Our family believes in preventative health as much as possible. We try to implement prevention strategies like eating a nutritious diet, getting proper sleep, getting adequate exercise, using essential oils, and more. We always try to live above the wellness line, and that means we also take certain vitamins and supplements to prevent illness. My husband is a pediatric nurse and I am a teacher. Our older son is in school as well, so we are exposed to many bacteria and viruses on a daily basis. It’s a constant struggle for our family live above the wellness line, which is why we try to keep these areas of our lives in balance.
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One of the major areas that many people overlook is staying well hydrated during the winter months. In summer it’s easier for people, especially the elderly and children, because the temperature is higher, and we do tend to get thirsty more often. I have found that many people do not hydrate well enough, especially in the winter months. Because of this factor, our family tries to develop a hydration protocol or schedule.
This is simple for our son, because he is allowed to have a refillable water bottle at his desk all day that he fills at lunch. However, my husband and I have to work harder at getting in plenty ounces of water each day. Hubby is in one school, but I travel between schools, so I have the toughest job of maintaining a hydration protocol. He also has worked to maintain a hydration schedule at work where he visits the teacher’s lounge (he is a nurse in a school with a specific student), and fills his water bottle at least three times per day.
My strategy has been to place refillable water bottles at both of my schools. However, I do not have access in my classrooms, because I’m either in a building outside the school with no running water, or I’m in an office in the parish center of a church, since my other school is a private school. So, I have learned to set a timer on my phone as a hydration reminder. You would be surprised how tough it can be to get enough water into your system each day!
How to Develop a Hydration Protocol:
1. Determine where you spend most of your time each day and the best possible places and ways to get hydrated. Does this mean keeping a water bottle near your desk? Maybe take a water break every time you take a break to stand up or go outside. Make sure to keep water bottles in the most strategic places.
2. Filter your water as much as possible. We have a Brita filter at home, and my one school already has a purified water company that comes to refill the water tanks. However, there are just some times where staying hydrated is more important than having filtered water.
3. Purchase refillable bottles. These bottles are better for the environment, and produce so much less waste. However, remember, that they need to be cleaned everyday, as mildew and other bacteria can grow quickly in filtered bottles. Also, make sure your bottle is BPA free. I prefer, this Ello glass bottle that I use everyday, because I put certain essential oils in my water everyday, and you can only use glass when ingesting essential oils.
4. Set a reminder/timer. If you don’t set a timer, maybe a post-it note works better for you. If you are like me, the day can totally get away from you, and before you realize it, it’s 3pm and you haven’t had even one glass of water! Only you know your personality type, so find the best way to remind yourself to hydrate.
5. Use technology to your advantage. I love the app Waterlogged, which is a great way to track how much water I’ve consumed. However, app like MyFitnessPal also have components where you can track water consumption as well. Let technology work to your advantage when trying to get healthy.
Getting your ounces in each day doesn’t have to be challenging with these simple steps to help you meet your hydration goals. Comment below with your hydration tips!
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