Hydrate

Hydrate

Most modern people do not drink enough water. We are chronically and habitually dehydrated. We are so used to not having enough water that we don't feel thirsty when we are dehydrated, because the setpoints in our awareness have shifted. There is also a relationship between the stress response and chronic dehydration.

When you do drink, turn it into a restorative practice by paying attention. Attend to the sensory qualities of water in your mouth, water moving down your throat. Being hydrated doesn't mean mechanically forcing yourself to drink great quantities. It means becoming more aware of what it feels like to be nourished with water. Most of us don't drink nearly enough. The standard recommendation is 64 ounces (8 cups) per day, but this does not account for variations in human size, how much we sweat due to exercise or heat, or elevation.