World Water Day happens each year on March 22nd to promote clean water for people and sustainable aquatic habitats. We’re celebrating by sharing 5 tips for staying hydrated and helping others do the same.

Keep a reusable water bottle with you throughout the day (and keep refilling it!)

At the St. Peter Food Co-op we carry a variety of vessels from Klean Kanteen—makers of stainless steel, BPA-free, reusable water bottles. Klean Kanteen is a certified B Corporation fighting to keep single-use waste from trashing the world, so you can stay hydrated and feel good about doing it.

Make a schedule

If you’ve tried before and failed to drink enough water throughout the day, try putting yourself on a schedule. Drink at least 1 glass in the morning when you wake up, 1 glass before each meal, and 1 glass before you fall asleep. Pretty soon, hydration will be as automatic as clockwork!

Drink water before you exercise

According to the American Heart Association, it’s better to drink water before or while you exercise rather than trying to catch up after you’ve gotten all sweaty. Drinking water after your workout forces your heart to work harder.

Make it fancy

If you can’t stomach the idea of chugging down plain water, spice things up by adding a little twist. Lemon and other citrus fruits are a great choice, or you can make your drink even more complex by adding additional ingredients (check out this recipe for Plum, Raspberry, and Thyme Water!). Just don’t add anything with sugar, or it sort of defeats the purpose of trying to stay healthy…

Don’t forget to keep your canine friends cool

Dogs can dehydrate fast in warm weather, so make sure they have plenty of clean, fresh water both indoors or out. You want to avoid heat stroke at all costs—the ASPCA says that it’s one of the top five preventable summer conditions and can cost pet owners upwards of $400.

We raise our glass (of H2O) to you for a happy & water-filled future!