’re sitting at your desk in the middle of a long email. Your mind begins to wander. If you have a bottle of water on your desk or within arms reach, you’ll instinctively go to have a drink to give yourself those few minutes break from the email. This ad-lib way of drinking is a great way of helping you stick to your drinking plan.
3. Make it tasty! Let’s face it, from time to time, we’re going to need to add a little something to our water to make it a bit more palatable. Adding some Robinsons or even adding in fruit slices like oranges, strawberries or lemons can add a little extra to your water and make it go down a little bit easier.
4. Get a water app-etite. There’s loads of apps out there like “Water Logged” or “Daily Water” to track how much water you drink. By logging your consumption, you can ensure you reach your goals and being hydrated
Just a little aside before you go counting your intake of water, alcohol and caffeine drinks which are both considered diuretics, meaning they increase urine production, should therefore be subtracted from the total. That is to saying having a pint after work on a Friday doesn’t count towards your daily in take total.