Making Water Sustainability Choices a 2015 Priority
How to Add ‘Water’ to Your New Year’s Resolutions
Every year, January brings a long list of New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, eat right, and lead a healthier lifestyle. Despite these goals to eat more fruits and vegetables, go to the gym, and take the stairs, there is one key health aspect that is often forgotten: water.
Clean water is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, yet it is something many of us in the United States take for granted. Over 780 million people around the world do not have access to clean water, but US residents have abundant access to clean municipal water. (UN Facts and Figures). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that water is essential for keeping body temperatures normal, lubricating joints, protecting the spinal cord, and getting rid of waste. Despite these benefits, up to 75 percent of Americans may be chronically dehydrated (CBS Miami).
To make 2015 a successful one, let’s prioritize water in our New Year’s Resolutions. This year, aim to conserve and consume water sustainably for a better planet and a healthier YOU. Stuck on the perfect water-related New Year’s Resolution? Here are some perfect ways to incorporate water sustainability into your every day.
1. Your Home
Everyone has a barrier that prevents them from drinking enough water in their home. Overcome those barriers by preventing them in the first place!
- If your tap water’s taste is unappealing, try a Brita pitcher or faucet filter that minimizes the taste of chlorine and can remove impurities such as heavy metals.
- Designate a specific cup, mug, or reusable bottle for water. Keep it filled and carry it with you throughout your home as a reminder to drink more water.
- Drink water at key times throughout the day. To keep hydrated, space out your water consumption and pair with daily activities. For example, set a goal to drink a glass of water when you wake up, at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner, and before bed. That’s already 5 glasses of water! The general rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses per day (Mayo Clinic).
2. On the Go
We’ve all been there before: We’re in the car or at a meeting, and all we can think about is how thirsty we are. Thirst is a sign that our body is craving water to complete cellular tasks that keep us healthy. Prevent dehydration on-the-go this year.
- The best way to keep your body hydrated is to carry a reusable water bottle with you. Having the bottle near you – on your desk, or in your backpack – can remind you to keep drinking water throughout the day.
- Reusable water bottles are easy to refill at a tap or filtered water station. Plus, you can choose a design that fits your personality. BeCause Water has a line of reusable water bottles that keep your filtered water fresh all day long. If you’re looking for a bottle that can filter tap water, try brands like Brita or Camelbak.
- A reusable water bottle is key to a healthy environment and a healthier lifestyle. The majority of plastic disposable water bottles end up in landfills and in the ocean. These plastics create an unhealthy environment for all life on Earth. Do your part and resolve to use a reusable water bottle to carry water with you all year long!
3. School/Workplace
When you’re sitting at your desk, either at work or in class, it’s easy to forget to drink water. Water is essential for keeping our minds and bodies energized. Here are tips for keeping hydrated throughout your day at work or school.
- Keep a water glass, mug, or other container at your desk or in your locker so you can fill up and quench your thirst throughout the day.
- Track your daily water consumption. You’d be surprised at how much better you feel on the days you drink 8 glasses of water. Make a note in your daily planner or use a phone app to tally water intake. Not your style? Try water bottles that monitor your water consumption either digitally or manually.
Make sure to make water a priority in 2015 for improved health and a clean environment! If water quality is an issue in your community, take further action by contacting your local and state representatives to show them that water is important to you.
Good luck with your water-related New Year’s Resolutions! Here’s to 2015.
Have additional ways to incorporate water sustainability into the every day? Leave a comment below!
