I was busy this morning, preparing dinner for tonight to put in my crockpot. I love crockpots but that is a whole different tangent lol. I was placing chopped onions in the pan and as I walked back to the table to chop the carrots and celery, I passed my water bottle. The thought came to my mind that I should take a drink but instead, I walked right past it and sat down to chop veggies. Now, I love to drink water. It’s my favorite drink and if you ever eat with me, you will find me drinking water as my beverage. I am supposed to drink a lot of water for my health. I like to drink a lot of water, but I haven’t been drinking as much lately. After I sat back down, I caught myself and got back up and grabbed my water bottle and took a drink. As I was cutting the veggies, I was wondering why I walked right past my water. I had water in it, it even has a straw. I couldn’t have made it easier for myself. And yet I still walked right past. How many other times did I feel thirsty, see my water bottle within arm’s reach, and still choose not to take a drink? (Yes, I tend to think deeply as I chop carrots and celery lol)
I decided to make a commitment to never repressing an urge to drink water. If my doctor reads this, I’m sure he will be thrilled. So here are my 7 tips to drink more water that I will be using.
- Have water bottles filled and placed strategically in your home and office. I have one of my favorite quart size water bottles by the couch, one in the kitchen, and one in my bedroom. Since the couch is my unofficial office, this works well.
- Use a straw. It is a really easy hack, and it really works! You will drink more when you use a straw. I love these big silicon ones!
- Anytime you clear your throat, take a drink. This was a tip for me from a doctor at the Mayo Clinic.
- As soon as your water bottle or glass gets empty, fill it up. This one is so helpful. You just instinctively will drink more water if you have a full glass or water bottle.
- Take a water bottle with you when you go out. Sadly, this is where my quart size water bottles don’t work as well. I like one of these kinds of insulated water bottles that keep my water cool all day.
- Drink a glass of water before you drink a sugary drink. If you are going to drink a soda, or juice, or any other beverage that is high in sugar, drink a glass of water first. You will drink less sugary beverages and more water win win! (Or you can be like my husband and just water down all your juices.)
- Drink water after you use the bathroom. This is a great time to remind yourself to take a drink.
I don’t know why I need to make a commitment to do something I like to do that is good for me. Please tell me it’s not just me! I started thinking of other things that are good for me that I repress the urge to do. (At this point I was procrastinating cleaning the bathroom.) It occurred to me that I often have kind thoughts that I don’t say. WHY? No one has ever been mad at me for saying something sincere and kind. (At least not that I know of.) It isn’t a hard thing to do. When I look at my husband and think he looks handsome today or when I appreciate something he does, why don’t I always say it? Why don’t I always tell my children when I think about them and something I love about them? Why don’t I tell the random woman in the grocery store that I love her dress? There are so many sincerely kind things that I think throughout the day, but most of them stay in my head. Why don’t I just say them?
That’s when I made my second commitment today: Never repress an urge to express a kind thought. And I am committed. So now if I see you in the grocery store, don’t be surprised if I randomly tell you that you look beautiful. And if I don’t, please rest assured that it’s not that I don’t think you are beautiful and amazing, it’s just because I am thinking about all the things on my shopping list and what I might have forgotten, and my assignment that I need to finish for my college class, and how one of my children are doing in a new job etc etc. There are always a lot of things going on in my mind.
Here are 5 kinds of thoughts that I am committed not to keep to myself anymore:
- When I think someone looks nice.
- When I am happy to see someone.
- When I think someone has done a great job.
- When I appreciate the effort someone has made.
- When someone in my family does something that makes me happy.
I’m going to start with those thoughts. What other kind thought should I make sure to share?