Water is what makes life possible. Every living thing needs water to survive, and so the question is: How much water do we really need to get through the day? To know that, we first need to talk about what water does to keep us alive.

Water is, to people, like what oil is to cars. It is the fuel that allows our body to move around. Without water, the body can and will start collapsing from dehydration. It’s essential for:

Maintaining body temperature

Our body goes through a lot of activities, whether we’re sitting on a desk or running a few laps. Water regulates our temperature so that we don’t overheat ourselves. We can see this very process happening whenever we sweat.

Filtering contaminants out of your body

Urinating is just the body’s way of controlling how much water is in our body, but it also has another important effect. Water courses through every part of our body, and in doing so, it can flush out contaminants along the way. Not drinking enough water allows those contaminants to stay inside our body and continue wreaking havoc.

Retaining moisture in our body

An often under-appreciated effect of drinking water is how much it moisturizes our body’s important parts. It keeps our skin clear and healthy, our joints well-lubricated, and our spine aptly protected. Lack of water can lead to things like brittle bones, atrophied muscles, and dry skin. Moisture might not sound like a big deal, but it’s the reason why our body stays hydrated properly.

As for how much water you should drink, I'm sure some of you feel like you have the answer. A few of you may post some specific metrics such as 3.1415926 liters every day. Perhaps most of you follow the most popular “8 glasses a day” method you’ve been hearing since childhood. 

However, what we’ve discovered is that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how much water one should drink. The “rules” have evolved over time, so we’re here to share some additional tips to help you check if you’re getting the water you need to stay healthy.

The truth of the matter is simple. There’s no true specific amount of water one person needs to get through the day. Every single person is different from one another, from their lifestyles to their body makeup. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

If there’s no specific amount, then how will you know how much water you should really drink?

Listen to your body!

Don’t worry too much about how little or how much you are drinking, your body knows what’s best for you. If you feel full,  stop. If you feel thirsty, drink. Your body might be hard to understand at times, but here's some easy advice. If your body starts to feel bad in any way, try drinking water first. Dehydration is usually the culprit for whatever's making you feel that way. Athletes get thirsty easier due to exertion, while desk workers may sometimes neglect their thirst in favor of snacking.

You're thirsty, not hungry

A little known fact: when you feel like you’re hungry even though you’re full, it’s not because you’re hungry. When that happens, you are actually thirsty, and too many people mistake this thirst for hunger and try to quench it with snacks. This mistake is the number one cause of low water levels in one's body.

Drink water every other hour you’re awake

Some water every hour (provided you’re just going about your day and not engaging in any exercise) should be enough. The amount you drink should depend on what you’re feeling. If you feel thirsty, drink, but if you’re not, just take a few sips. Getting thirsty means that you haven’t been drinking enough water in the first place. A routine of drinking water should also help you get into the habit of hydrating yourself.

Mind your stomach

Can you hear your stomach whispering “glug glug”? If so, then that means you’re drinking too much water. Cut back on drinking large amounts of water all at once, and instead drink smaller amounts throughout the day. Remember, not drinking X amount of water does not mean you have to drink that much water later to “make up the difference.” There is no difference. The body needs as much water as it asks for at the moment.

Hopefully, these tips will lead to a healthier and more moisturized you. Always remember the importance of staying hydrated.