Recent research published by the American Psychological Association suggests that many Americans are dealing with long-term stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflict, racial injustice, and macroeconomic factors like high inflation. These stresses have caused a 20% rise in chronic illness and a 14% rise in mental health diagnoses.
You should always seek professional guidance if you suspect you have a mental health condition or are living with long-term stress. However, you may also find support from an unexpected source: hydration.
While the advice to simply “drink water” may sound like a flippant dismissal of mental health issues, the reality is that drinking enough H20 will make it easier to handle everyday challenges. A little hydrotherapy can go a long way, too, as relaxing in warm waters is a great way to de-stress after a difficult day.
Health Benefits of Drinking Water
Up to 60% of your total mass is attributable to water. As such, you must regularly top up your water intake to remain mentally sharp, physically fit, and emotionally calm. Beyond serving essential functions, proper hydration can boost your ability to metabolize food correctly and improve lubrication around your joints and bones. Additional benefits of drinking enough water include:
- Improved Sleep: Water regulates your core temperature, meaning you’re more likely to get a good night’s sleep if you’ve been hydrated throughout the day.
- Reduce Risk of Depression: Drinking enough H20 can combat the onset of depression, as water ensures that the brain has enough resources to function properly.
- Enhanced Mood: Getting enough water can enhance your mood and help you feel calm. Drinking water throughout the day can combat feelings of nervousness and anxiety, too.
- Better Focus: Your energy levels increase when you’re adequately fueled and hydrated. Drinking enough water can also combat fatigue, headaches, and difficulty focusing.
Put simply, you’re far more likely to feel like the best version of yourself when you’ve had enough water to drink. Getting enough H20 can empower your efforts to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, too, as you’re far more likely to hit the gym or lace up your running shoes when you’re well-hydrated and feel refreshed.
How to Consume More H20
Most people know they should drink more water. However, you may find that drinking the recommended 2.7-3.7 liters of fluids proves difficult if you’re not accustomed to carrying around water bottles or don’t enjoy drinking unflavored liquids. Fortunately, you can use a range of hacks to drink more water, like:
- Setting Goals: Setting a goal of drinking 3.7 liters can be surprisingly motivating. You can even break this up by setting micro-goals, like “drink 1.5 liters by midday” or “drink 1 liter during lunch”.
- Get Some Gear: Pick a vessel you like, be it a colorful bottle or a branded canteen. Buying a new bottle or tumbler is a great investment, too, as it’ll remind you to keep your water with you during the day.
- Add Flavor: Low/no calorie sweeteners and flavoring make your water taste great without spiking your blood sugar. There are dozens of flavors on the market now, meaning you’ll be able to find a drink that suits your palette.
- Try Sparkling: Sparkling water can make your regular water feel like a soda treat. This can make drinking the last liter of water that much easier.
Finding ways to get your water fixed is non-negotiable if you want to boost your mental health, cognition, and overall well-being. There are dozens of ways to flavor your drinks, and you can find plenty of fun tumblers to boost your office style. This can be transformative if you’re used to feeling sluggish and fuzzy at the end of a busy, stressful day at work.
Hydrotherapy
H20 isn’t just for drinking. A little hydrotherapy can go a long way if you’re feeling stressed and need to take a load off. You don’t necessarily need to buy a hot tub or a cold plunge to reap the rewards of hydrotherapy. A soak in the bathtub or a quick dip in your gym’s swimming pool can provide plenty of benefits. You can heighten your hot tub wellness potential by:
- Regularly bathing in hot waters to reap the benefits of hot water immersion.
- Putting your phone away and remove any distractions so you can fully focus on unwinding.
- Focusing on how the water feels and sounds when you’re in the tub.
- Soaking before you sleep to enhance your restfulness at night.
Taking the time to soak regularly can improve your blood flow and help you recover after a hard workout. The buoyancy of the water can also take a load off your joints and help you get some relief from aches and pains. If you happen to soak in a hot tub, the jets even provide a light therapeutic service in the form of a massage.
Conclusion
Adequate hydration is the backbone of mental health, cognitive function, and general well-being. You need to drink between 2.7 to 3.7 liters per day if you want to feel like the best version of yourself, and you should aim to top up any fluids you lose while sweating. Following a few simple strategies — like flavoring your water or buying a tumbler — can help you stay on track and hit your hydration targets every single day.
