Simple tips for keeping yourself pampered and hydrated.
Elitia Barnes Kick start your day with a glass of water! Drinking water boosts energy, flushes out toxins and supports healthy blood flow. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration impacts our cognitive abilities and mood. Every time we exhale, we lose water weight. After 8 hours of sleep, we need to replenish all the water we lost during the night. I like to drink a glass of water while brewing my much needed cup of coffee.
Who says you can’t get hydrated and have a treat too? Made of mostly water, popsicles are delicious and hydrating. Plus, they’re easy to make! Cut down on sugar content by using real fruit rather than juice. Did you know that strawberries are around 90% water? I like to blend together strawberries, spinach, banana, almond butter and a little water. Get creative and make your own popsicle recipe!
Take time out to relax! Pick a day this week and make it your spa day. Put on a hydrating face mask, light candles and turn up your favorite tunes. Taking a hot bath helps relax muscle tension and ease joints. I like to add bubbles or an aromatic bath bomb when I’m feeling extra luxurious. One study even claims taking a bath can burn as many calories as a 30 min walk! Sounds good to me!
Have you ever thought about what’s in your tap water? Having better water is one change that has a big impact on our daily lives. Most of us get water from our city’s municipal water treatment facility. To make our water safe to drink, cities add chlorine and chloramines to kill bacteria that make us sick. However, this does not mean our tap water is truly clean. The chlorine, chloramines and a list of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) remain in our tap water. Chlorine and chloramines dry out our skin and hair, fading our hair color and making all our fancy shampoos less effective.
Use a counter top filter for drinking water, or install a whole house water system. With a whole house water system you can drink, bathe and cook all with clean water! Filtered water throughout your home makes everything it touches better. Talk about self-care!
Make healthy hydration part of your daily routine and show off your personality with a refillable water bottle. Find a water bottle that fits your style! Personalize it by engraving your initials or a favorite quote. Having a water bottle you love will help you remember to grab it on the way out the door. Sipping water regularly throughout the day is the best way to stay hydrated. Chugging large gulps makes it harder for our body to absorb the water into our system.
This self-care tip may seem basic, but research has shown flowers really DO improve your day! Taking a moment to stop and literally smell the roses makes a stressful day a little better. Brighten up your home or work station with fresh flowers. Make your flowers last longer by re-cutting the stems every 48 hours and using filtered water.
Allow yourself time to wind down at the end of the day. Relax with a cup of herbal, detox or sleepy time tea. I take the opportunity to read a book or do something besides look at a screen. Too much screen time before bed can actually interfere with our natural circadian rhythm and make it harder to fall asleep. Teas with chamomile, Valerian root or lavender can help support better sleep. I’m also a fan of peppermint tea, which helps with digestion.