As a busy mom, it can be challenging to find the time to take care of yourself, especially when it comes to staying hydrated. However, making sure that you are properly hydrated is crucial for your health and well-being. What's the best way to stay hydrated, especially when you're always on the go?

New mom and Plant Nanny user Marie tells us:

Staying hydrated and healthy is very important for me and… I don’t drink enough water.

Parenting a 7-month-old, being a student, and working as a home health aide puts Marie in a situation familiar to many parents. The demands of juggling work and kids lead them to ignore their own wellness, resulting in a lack of sleep, undereating, and dehydration.

Among these issues, one of the quickest to improve upon is hydration, and drinking enough water is essential to keeping up with the pressures of home and work life.

Why is drinking water important?

Parenting requires 100% energy 24/7, and it’s simply not possible to sustain energy without proper hydration. According to one study, mild dehydration (that is, fluid loss of up to 3%) can lower energy levels, cause changes in mood, and impair performance on cognitive tasks.¹ For people who are pregnant or nursing, it's even more vital to stay hydrated to meet the needs of a growing baby.

Okay, but I just don’t have the time!

If you’re like this mom, here are a few tips that can help you take care of yourself while you’re caring for others:

1. Set up reminders

It’s easy to get so busy that you go hours without taking a sip, and that’s where regular reminders can help. You can use a hydration app like Plant Nanny to actively remind you to drink water, and keep on top of your daily water goal.

2. Get yourself a bottle you like

Treat yourself to a special cup or water bottle that delights you. Build the habit of always having it in sight throughout the day, so much that you’d really feel its absence. The visual cue will remind you of your commitment to yourself, and keep water top of mind all day.

3. Make it a routine

Get into the habit of drinking a large glass of water each morning, and during other key parts of the day when you’re likely to already have routines in place. By building water drinking into sequences of other daily tasks, you’ll be more likely to remember to drink without even being reminded.

For recommendations on the best times to drink water, please refer to this article: Drink Water at the Right Time.

4. Do it for the children

As a mom, I want to set a good example for my son when drinking enough water and staying healthy. That's why he gets his very own bottle to carry around, just like his mom. —— A mom and user of Plant Nanny.

There’s one more compelling reason for busy parents to prioritize their own well-being by drinking more water: Kids learn by example. Modeling good hydration habits of your own teaches children about the importance of water while they are still young. As they grow, you’ll have already instilled a healthy habit in them that will carry them all through life!