I will be the first to admit it: New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. Three weeks down the road, after the hype and celebration of the New Year has passed and the reality and the routine of real life have set back in heavily, it is difficult to keep your physical and mental energy up. Resolutions tend to migrate towards the back burner.
Nevertheless, I set a myriad of resolutions every year. Even if only a few of them last through the entire year and some only for a few months or weeks, at least I have taken the positive steps toward change. In 2011 I have decided to take my dog out on longer walks more often, escape to the mountains for a hike or ski as often as possible, stress less and reach some personal achievement goals in the workplace.
This year, however, I have added one thing to my list of resolutions; a goal that is easy to keep, good for my mind and body and free to indulge in anytime of the day all year long. Easy and good-for-you goals can bring little moments of confidence all year round. Not only can you achieve a sense of success by sticking to a goal you set for yourself, you can also greatly improve your physical and mental health by doing so.
So, what is this simple, accessible, health-giving resolution?
Drink More Water.
We forget, in a culture obsessed with the food we put in our mouths, that one of the most basic elements we use to wash dishes and shower is also the best and most important nourishment for our internal health. Water is essential for shuttling nutrients to all parts of your body, creating energy, cleansing systems, brain function, digestion, muscle, joint and nerve function, immunity, proper sleep habits, and pain prevention.
Yes, we all know that we won’t live long without water, yet we don’t think about it nearly as much as we think about the food we eat and the exercise we do. How many times have you heard someone say, “My new year’s resolution is to drink more water”? More often than not we obsess over eating less, losing weight and exercising more, all for the end goal of living healthier lives in better shape and weight. But when you stop to consider the essential properties of water, you may want to think twice before you overlook its role in making a healthy change.
In addition to its essential functions within the body, adequately hydrating yourself on a daily basis can help you lose weight and make more energy. Often we have a hard time distinguishing the signals our body is sending us and the difference between hunger and thirst signals is one of the most difficult. Next time you feel the hunger pains approaching, take a moment to drink a full glass of water and wait to see if your body is still hungry twenty minutes later. When your body triggers the feeling of hunger it is trying to tell you it needs more energy and water, not just food. Not only does the circulation of water throughout the body and cells create energy on its own, energy from food-based nutrients cannot be made without adequate water to transport it. You may have plenty of potential energy in your body but not enough water to facilitate the digestion, transport, and usage of it.
The resolution is simple; drink 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day, between meals and before bedtime. Being well hydrated is easy and free and will make a drastic difference in your health. Whether you want to lose weight, be stronger, eliminate pain, have more energy, focus more, or just plain feel better on a daily basis, I encourage you to give water a try. Not to mention that with a little Yoga Earth dissolved in this magical liquid, you have a power-combination that hydrates, energizes, nourishes, replenishes, and satiates.
Happy New Year. May you live this year with strength, health, happiness, and hydration to fuel it all!
