If You Do One Thing for Your Health Today, Make It This

By Jezmina von Thiele

January 24, 2022

It is so important to stay hydrated, and yet so easy to forget. Even mild dehydration can result in cognitive impairment, so chances are, you’ll feel a little better if you drink a glass of water right now. But the simple act of drinking a glass of water can be turned into so much more. If you’re short on time but want to carve out some moments of self-care throughout the day, drinking a glass of water is a great one.

Make drinking water a moment of restoration

Drink the glass of water mindfully. Get up and away from your work or whatever is stressing you out, and as you pour the glass of water, set the intention that you are doing something healing and nurturing for yourself. As you drink the water, express gratitude. Practicing gratitude regularly has been shown to improve overall well-being and feelings of happiness.

Coming from a culture that believes in animism, or the belief that everything has a spirit, I grew up with a conscious relationship with water, which I find very comforting. Thank the water for nourishing and replenishing your body. We all need water to live, and we all deserve access to clean drinking water. Not everyone has that access, so that might become another layer of your gratitude. Bring your attention to the temperature and sensation of the water as you drink, the flavor, the feel of your drinking cup, and anything else you can sense during this experience. Try to focus fully on this one action as you finish the entire glass.

If you have a little extra time, you can enhance your water with any of the following options (and get creative!):

A squeeze of lemon for vitamin C to support immune function
Chopped cucumber for its high levels of antioxidants
A couple pieces of watermelon for potassium
A few sprigs of mint for help with GI issues
Sliced ginger root to ease digestion and fatigue

I encourage you to notice how you feel without judgment as you experiment with this and other calming practices. If a technique doesn’t feel as good as you had hoped, see what you could do to make changes that suit you better. If something does feel really good, try leaning into it and going deeper. Become curious about what calms you. We all deserve relaxation and to be kinder to ourselves. Two minutes during your day is a good place to start.

Jezmina Von Thiele (they/them) is a 200-hour Kripalu certified Yoga Instructor with a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Certificate. They are a dancer, healer, artist, art model, and tell fortunes in their mixed Roma/Sinti family’s tradition. Follow them on Instagram at @jezmina.vonthiele and visit jezminavonthiele.com for more.