Hydration habits for active men

Make water the easy choice

Ask any man with a full schedule if he drinks enough water, and you will likely get a shrug. It is not that anyone dislikes water. It is that it gets forgotten between meetings, errands and projects.

The fix is not willpower. It is making water the most convenient option in every room you spend time in. When the glass is already in your hand, sipping happens on its own.

Start by taking a quick tour of your day. Where do you spend the most time: the truck, the desk, the garage, the couch? Put a cup or bottle in each spot tonight and you have already won half the battle.

For general background on everyday eating and drinking, the MedlinePlus nutrition page is a friendly starting point.

Pick a bottle you will carry

A good bottle changes everything. Choose one that fits your truck's cup holder, keeps drinks cold and has a lid that does not spill when it rolls under the seat.

• Insulated steel keeps ice for hours on a hot job
• A large bottle means fewer refills
• A wide mouth makes adding ice and fruit easy
• Time markings on the side can remind you where you are in the day

Keep a second bottle at your desk and a third in the garage or shed. Wherever you work, water should be within arm's reach.

Wash the bottle every day or two and keep a spare lid handy. A fresh, clean bottle is simply more appealing to pick up, and that is what keeps the habit going.

Tie sips to things you already do

Habit stacking is the secret. Attach water to routines that never change.

• One glass right after you wake up; it fits neatly into our fifteen-minute morning routine
• A glass with each meal
• A sip every time you check email or finish a call
• A refill whenever you stand up for a stretch
• A glass before you sit down for the evening

If plain water gets dull, add lemon, cucumber slices, mint or a few berries. Sparkling water with a citrus wedge is another easy switch. Try making a pitcher on Sunday with sliced oranges and mint so a cold, tasty option is waiting in the fridge all week.

Eat your water too

Plenty of foods bring water to the plate. Add a few to your weekly shopping list and your day gets a little easier.

• Watermelon, oranges and strawberries
• Cucumbers, celery and tomatoes
• Soups and broths
• Plain yogurt and cottage cheese

These pair well with protein-rich meals, and you will find lots of packable combinations in our high-protein lunch ideas. A chilled watermelon wedge after yard work is hard to beat, and it doubles as dessert at the next cookout.

Keep a bowl of washed grapes or sliced cucumbers at eye level in the fridge. When the tasty option is the easy option, you reach for it without thinking.

Active days call for extra planning

Mowing the lawn, a long walk, a day on the lake or a weekend of yard projects all call for a bigger water plan. Think ahead rather than waiting until you are parched.

• Fill a big bottle before you head outside
• Keep a cooler stocked with cold water
• Take short shade breaks and sip as you go
• Wear a hat and light clothing in hot weather

The CDC physical activity basics page offers general guidance on staying active, and our fishing and camping habits post covers water planning for the great outdoors.

Where Soda Horse Peak fits in

A glass of water makes an easy partner for any daily routine, including a gummy habit. If you use Soda Horse Peak honey gummies, you might link them to your first glass of the morning so the two become one simple step.

As stated by the brand, Soda Horse Peak is positioned around everyday energy and vitality for men. You can read about the seven nutrients named in the product information we reviewed on the ingredients page. Follow the serving directions printed on the label.

Ready to compare options? See today's price on the order page.