Note from me: I'm coming down with the flu, it seems, and I'm growing less coherent. So if my sentences run and end up half finished, forgive me.
So today's piece of advice isn't all that make or break, but it's definitely a tip I wish I knew when I started.
Hydration.
We need it.
Not coffee, tea, sugar, soda or any other fluid.
Water.
The others are nice, but the energy they give you aren't permanent. And after the initial high, they'll do more damage to your concentration than having gone without. So you drink more of them, and the resulting crashes will be a bit worse, until you can't go without the drinks at all.
Which is perfectly fine if you're into that sort of thing.
But please. Do me (and you) a favor and drink a glass of water. If you don't like the taste, add mint. Or lemon. Or strawberries. Or all of the above. But get some water in.
You brain craves water. If you drink caffeine, you just dehydrate it more. That's why you get head-aches when you stop.
But yeah. I know how hard it can be to start drinking water when you're used to fizz, sugar and caffeine. So here's my tip. Keep a jug and glass at hand. And drink one glass. If you feel thirsty, drink another. Repeat through the day.
Also, if your mind feels fuzzy after a long day, go for water. Usually it's just dehydration.
Before you know it, you'll be a regular water guzzler.
What's your preferred drink? Will you be thinking of me while draining a glass of water? (I hope so. ;-))
Water is my preferred drink. I usually consume between five and eight bottles a day.
ReplyDeleteWater is my preferred drink as well.
ReplyDeleteI only drink water expect for the one coffee in the morning, I get through one large bottle a day and pass out two bottles...lol
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I have a mountain dew addiction, but I usually carry a 32-oz. water bottle from Whole Foods. I drank about 24 oz. today, and I feel great!!
ReplyDeletemorgankatz505.blogspot.com
I have to drink flavored water because I don't like the taste. My husband says that water has no taste, and I tell him, exactly! Bleah.
ReplyDeleteI fall in and out of this habit because I get so bored with water. I'm addicted to dr. pepper. Have been for a long time for reasons unrelated to the fizzy/sweet/sugar that are too lengthy to get into. But, I do try to get myself back into the habit every time I fall out of it...
ReplyDeleteand in honor of this reminder I'll drink water the rest of the night. :)
I dunno, Misha...might be a tremendous shock to my system if I tried pouring anything but coffee into it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
I've always been a water drinker. If you drink coffee, a fitness trainer told me to drink an equal amount of water to offset the dehydration. I used to add ice to keep it cool, and keep water at my desk, within reach. I'd drink more that way. Water is good for many things. Eight glasses isn't always necessary, but an ongoing habit is.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Hope you feel better soon.
I love orange juice. I admit to needing to drink more water.
ReplyDeleteCoffee and Coke are my preferred drinks, but I don't drink them every day. I'll never be able to give them up entirely, because I like drinking either one when I'm writing. But I do drink water every day.
ReplyDeleteI don't drink enough water. Tea is my downfall but I know I should and I do try. Hope you're feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteI like coffee and drink that in the morning, but I usually drink lots of water during the day. The times when I don't, I can feel the difference. Also, try lime in the water, or cucumber. :)
ReplyDeleteI drink a healthy amount of coffee and wine throughout the week besides water, which is a huge change from a couple years ago when all I would drink is water. But since I moved to the UK I find the water here tastes too different for me to enjoy it so I've resorted to a lot of herbal and decaffeinated teas to keep my hydration well balanced. Hope you start feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteWater is my preferred cold drink. If I want something hot, I just boil the water and flavor it...with a teabag.
ReplyDeleteI drink a lot of water, and I drink other things. I have a friend who hates water and drinks Diet Coke all day long. I've tried to tell her she NEEDS to drink water, no matter how gross she thinks it tastes. And that of course it's going to taste gross after all that Diet Coke. But that she'll get used to it. ;)
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon, Misha. One of my friends always starts the day with a glass of warm water and slice of fresh lemon. She then has her first cup of tea. I tried it, but it didn't hit the spot! I drink warm water in the evenings in a favourite mug, or have a pot of herbal tea in front of the TV as I'm usually on caffeine overload by that time.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the desert, what do you think Misha? WATER is the best!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly drinking coffee and tea, tea more than anything else. When I'm in need of fluids and sick though, I turn to orange juice and Gatorade. I hope you feel better!
ReplyDeleteI love my 3 cups of coffee but I do drink about 3 quarts of water a day. Love it! My son will drink a soda now and then but also prefers water.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better Misha, and the water is washing the germs away! I have one of those slightly dangerous coffee habits that I try to offset with water, somedays it works, somedays I need bringing down with a tranq gun!
ReplyDeleteHey, nice post! I just so happen to have a glass of water next to my computer, right now! Sorry to hear you're not feeling well, though. Get better soon!
ReplyDeleteI drink water like it's my job. :) Feel better, Misha!
ReplyDeleteI dislike water - all water - can't stand the taste so I have to flavor it with other things like kool-aid, tea or those flavor things you buy these days.
ReplyDeleteMy drink of choice is Coca Cola. Love it. Can't drink it that much anymore but I still love it!
I love this post. Good job. I will think of you as I guzzle my water. I find my brain cells respond much better to water too, but my taste buds prefer cherry coke.
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