With warmer weather approaching, I’ve been thinking a lot about hydration. Where I work, the hard core tennis players and golfers play outdoors all through the summer. We’ve already had a few 95 degree days and my hair tells me that the dew point is climbing (I always thought that poofy hair in the south was a style choice, turns out it is unavoidable!)
Most of us know that water helps with things like digestion, detoxification, and athletic performance. I was surprised to learn recently that staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your brain. Even a 2% decrease in hydration can lead to brain fog, and chronic dehydration can actually lead to brain shrinkage!
The following are a few of my favorite ways to incorporate more water into the day:
-Play a Drinking Game in Your Car: Keep a large bottle of water in the cup holder next to you when driving. Every time you come to a red light, see how much you can drink.
–Breakfast Water in Bed: Place a very large bottle of water (or two) on your nightstand before you go to sleep. Set an alarm for 15-20 minutes earlier than you usually get up. When you wake, sit and sip until all the water is gone. Consider reading or listening to something inspirational as you drink to seriously jumpstart your day.
-Eat Your Water: There is a reason why watery fruits and veggies abound during the hotter months….mother nature knows we need to stay hydrated! Eating lots of watery fruits and veggies is encouraged year round, but can be especially useful (and refreshing!) in the summer.
For more fitness ideas head over to the Joyful Gym Rat page on Facebook!
Stay thirsty friends….