Every animal on Earth needs water to live, and that is especially true of humans. Depending on your height and weight, you could need more water than the average amount, but every person needs water because dehydration causes a cellular breakdown in the body. The problem isn’t that you don’t understand you need more water, but trying to find time and circumstances to get your daily recommended amount.

• Why Drink Water?
• Why It’s So Hard for Some
• Tips for Drinking More Water Even if You Hate It
• How to Avoid Peeing All the Time
• How to Remember to Drink More Water
• How to Drink Water Correctly
• The Recommended Amount of Water to Drink

Why Drink Water?

Drinking water is important for maintaining good health and staying hydrated. Water is essential for many bodily functions, including regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients, and removing waste. Without enough water, your body can become dehydrated, which can lead to a number of health problems.

Here are some specific reasons why it is important to drink water:

• Water helps keep your body hydrated. When you are well-hydrated, your body functions optimally, and you are less likely to experience dehydration symptoms such as thirst, fatigue, and dry mouth.
• Water helps support healthy digestion. Water helps your body break down and absorb food, and it also helps to move waste through your digestive system. Drinking enough water can help prevent constipation and other digestive problems.
• Water helps keep your skin healthy. Water helps to keep your skin hydrated and plump, which can help prevent dryness, flakiness, and wrinkles. Drinking enough water can help your skin look and feel its best.
• Water helps support healthy weight management. Water has no calories, which makes it a great choice for people looking to lose or maintain their weight. Drinking water can help you feel fuller, so you’re less likely to overeat, and it can also help to flush toxins and waste from your body.

Overall, drinking water is important for maintaining good health and supporting many of your body’s vital functions. By making sure you are getting enough water each day, you can help your body stay healthy and function at its best.

Why is it So Hard to Drink Water for Some?

Some people may find it difficult to drink water for a variety of reasons. Some common reasons why people may struggle to drink enough water include:

• Not liking the taste of water: Some people may not like the taste of plain water, and may find it difficult to drink enough of it.
• Forgetting to drink water: It’s easy to forget to drink water, especially if you are busy with work or other activities.
• Not being thirsty: Some people may not feel thirsty very often, and may not feel the need to drink water unless they are actively thirsty.
• Preferring other drinks: Some people may prefer the taste of other drinks, such as soda or juice, and may not drink as much water as they should.
• Not having access to water: In some cases, people may not have easy access to clean, safe drinking water, which can make it difficult to drink enough.

Overall, there are many reasons why someone may find it difficult to drink enough water. If you are struggling to drink enough water, it may be helpful to try carrying a water bottle with you, setting reminders for yourself, or adding flavor to your water to make it more appealing.

Now, here are a myriad of ways to ensure you get plenty of water every day.

8 Bulletproof Ways to Drink More Water

Drinking enough water is important for maintaining good health and staying hydrated. If you’re not used to drinking a lot of water, it can be difficult to know how to increase your intake. Here are a few tips for drinking more water:

1. When You Wake Up

Everyone should have a healthy wake-up routine where they wake up, stretch, brush their teeth, eat breakfast, and so forth. Add the step of drinking a glass of water right when you wake up. This is good for your body because it will get your bodily functions moving right away so that you can have proper elimination during the day, and provide fresh fluids for your vital organs.

Also, your mind will function more efficiently because you’re giving it something vital to promote proper cellular function. That way you will become sharper by the time you get to work, school, and any other activities where you need to use your mind.

2. Get A Water Bottle

If you keep a water bottle around, you will find it easier to remember to drink water, and you will be far less likely to reach for a sugary soda. Plus having a water bottle with you at all times makes it easy to take sips throughout the day.

Another great advantage of having a water bottle is that it will help you to be more aware of the amount of water that you drink in a day. Choose a bottle that is the right size for you, and make sure it’s easy to open and drink from.

Some people will even go as far as buying a water bottle that visibly measures how much water they’ve consumed. Even more lavish, there are even high-tech options that communicate with applications that will electronically monitor your water intake and deliver them to your phone.

3. Before Bed

During sleep, it is inevitable that you will lose lesser amounts of water. When you go 7 – 8 hours without any sort of fluids, your mind and body can become somewhat dehydrated.

While you won’t want to consume a large quantity of water right before going to sleep, it could be a very good thing if you were to drink a smaller cup of water about 30 minutes before going to bed. This will prepare you for morning elimination, and limit the amount of water lost during the night.

Here are 4 more tips for how you can drink more water everyday.

1. Set reminders for yourself. If you’re forgetful, try setting reminders on your phone or using a smart water bottle that tracks your intake and reminds you to drink more.
2. Drink a glass of water before each meal. This will help you feel fuller, so you’re less likely to overeat. It will also help your body digest your food more efficiently.
3. Add flavor to your water. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding fruit slices or herbs to give it some flavor. You can also try sparkling water or infused water.
4. Drink water when you’re thirsty. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to listen to your body and drink water when you need it. If you’re feeling thirsty, that’s a sign that you’re already dehydrated, so make sure to drink some water right away.

By following these tips, you can make drinking more water a habit and improve your overall health.

5 Tips for Drinking More Water Even if You Hate It

If you don’t like the taste of water, it can be challenging to drink enough of it. Here are a few tips for drinking more water even if you don’t like the taste:

1. Try adding fruit slices or herbs to your water. This can give your water some flavor and make it more appealing. Lemon, lime, and mint are some popular options, but you can experiment with different fruits and herbs to find a combination that you like.
2. Drink sparkling water. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try drinking sparkling water instead. The bubbles can add some flavor and make it more enjoyable to drink.
3. Drink infused water. Infused water is water that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, or other ingredients. You can make your own infused water at home by adding your favorite ingredients to a pitcher of water and letting it sit for a few hours.
4. Try drinking warm water. Some people find that warm water is more palatable than cold water. If you don’t like the taste of cold water, try drinking warm water instead.
5. Mix water with other drinks. If you don’t like the taste of water on its own, try mixing it with other drinks. For example, you could add some water to your juice or soda to make it less concentrated and more hydrating.

Overall, the key is to experiment and find a way to make drinking water more appealing to you. There are many different ways to add flavor to water, and by trying different options, you may be able to find a way to drink more water even if you don’t like the taste.

How to Drink More Water Without Peeing All The Time

Drinking more water can help improve your health and keep your body hydrated, but it can also lead to increased frequency of urination. If you are drinking a lot of water and finding yourself needing to pee frequently, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the number of times you need to go to the bathroom.

One way to reduce the frequency of urination is to spread your water intake out over the course of the day. Rather than drinking a large amount of water all at once, try sipping on water throughout the day. This will help your body absorb the water more efficiently and reduce the need to urinate as often.

Another option is to try drinking water that is slightly warmer than room temperature. Cold water can be refreshing, but it can also stimulate your bladder and cause you to need to pee more often. Warm water, on the other hand, can be easier on your bladder and may help reduce the frequency of urination.

Additionally, cutting back on caffeine and alcohol can also help reduce the need to pee frequently. Caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics, which means they can increase urine production and cause you to need to pee more often. Limiting your intake of these substances can help reduce the frequency of urination.

Overall, the key is to listen to your body’s needs and find a balance that works for you. Drinking enough water is important for good health, but it’s also important to find a way to do so without disrupting your daily routine.

How to Remember to Drink More Water

1. As mentioned previously, You’ll want to carry a water bottle with you at all times. Having a water bottle with you will make it easy to take sips throughout the day. Choose a bottle that is the right size for you, and make sure it’s easy to open and drink from.
2. Set reminders for yourself. If you’re forgetful, try setting reminders on your phone or using a smart water bottle that tracks your intake and reminds you to drink more.
3. Drink a glass of water before each meal. This will help you feel fuller, so you’re less likely to overeat. It will also help your body digest your food more efficiently.
4. Add flavor to your water. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding fruit slices or herbs to give it some flavor. You can also try sparkling water or infused water.
5. Drink water when you’re thirsty. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to listen to your body and drink water when you need it. If you’re feeling thirsty, that’s a sign that you’re already dehydrated, so make sure to drink some water right away.

By following these tips, you can make drinking more water a habit and improve your overall health.

Drinking Water Correctly (It’s Not a Science)

Drinking water correctly is not a complicated process, but there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you are properly hydrated.

Here are some tips for drinking water correctly:

1. Drink enough water. The amount of water you need to drink varies depending on your age, gender, weight, and level of physical activity. In general, adults should aim to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
2. Drink water throughout the day. It’s best to drink water regularly throughout the day, rather than trying to down a large amount all at once. This will help keep your body hydrated and maintain a healthy balance of fluids.
3. Drink water before, during, and after physical activity. Water is especially important for maintaining hydration during exercise. Drink water before, during, and after physical activity to help prevent dehydration and support your body’s performance.
4. Avoid sugary drinks. Sugary drinks, such as soda and juice, contain a lot of calories and can contribute to weight gain and other health problems. Instead of sugary drinks, opt for water, which is calorie-free and hydrating.

Overall, the key to drinking water correctly is to make sure you are getting enough and drinking it regularly throughout the day. This will help keep your body hydrated and support good health.

What’s The Right Amount of Water to Drink?

The right amount of water to drink varies depending on a number of factors, including your age, gender, weight, and level of physical activity. In general, adults should aim to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. This is known as the 8×8 rule, and it is a good starting point for most people.

However, it’s important to remember that the right amount of water for you may be different from the recommendations above. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, for example, you may need to drink more water to support the hydration needs of your growing baby. If you are very active or live in a hot climate, you may also need to drink more water to support your body’s increased fluid needs.

It’s also important to listen to your body and drink water when you are thirsty. Thirst is a sign that your body is already dehydrated, so it’s important to drink water right away to replenish your fluids. Additionally, pay attention to the color of your urine. If it is pale yellow or clear, that’s a sign that you are well-hydrated. If it is dark yellow or amber, that’s a sign that you may not be getting enough water.

Overall, the key is to pay attention to your body’s needs and make sure you are getting enough water to stay hydrated and support good health.

Wrapping Up

There you have it, our complete guide on how to drink more water everyday. Whether you’re someone who hates drinking water or needs a little push to incorporate more proper hydration with H20, we hope that this guide helps you along the way.

The post How to Drink More Water Every Day (Everything You Need to Know) appeared first on Nourish Health & Wealth.

Have you ever heard of the 80-20 rule? It means that weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. So working on your diet is extremely important if you want to lose weight faster. 

On that note, we’ve prepared a list of 10 amazing super foods that can help you lose weight faster. But before that let’s have a rundown of what we’d be discussing in this article: 

• How do men gain weight?
• Health consequences of obesity
• How men can lose weight
• 10 best foods that can help men lose weight
• Suggested diet plans

How Do Men Gain Weight?

If you do a little bit of research, you’d discover that many people are overweight. There are about 35 million overweight men and 45 million obese men in the United States.

You might ask, how do people gain so much weight? Here are some of the basic factors that lead to excessive weight gain:

• Excessive intake of sugary and fatty foods
• Little or no physical activity
• Poor sleep
• Genetics
• Hormonal imbalance (leptin and insulin)

Over the years, obesity has been traced to be the underlying cause of several diseases in the human body. Although women are known to gain weight faster than men, obesity could have lethal consequences in men too.

Health Consequences of Being Overweight

Here are some health consequences of being overweight especially in men: 

1. Infertility

A study conducted in March 2012 by Harvard School of Public Health amongst men with normal weight, overweight, and obese men showed that obese men had about 39% lower sperm count than normal-weight men, while overweight men had 11% lower sperm count than normal-weight men. Several other researchers have associated excessive weight gain with low sperm count and low fertility.

2. Erectile Dysfunction

Asides from low fertility, excessive weight gain also affects your sex life. Research shows that unhealthy weight gain drops testosterone levels significantly. 

PS: Testosterone is a male hormone that stimulates a man’s sexual urge. So if you’re looking to satisfy your woman in bed, you might want to cut down on those calories. 

3. High blood pressure

Being overweight or obese puts a lot of pressure on your heart. It causes your heart to work harder to pump blood thereby straining your arteries. This strain causes your arteries to resist blood flow thereby leading to a rise in blood pressure. 

4. Atherosclerosis

Sometimes, excess fat in the body could build up in the walls of the arteries. This could restrict blood flow through arteries and increase blood pressure. 

5. Type II diabetes

This disease is known to be directly linked with obesity. About 90% of adults with Type II diabetes are obese. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels. It occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels).

Now that you know the health consequences of being overweight, now you can burn all that excess fat.

How Can Men Lose Weight?

For those who don’t believe that weight loss routines work, I have a friend who weighed about 220 lbs., losing almost 70 lbs. in less than 10 months!

Quite an impressive transformation, right? I’ll be sharing the things he did to help him lose that much weight in such a short period.

1. Increased  physical activity or exercise 

Increased physical activity helps your body burn more calories than usual and it’s a great way to lower blood pressure. At least 30 minutes of exercise per day should do and you can choose to increase it with time.

2. Effective diet plan

Exercise is very effective for weight loss but it can never be enough. Working out without working on your diet is like moving in circles. You burn fat exercising but consume more fat later on. A suitable low-calorie diet can reduce the number of calories in your body by as much as 23%. 

3. Reduced Food Intake

This is the major cause of excessive weight gain. When my friend decided to work on his weight, the first thing he did was to reduce his food portion. I’d advise you to eat smaller quantities more frequently.

10 Best Foods to Help Men Lose Weight

I think I’ve emphasized the importance of diet on weight loss enough. So let’s get right to the business of the day: 10 superfoods that can help you lose weight faster!

1. Avocados

They are rich in oleic acid which is good for your heart as it prevents cardiovascular inflammation. Avocados also contain beta-sitosterol (the plant version of cholesterol) which helps to lower your cholesterol levels. 

Their high water and fiber content make them filling. One study showed that people who ate avocados along with their meals had a lower desire to eat over the next 5 hours compared to those who didn’t.

Plus, Avocados can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels and raise HDL cholesterol levels. NB: LDL cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein cholesterol while HDL means high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. 

2. Lean Beef

Lean beef is one of the best protein foods for weight loss. It’s also an important source of nutrients like Iron, Zinc, and Vitamin B12. Iron (in hemoglobin) helps transport oxygen to all cells in the body including muscle cells and this helps to burn fat in your body. Zinc is also known to have favorable effects on reducing appetite.

Several studies show that proteins are very effective for weight loss. While consuming beef, ensure that you consume only lean beef as any extra fat could do more harm than good.

3. Nuts

Although nuts have high-fat content they aren’t as bad as we think. They have a reasonable quantity of proteins, fiber, and healthy fats such as polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and Omega-3 fatty acids which help lower bad cholesterol levels. They are also known to improve metabolic health. 

Studies have shown that people who consume nuts have a healthier weight than those who don’t. So when next you wanna grab a snack, you should try going for a bowl of nuts. 

4. Fruits

Everyone knows that fruits are healthy but do you know how effective they are in weight loss? Although fruits have natural sugars, they have low energy density and take a while to chew. 

Apples help burn visceral fat and their high fiber content makes them filling. Bananas contain potassium which helps reduce belly swelling. Also, they contain natural sugars which can replace all the unhealthy artificial sugars in your body. 

Citrus fruits are also great fruits for weight loss. A study conducted by Arizona University showed that vitamin C helps burn fat during exercise. And citrus fruits are great sources of vitamin C. 

5. Chili Peppers

Have you ever eaten spicy food and found that you felt fuller faster than usual? If you have, that’s because chili peppers help reduce appetite. They contain Capsaicin which is known for reducing appetite and increasing metabolism. 

Red peppers also contain vitamin C which is very effective for weight loss.

If you’re looking to lose weight you should consider consuming peppers more often. However, you must be careful not to consume it too often so you don’t build tolerance for it. 

6. Yogurt

This is my favorite food on this list. Yogurt contains probiotic bacteria that can improve the function of your gut. 

Most people might think that low-fat yogurt is healthier than full-fat yogurt but what they don’t know is that low-fat yogurt has a lot of sugar in it. And sugars are huge triggers of weight gain. Yogurts are rich in protein and help improve metabolism thereby helping you burn more calories. 

7. Eggs

Sometime last year, one of my mum’s colleagues at work told her that eating eggs could make her gain excess weight. On hearing this, my mum avoided anything that had to do with eggs. 

I found this funny because eggs are one of the best foods that can help you lose weight faster. It contains protein and healthy fat. Eggs are also known to make you feel fuller. Plus, egg yolk is packed with choline which is good for brain health. 

8. Whole Grains

Some might say that cereals are unhealthy but some others like brown rice, white rice, oats, and quinoa are healthy and effective for weight loss.

Oats contain beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are soluble fibers that help to improve metabolic health. Plus, Oats make you feel full longer than other foods. Oats are high in protein and help lower cholesterol levels. 

Plus, including brown rice in your diet will help you consume less starch and lose weight faster. It is also rich in fiber and aids digestion. 

Quinoa is another cereal food that is rich in fiber and low in cholesterol. You can include cooked quinoa in your salads and veggies. 

9. Beans and Legumes

Beans and legumes like lentils, black beans, kidney beans are effective for weight loss. They have high protein and fiber content making them effective for controlling appetite i.e they make you fuller. 

Their low-fat content makes them effective weight loss foods.

10. Salmon

Generally, seafood is a great source of iodine. And iodine helps in proper thyroid function which helps to keep your metabolism running optimally. But Salmon is particularly packed with healthy protein and healthy fats.

It also contains Omega-3 fatty acids which help to reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic diseases. You can have your Salmon smoked, boiled, or even poached.

Also, fatty fish will make you feel full longer than other types of fish. Mackerel, Sardines, Herrings, Trout are also great choices for weight loss.

This doesn’t mean that these 10 foods will automatically make you trim down within a short period nor am I saying that they are the only foods that can help you lose weight. 

These foods and many others, when complemented with exercise and a proper diet, will help you lose weight faster as long as you are consistent. 

Our Suggested Diet Plan

Sometimes picking what to eat could be a challenge especially when you’re watching what you eat. 

Now that we’ve covered 10 amazing foods to help you lose weight, here are a few healthy, yet delicious meals you can include in your new diet:

1. Smoothies

When it comes to smoothies, don’t overthink them. You can add just about any ingredient to make it more exciting and nutrient-packed. You can add a variety of fruits, vegetables, and even yogurt. 

Here’s a simple healthy smoothie recipe you can try out at home:

1 cup of chopped banana + 1 cup of chopped pineapples + 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice + 1 cup of liquid milk + 2 or 3 tablespoons of honey + ½ cup of ice cubes (not compulsory). Finally pour all the ingredients into a food processor and blend till smooth.

2. Vegetable and fruit salads

Fruit salads are nice healthy snacks that are super easy to make. As for fruit salads, you can add as many fruits as you want; bananas, pineapples, apples, watermelons, papaya, pears. Slice or chop all of them into a bowl. To make it more exciting, I like to add yogurt and nuts (fruit parfait). 

As for vegetable salads, you can add mayonnaise or salad cream to make them tastier. 

3. Oatmeal

 I’m a huge fan of oatmeal. They are one of my best choices for breakfast because they are quite filling and help lower cholesterol levels. To add a bit of flavor and nutrients, you can add fruits, chocolate chips, or even vegetables.

4. Hard-boiled eggs

A snack can be as simple as one boiled egg. Due to their high protein content, eggs are extremely filling. Plus, eggs are packed with choline, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate. And boiling them helps to preserve these nutrients.

5. Meat kebabs 

For the non-Vegetarians, this is a great way to consume beef. It’s not just tasty but also nutritious. I recommend garnishing meat kebabs with chili peppers. Doing this doesn’t just make your food spicy but increases your chances of losing weight since beef and chili peppers are great foods for weight loss. 

6. Smoked Salmon

Aside from being tasty, salmon is a healthy source of protein. They can be eaten boiled, smoked, fried, or baked. But I recommend smoking or baking because they help retain all the nutrients and require a little amount of fat to cook.

7. Chocolate and nuts

When I say chocolate, I mean dark chocolate, not the sugary stuff you find in local stores. Dark chocolate and nuts are a great combo for snacking up. It’s not just tasty but also good for your heart.

Plus, dark chocolate contains flavonoids which are good for your brain. Hazelnut, almond nuts, and macadamia nuts are also great choices. 

In Closing

It’s one thing to lose weight and it’s another thing to maintain that weight. Unfortunately, about 80% of people who lose weight are not able to maintain that weight for up to a year. Every year about 45 million Americans go on a diet but about 70% of American adults are still overweight. 

Trust me, I know it’s not easy to maintain a new habit. When I was working on losing belly fat, it was hard sticking to my diet plan. Sometimes, I let my cravings get the best of me. However, making my diets more exciting helped me a lot. Here’s how I helped myself:

• I ensured my diet was filled with varieties, to avoid monotony.
• I chose fruits and vegetables within my reach, nothing too fancy or expensive.
• Lastly, I always kept myself busy to suppress cravings. 

If you must embark on a weight loss journey, you must be ready to finish it. Whenever you feel like quitting, think of the reason you started. Remember as they say, No Pain, No Gain.

The post 10 Best Foods to Lose Weight & How to Keep it Off appeared first on Nourish Health & Wealth.

The way you start your day, from the moment your alarm goes off, is really important. These early morning habits are what set you up for the day, and can make or break your energy, your mood, and so much more. This isn’t just a list of healthy habits to add to your morning routine, but ways to increase your wellness, health, and well-being from the moment you wake up.

1. Always Drink Water First

One of the healthiest changes you can make to your morning routine is by drinking water first thing. You don’t have to completely give up your caffeine if you don’t want to, but drinking a full glass of water before you drink anything else is really important for your body and your health.

The main reason is that you will wake up dehydrated. After sleeping for 6-8 hours or longer, you have not had any water, so you will probably be very thirsty. Many people make the mistake of having coffee or other beverages in the morning because they are thirsty and to get a jolt of caffeine. But the problem is that these can often make dehydration even worse.

The best thing you can do for your body in the morning is drink water first thing, then decide if you still want something else to drink. If you are trying to cut back on caffeine, consider tea or Matcha as it has lower caffeine than coffee or energy drinks.

2. Get Some Fresh Air

Try to get outside in the morning! It is amazing how therapeutic and soothing it can be just to be outside in the cool, morning air within the first hour of waking up. It can also make you more alert and naturally energize you in ways you might not have considered. This is especially important if you work from home and don’t have a reason to go outside in the morning. You need to make this a priority!

Find a way to create a morning habit where you go outside. This can be taking your morning glass of water and a good book out to your patio or balcony, going for a quick stroll around the block, or doing yoga in your backyard. Anything to get outside during those early morning hours.

3. Habits for Increasing Your Positive Energy

Positive energy is all in your mindset and how you approach different things throughout your day. There are certain habits that can help tremendously with boosting positive energy during your early morning routine, including:

• Meditation
• Breathing exercises
• Being mindful
• Gratitude practice
• Journaling
• Getting out in nature
• Laughing
• Listening to music

Consider ways you can add some of these habits to your morning routine to boost your positive energy first thing in the morning.

4. Minimize Stress in the Morning

When you experience any form of stress early in the morning, it tends to follow you around for the rest of the day. It is often something very innocent, such as scrolling Twitter or checking your other notifications. Try to keep any possible stress triggers out of your morning routine, until you have given yourself time to wake up in a soothing and relaxing way.

At the very least, try to turn off notifications on your phone, so that when you wake up all you see or hear is your alarm. Keep them turned off until you have gone through your morning routine and are in a relaxed, stress-free state. You can then decide if and when you will turn them back on and let all the noise back in.

5. Relax in a Long Shower

On mornings when you have a little more time, use your shower as a time to relax and get ready for the day. Hot water in the morning has an amazing way of waking you up, but it can also soothe sore and tired muscles, give you a place to be mindful, and help you wake up in the gentlest way possible.

You don’t have to do this every single morning, but on those mornings when you woke up early and have a bit of extra time. It is a great way to practice self-care. Something else that would be good for this morning shower is using shower steamers, which produce essential oils for aromatherapy while you are in the shower.

6. Release Thoughts With a Brain Dump

Finally, get some of those anxious and worrisome thoughts out of your head with a brain dump. This is a style of journaling where you write down anything that you have on your mind at that time. It is completely normal to think of several topics at once, so just keep writing until you feel like you have exhausted everything that was on your mind in the morning.

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If you are brand new to owning and taking care of houseplants, there are a few things to know before you get started. These tips can help no matter what kind of plant you decide to get.

Benefits of Bringing Plants Into Your Home

There are some amazing benefits to having more real plants in your home. Houseplants can filter and purify the air, which is why it feels like you get better oxygen when you have plants in your home. They also do a great job at boosting your mood and just making you feel happier. Plus, caring for them can become a way to practice self-care, as it really helps you feel more in touch with nature.

1. Research Before You Buy

It is tempting to pick out the cutest houseplant you can find at the nursery, but each plant requires a different level of care. The type of light it needs, how much to water it, and even the way you repot it might differ from plant to plant. This is why it is so important to do your research and know what you’re looking for.

This is especially true if you are a new plant owner since some plants are naturally better for beginners as they are low-maintenance. In time, you can start getting plants that require more care but to start, choose from the houseplants that are easy to care for inside your home.

Which Houseplants Are Best for New Plant Owners?

• Snake plant
• Spider plant
• Peace lily
• Monstera
• Palms
• Aloe vera

2. Don’t Repot it Right Away

One thing new plant owners don’t realize is that your plants need to be acclimated to your indoor home environment. They have been in the nursery’s environment, likely a greenhouse, for a while, so it’s not going to immediately adjust to the change in light and temperature of your home.

Keep your new plant in the nursery’s pot for a few days or up to a week before you move it to the cute pot you picked up. When you do choose a new pot for your houseplants, choose one that is made of porous materials, which will improve how well it drains when you water the plant.

Some pots that are more porous include those made of ceramic, wood, and earthenware. As always, make sure the pot has holes in the bottom for drainage.

3. Find Your Light and Plant Placement

When deciding where to place your plant, there are a few things to consider, including how much light it needs and whether or not it needs to be kept away from your pets. You likely found all of this out during the research phase, but you also need to consider how much light and sun in different areas of your home get.

You might have a nice big window that seems like it gets enough sunlight, but then you realize there is an umbrella or other outdoor furniture that blocks the sun from really getting inside. This is when you need to make some adjustments to ensure you are choosing the proper location for your plant.

Plants That Don’t Need Much Light

If you live in an apartment or your home doesn’t get a lot of direct, natural sunlight, then you can look for houseplants that don’t require as much light. This might include:

• Devil’s ivy
• Weeping fig tree
• Spider plant
• Silver pothos
• Calathea
• Snake plant

Be Careful if You Have Cats

While dogs typically can’t jump up as high as cats can, you also need to be concerned about plants that are toxic to them. But cats are especially at risk because they can jump just about anywhere in your home and sniff the plant. Either don’t include these houseplants if you have cats or keep them in a place your cats can’t get to:

• Aloe vera
• Peace lily
• Pothos
• Sago palm
• Jade plants

4. Choose Your Soil Based on the Type of Plant

The soil you use is also really important and determined by the environment that the plant natively grows in. There are much soil mixes meant for houseplants, but your plant will likely do better with a more specialized soil, depending on the type of plant and what environment it is accustomed to. It is also good to look into if your type of houseplant needs fertilizer for extra nutrients.

Houseplants don’t typically do well just with dirt from outside, because they need room for root growth and drainage in the pot. Therefore, a combination of coconut fiber, wood fiber, peat moss, sand, and other materials works best for soil.

For most houseplants, an all-purpose potting mix meant for indoor plants should work well enough. However, if you are growing succulents or cacti in pots, you want to get a mix specifically for these varieties of plants. They often include denser and more alkaline materials.

5. Water Your Plant, But Not Too Much

In general, it is better to slightly underwater houseplants, than to overwater them. It can be tempting to constantly look at your plant and assume it needs to be watered again, but this is a mistake. A good way to start with watering is to fill up the pot to about a quarter of its volume in water, then let the water naturally drain out. Keep doing this every few days until you notice the water isn’t draining out as much; that is typically when it has enough water.

You also need to be aware of what plants need more or less water, which should be included in the care instructions. For example, succulents tend to need the least amount of watering, about every 2 weeks. Aloe, peace lily, and snake plants all do well with watering about every 10-12 days, while plants like spider plants and palms need watering about once a week.

6. Pay Attention to the Leaves

The leaves of your houseplants can tell you a lot about how they’re doing. If you aren’t sure if you are watering your plant often enough, the leaves on your plant will tell you. When your leaves are wilting and getting dry, it is typically a sign that you need to water your plant a little more often. Remove these leaves from the plant with some pruning shears.

On the other hand, if the leaves are brown at the tip, but seem damp and weak, you might be watering your plant a little too much. You can also look for damage from possible insects as a sign that you need to address that issue.

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Essential oils provide some amazing health benefits for you, from helping you to relieve anxiety and stress, to reducing chronic pain. If you have trouble sleeping, guess what? There are essential oils for that! Another great way to use essential oils is to help you wake up. There are some scents that are invigorating to the senses and are perfect for when you first get up in the morning.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus is a very aromatic plant that has an unusual smell, but it turns out that eucalyptus has a power-packed punch of healing benefits that it holds. A large portion of the research done in reference to healing agents found in essential oils comes from the compound cineole that is found in eucalyptus. Studies have shown that eucalyptus has a large number of anti-inflammatories and antioxidant properties. Some of these chemicals found in the eucalyptus can even stimulate a certain hormone in the body when it is breathed, or ingested in small amounts.

Peppermint Oil

When you smell peppermint, you might think about candy canes or other types of candy, but peppermint has a long history of being associated with healing, and its praises were recorded in books for hundreds of years. Today, studies have found that peppermint has the ability to raise your alertness and memory recall. If you can put peppermint in a prominent area where work is being performed, you might find that you also get just a bit of a boost. Every little bit helps!

Grapefruit or Orange

Citrus fruits have always been tied to feelings of fun and alertness. There aren’t very many people who hate citrus fruits unless they’re allergic to them, and these are ideal for when you are just waking up in the morning. Researchers have known for quite some time that these fruits can improve your mood. Part of this comes from citrus fruit s ability to boost your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a key component in fighting off your stress hormones. Recent studies have even shown that these types of fruits can improve brain function in people who suffer from cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s.

Thyme

You might not associate rhyme with alertness, but according to science, compounds in thyme are doing what they can to lend a hand to your alertness as well. It can also trigger positive feelings in people who smell it for a bit, so this is an essential oil for essential health.

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