Did you know that we’re made up of 60% water? Water is essential for every system in our body; we need to replace the amount of water lost during breathing, sweating, urination and elimination.
…have you drank enough of it today?
I know that a lot of us are getting into and gearing up for the holidays to begin, but my advice with this post is of a general anti-stress nature. Personally, it’s not that I’m more stressed (which I am, obviously) but it’s that I’ve got an increased amount of anxiety with the holidays coming up, and what I need to do before they arrive. I’m aware of everything that needs to get done, my to-do list has expanded into several loose-leaf papers and post-its by now, and I run like mad from the time I leave the house in the morning to the time I crawl into bed at night (…usually at an ungodly hour that could technically be classified as the next day, but who’s counting? …oh right, I am.) Funny that this is the time of year that we’re really and truly gearing up to slow down – so like most of you out there, I tend to let my small habits and rules fall by the wayside as I know in about 3 weeks time, I’ll almost be at a full stop and can yet again remember to take care of me. Not a routine I enjoy, I might add – so this year, I’m proposing that at least we all try and incorporate something different.
One of the easiest ways to take care of yourself, and to de-stress in times of high anxiety and the hustle and bustle of our beloved festive season, is to simply drink water. I know this might sound insane to you, (and awfully dull) but I am truly suggesting that you choose a bottle of water instead of reaching for yet another Venti Starbucks Egg Nog Latte when you’re running your daily holiday errands. Other than keeping your body hydrated (I’m not going to go into why that’s good; I’m assuming everyone paid attention during all the formative schooling years, and has been berated enough with this information!) water has the ability to dissipate anxiety by helping to neutralize your body’s pH, thereby lowering stress and helping you to think more clearly and effectively. “Stress” as we know it occurs when your body is too acidic (again, referring to internal pH levels); your system goes into a hightened sense of functioning, literally stressing your organs into over-functioning and over-preforming. This really goes back to that whole “fight or flight” human response that we’re all capable of – but I hardly think it’s worth the self-inflicted damage this can do when sustained long term (regardless of how important you think getting that flatscreen/video game/cell phone/ultimate gift is, I assure you – it’s literally not worth the stress!) While your body is naturally trained to go into that mode whenever you deem yourself threatened (you can’t control it unless you’re tapped in and truly self-aware) there are tricks and tools, like water – and deep breathing – that can help you to calm your nerves on the spot and in a jiffy to rebalance and recenter yourself to stop the stress from taking control of you.
Other effects & benefits of water:
- It suppresses the appetite naturally, and helps the body to metabolize stored fat (ultimately reducing fat deposits, helping you to lose weight and keep it off; great news for holiday dieting and eating!)
- Retained water shows up as excess weight; drinking enough helps to lessen fluid retention, as it triggers the body to release stored water. When you’re stressed and dehydrated, the body perceives this as a threat to survival, and begins to hold onto every drop – hence the swollen feet, legs, and hands of ravenous holiday bargain hunters (or those preparing savory and sweet holiday meals; we often forget to drink plenty of water while slaving for long hours over that hot stove!)
- It helps to prevent skin problems by preventing your body’s cells from shrinking; by hydrating the body and again assisting all organs to function optimally, it will help leave your skin clear, plump (not swollen!), healthy, and resilient for the holidays!
- Perhaps most importantly, water helps rid the body of waste; during all the holiday stress and “festive celebrating” (i.e. eating/indulging/hangovers/etc.) the body has a lot more waste to get rid of. Regularly consuming enough water helps flush out the added waste, keeps things running smoothly, and keeps you happy, healthy, and de-stressed all season long!