We all know we’re supposed to be drinking a lot of water — conventional wisdom says that we should be pouring ourselves eight glasses per day, but if you exercise, live in a humid climate, or are following certain types of diet, you’re going to need to guzzle considerably more (per Real Simple). But, let’s be honest: drinking water can be surprisingly time consuming! If you like your water crisp and cold, you’ll want to refill the same water bottle repeatedly; even a large HydroFlask, which will keep your water at the perfect temperature all day, only holds 32 ounces, or four cups. Trips to the water cooler aside, let’s not forget about trips to the bathroom! So, it’s not terribly uncommon to fall short of your water goals during the day.
But, the night is young. Can’t you just finish drinking your H2O before bed? Not so fast. Urologist Vannita Simma-Chiang, M.D., said it’s best to have your last glass three to four hours before going to bed, because if you drink it closer to bedtime, you’re likely going to need to wake up to use the bathroom, and that can disrupt your sleep (per MindBodyGreen).
If you always wake up to pee, you could have nocturia
What if you actually do a good job of getting in your water earlier, and you still find yourself waking up, maybe even more than once, to use the bathroom? You might have nocturia, which means your body isn’t producing enough of the hormone that slows down kidney function during sleep, according to Medical News Today. In addition to not drinking water close to bedtime, you should also stop drinking tea, coffee, soda, and alcohol, if you want to be able to count on a full night of uninterrupted sleep. But nocturia is also a symptom of some serious diseases, including diabetes, so you should see a doctor if avoiding these liquids doesn’t solve the problem.
As for how to more easily work in your water intake earlier on, try keeping a bottle of water by your nightstand, so you can hydrate as soon as you awaken, advised Dr. Maria Peña, who specializes in obesity medicine at Mount Sinai in New York (via USA Today). This is a great way to get the first and maybe even the second cup done before breakfast! Other ideas include drinking a full glass with every meal, before and after exercise, and ensuring you have plenty of hydrating food in your diet, such as fruits and vegetables, Healthline reported.
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