I want to drink as much water as I can. I want it to be my default beverage throughout the day, and I want to fuel my body (and my skin) from within by drinking a lot of water. Like anything we set out to accomplish, including drinking more water, change requires intentionality. The secret to making change happen is knowing yourself and setting up systems to make your goal a reality for you.
Today I want to share with you four ways I have become intentional about setting up systems in my life to ensure that I am not without opportunity to put into action the intention I have to drink a lot of water each day.
My ideas are not meant to be prescriptive, where I tell you this is the way to drink more water. Instead, these examples are meant to hold up a model of my approach. You can take this premise, this way of thinking, and use it turn your intentions into reality.
PRE-CHILLED LEMON WATER.
Every evening, as part of my nightly routine, I get an insulated cup (Yeti, or the like), squeeze some lemon juice into it, fill it with water, add a few ice cubes, insert a straw, and stick it in my fridge. In the morning, when my alarm goes off, one of my first thoughts is, “I’m thirsty.” Eight hours is a long time without fluids, and even though I go to bed well-hydrated, I wake up ready for more water.
I hobble straight-away to the kitchen, bleary-eyed, not excited to be up, not yet forming complete thoughts, and I grab the tumbler full of cold, delicious, lemon water. I love that it is waiting for me, ready to go. It feels like a gift. The addition of the straw encourages me to gulp it down without hesitation.
If beginning my day with lemon water depended on me starting from scratch each morning with cup and ice and knife and cutting board and lemon squeezing…it would be a lost cause, doomed to fail. I know myself well enough to know that morning lemon-water making is not a good strategy. But the fact that it is sitting there waiting for me, exactly the way I need it and want it, provides the path of least resistance. All I have to do is drink it. So easy. Before my teeth are brushed and my contacts are in, I am already making change happen. Thanks to pre-made lemon water, I have 16-oz taken care of before I leave the house for work. I consider that a win.
LA CROIX IN A CUP.
I used to watch my friend Kara pour her La Croix into a cup and wonder why she bothered with the extra step. And then, after giving it a shot, I discovered how much I enjoy the experience. When I crack open a can of sparkling water and drink it from the can, I rarely finish it. I don’t know why, but I don’t. However, when I pour it into a glass, and then drink it straight, I finish it every time.
For me, there is something so satisfying about the ice-cold bubbles of a grapefruit La Croix. It’s more than water (even though, it technically counts simply as water), it’s an experience. It is a quick little break in my day. It’s a treat. It’s hydration, elevated, and I average a two-can-a-day habit. I usually drink one mid-morning when I am considering another cup of coffee, but know that water is the better choice, and another in the late afternoon or early evening when I am tired, thirsty, contemplating a cocktail or a glass of wine, but know that what my body is craving is hydration. A cold La Croix poured into a cup feels special. And those two cans chalk up a total of three 8-oz glasses of water to my daily tally. Feels like another win.
S’WELL BOTTLE.
My S’well bottle is with me at all times, full of water and ice. I throw it in my purse, keep in the console of my car, have it sitting next to me when I’m on my computer, and cook with it on the kitchen counter. I like the way it looks. I like the way it feels in my hand. I like how cold it keeps my water. I like that it doesn’t sweat. These things matter to me, and having a water bottle that meets these requirements helps ensure I actually use it. My S’well holds 16 oz, and I make it my goal to refill it twice during the day. Some days are better than others. But I never have to reach very far to take a big swig of water, which helps me chip away at bringing more water into my world. It’s cold. It’s contained. It’s not going to spill or get warm. It’s there when I need it or want it. It is a win.
BEDSIDE TABLE EVIAN.
I am nothing if not high maintenance. But I know what I like, and I’m okay with the situation. I love, with all of my heart, everything about Evian water. The softness of the water, the pastel blue and pale pink label, the fact that it is French. Evian is my very special water friend, and she makes me smile. However, Evian is also a luxury. In an effort to work this little bit of special into my world, I keep a small bottle on my bedside table.
If I wake up and need a sip of water, she’s there, offering a perfectly packaged hydration in the middle of the night. If I want a drink before I turn off the light to go to sleep, I don’t have to run to the kitchen or grab my S’well bottle from my purse. My French water is waiting. A small bottle of Evian on my bedside table makes me feel like I’m staying in a well-appointed hotel or guest house, but in the comfort of my own home and bed. Evian doesn’t bump up my daily water consumption by anything more than a few tablespoons. But it contributes to a healthy state of mind and provides a tangible reminder of love and care for myself. Always a win.
The theme of these suggestions is two-fold. First, be intentional about creating ways to accomplish your goals. Intentions require follow-through to become accomplished goals. Set your intention, and then make it happen.
Second, know yourself well enough to fashion those approaches into something that delivers what you want in a way that you want it. My ways are for me, and maybe they will work for you too, but really, the only person that can decide how you like your water is you. Know yourself, and make it happen!
Leave a Reply