‘What you have to and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that’s another matter.’
– Peter F. Drucker
Why do you need water? Your body is nearly two-thirds water and so it is really important that you consume enough fluid to stay hydrated and healthy. If you don’t get enough fluid you may end up feeling tired, get headaches and not perform at your best.
How much water do you need to consume? Generally you should drink about 6-8 glasses of fluid per day, on top of the water provided by the food you are eating. Drinking tea or coffee also counts towards your water intake, even though these drinks contain caffeine. Try having a bottle of water on your desk during the day and keep sipping away until it’s all gone, it will become a habit if you persevere.
Hydration is very important whilst exercising. The greater the amount of water lost through perspiration, the more water must be replaced to avoid dehydration, so it’s very important to keep your fluid intake up during exercise. The body can’t tolerate large deficits in total body water, so if you are perspiring, you should be drinking frequently!
The need for water of fluids can also be mistaken for hunger. So before you delve for the biscuit tin or packet of crisps, have a glass of water. You will be surprised by the amount of snacks between meals that you can manage to skip, by drinking first when you are feeling hungry. This is all very simple, but you have to want to change these little habits for the better to stick with it and see the difference it can make. Get drinking… of the water variety!