Water is an awesome beverage choice any time of day, but it may be especially beneficial at certain moments. To support your physical and mental fitness and wellbeing, here are the 8 best times to drink water daily.
1. Upon waking.
Unless you had water to drink during the middle of the night, you haven’t had any water to drink for at least 6 to 8 hours by the time you wake up in the morning. While this doesn’t mean you’re dehydrated per se (especially if you hydrated well the day before), your hardworking body and brain will demand you maintain good hydration to feel their best and function properly. Even mild dehydration can hinder your memory, concentration, and physical performance—a less than ideal way to start your day!
For a healthy habit that supports all aspects of your wellbeing, build the habit of drinking at least 8 ounces of water upon waking and notice how you feel as you move throughout your morning and day.
2. Before or with your meals.
Your body depends on water to properly and comfortably digest your food. Drinking water helps break down and move food into your stomach, along with promoting the proper function of your digestive enzymes. And, as water helps move food to where it needs to be, drinking water before and during your meals may help alleviate uncomfortable digestive symptoms, such as constipation and bloating.
Lastly, drinking water before or with your meals can also help you prevent overeating and regulate your appetite, thus supporting a weight that’s healthy for your body.
3. Before and during your sweat session.
Good hydration and your ability to give your best during your workouts go hand-in-hand. Insufficient hydration can tank your motivation and energy, making your sweat session feel harder than it would if you were properly hydrated.
Maintaining optimal hydration before and during your workouts helps ensure you perform at your absolute best physically and mentally. To prepare your body and brain to bring it, sip water throughout the day, and aim to drink at least 8 ounces of water during your workout.
4. After your sweat session.
Given that your muscles are almost 80% water and your heart is over 70% water, it’s no surprise your body needs adequate hydration to recover from working hard during your sweat sessions. Along with rest and good nutrition, your body depends on water to synthesize proteins for muscle repair and promote heart rate recovery.
5. When you’re feeling stressed.
Stress and dehydration are two independent factors that can elevate cortisol levels, which can contribute to many undesirable stress symptoms, such as headaches, high blood pressure, and fatigue. Many people are likely to forget to eat well and stay hydrated while in the throes of stress, amplifying stressful symptoms.
In short, if you’re stressed, you’re more likely to become dehydrated, and if you’re dehydrated, you’re more likely to feel stressed. So the next time you’re facing a stressful situation, give yourself permission to press pause, take a few deep breaths, and drink a glass of water.
6. When you’re feeling tired or run down.
If you feel fatigued or under the weather, staying on top of hydration may be just what the doctor ordered. When you’re feeling run down, your thirst and appetite may decrease, which means that you may be taking in fewer fluids than what you actually need to function optimally. And because it leads to feelings of weakness and fatigue, dehydration can make you feel worse if you’re already combating a demanding situation or cold and flu symptoms.
7. Before, during, and after a sauna.
From supporting heart health to improving your physical performance, saunas can benefit your health and workouts in several ways. Saunas also get your sweat flowing fast, which is why it’s best to go into your sweat well hydrated. Inadequate hydration can lead to some unsavory consequences, such as dizziness or overheating.
To ensure your sweat is supporting your wellness goals, drink water before, during, and after every sauna session.
8. Whenever you feel it.
The sensation of thirst is your body’s way of letting you know that it’s ready to drink water. So the next time you feel like your mouth is dry or your body is craving water, give yourself the gift of listening. Every cell, organ, muscle, and function in your body will thank you for supporting them.
Sipping water throughout the day is supportive for your health—period. Though if you’re looking for a fun way to stay on top of your hydration game, pick up our half-gallon jug and aim to drink around 8 ounces of water 8 times a day.
Along with the satisfaction of drinking a half gallon of water, you will have provided your body and brain will one of the key ingredients it needs to give you your best today and every day.
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