Monday mornings - something we all dread, right? If we as adults dread them, think of how our kids must feel. They have to wake up early and be on their “A” game for school and learning 5 days a week. Did you know mild dehydration - as little as 2% fluid loss - can affect our memory, mood, and concentration and cause headaches, just to name a few? Monday mornings seem to bring kids into my office with headaches and fatigue. Adults fight this with a cup of caffeine, but we wouldn’t send our kids to school with a cup of coffee or a caffeinated beverage. What we really need is water. Our bodies are made up of 70% water. Every day we lose 8-12 cups of water by breathing, sweating, and using the bathroom. We NEED water to function. Water gives us better brain performance, and more energy, decreases joint pain, regulates our temperature, and keeps our hearts healthy. Water also carries nutrients and oxygen to our cells, protects our organs and tissues, and flushes out toxins. Makes me thirsty just thinking about it!
Now that we have a month of school under our belt, we are experiencing long weeks and short weekends. We have sports, activities, and trips up north before the weather changes and winter sets in. Our go-go-go lifestyles have us grabbing what we can at fast food chains, gas stations, and coffee shops. But in the midst of having fun, please make sure to grab your water bottle. Take it with you wherever you go. It is the wellspring of life. If we want to keep going in our busy lives, we need to stay hydrated. Our kids need to stay hydrated. They need to come to school on Monday morning not feeling the effects of a long busy weekend. So if you want to avoid a call from a kid who wants to go home on Monday because of a headache, stomach ache, anxiety, aches and pains, or tiredness. Make sure they are hydrated.
Check out this article on the importance of drinking water.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/water-to-soothe-childs-anxiety-4098581
