Drink water

Starting your morning with a glass of water is one of the simplest yet most effective routines you can adopt. While you sleep, your body is at rest but still working – repairing, recovering, and rebalancing. As a result, you often wake up slightly dehydrated. A morning glass of water kick-starts your hydration for the day, reenergizing your cells and preparing your body for the day ahead. Even if you don't feel particularly thirsty upon waking, making a habit of drinking water first thing in the morning can have a variety of benefits, from improving your metabolism to helping flush out toxins.

But why does this matter so much? Hydration is crucial for maintaining almost every aspect of our health. Your brain, which is made up mostly of water, operates best when it's adequately hydrated, meaning that a morning glass of water can help clear that foggy, just-woke-up feeling and sharpen your mental faculties. It's been suggested that even mild dehydration can affect mood and cognitive functions - not an ideal way to start your day. Additionally, if you’re reaching for that morning coffee, drinking water beforehand helps mitigate the dehydrating effects of caffeine.

Developing the habit of drinking water in the morning doesn't have to be a chore. There are simple ways to make it more pleasurable. For instance, you might infuse your water with slices of lemon, cucumber, or berries for a hint of flavor. Keeping a full water bottle or a glass by your bedside, so it's the first thing you see, can also be a great reminder. Over time, it will become second nature to reach for water upon waking.

Now, you might wonder, how much water should you be drinking every morning? While the specific amount can vary from person to person, starting with a regular-sized glass is a good rule of thumb. Listening to your body is key; if you still feel thirsty after a glass, have another. It's important to acknowledge that everyone's hydration needs are different and can change from day to day depending on various factors such as level of physical activity, climate, and overall health.

Moreover, establishing this simple morning routine can have a cascading effect on other healthy behaviors. Once you've started your day on a healthy note, you might be more likely to make better food choices or feel more motivated to incorporate a little morning exercise into your routine. It sets a tone of self-care and awareness that can carry through the rest of your day.

Embracing the habit of drinking water every morning is an investment in your long-term health and wellbeing. It's a nearly effortless practice that can rejuvenate your mind and body each day. As you integrate this habit into your life, you’ll likely notice increased energy levels, better digestion, and even clearer skin, all of which are gentle nudges from your body expressing its gratitude for starting the day with the essence of life itself - water.

Track your Morning habits

The MyHabits app helps you with tracking this and many other habits related to health, home care and daily routines. Reminders, notification and weekly status reports assist you in getting good habits in and bad habits out.

The MyHabits app will be available for iPhone in early 2024. A version for Android will follow a few weeks later.