Picture this: It’s been a long day, and you’re feeling a bit down. But then, you take a sip of cool, refreshing water, and suddenly, your mood starts to lift. Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. A new survey suggests that staying hydrated might just be the key to unlocking more joy in your daily life.
The poll of 2,000 American adults, conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by True Lemon, reveals that the average person experiences 57 “little things” that bring them happiness each week — that’s about eight per day. And what’s one simple way to boost your mood? Drinking enough water, according to 36% of respondents.
It turns out that the benefits of staying hydrated go beyond just quenching your thirst. The survey divided participants based on how many glasses of water they drink daily and found some interesting correlations with happiness. Among those who gulped down 10 or more glasses a day, 80% said it was very important to find joy in the small things, compared to just 48% of those who drank less than one glass.
Moreover, 46% of the most hydrated folks reported being very happy, while only 22% of the least hydrated group could say the same. And when it comes to outlook, 71% of those who drank seven or more glasses daily considered themselves “glass half full” types, compared to 38% of those who had less than a glass.
On the flip side, not getting enough H2O can lead to some serious physical and emotional symptoms. Dehydration can cause low energy (35%), headaches (29%), and muscle cramps (23%), as well as low mood (39%), irritability (34%), frustration (28%), and anxiety (27%).
Water Needs More Pizzazz
So, what’s stopping people from staying hydrated? Well, 43% of respondents said that plain water just tastes boring. In fact, half of those who drank less than a glass a day strongly agreed with this sentiment, compared to only 11% of those who downed 7-9 glasses.
To make water more appealing, 61% of participants reported using additives like drink mixes and powders. This was especially popular among the most hydrated group, with 61% of those drinking 10+ glasses daily using add-ins, compared to 41% of the least hydrated group.
Other strategies for staying on top of hydration included carrying a water bottle everywhere (39%), drinking water first thing in the morning (39%), and setting daily water intake goals (25%).
