Challenge Tips

Stack Your Habits for Success

If you find that forgetting to drink water is an obstacle on your path to hydration, try habit stacking! With this behavioral technique, you attach a desired habit (hydrating) to an established routine. Stacking habits can help rewire your brain to incorporate the new habit faster.

Your Action for Today

Stack your hydration sessions with other routines throughout your day. For instance:

• Coffee Break: Place a water glass or bottle next to the coffee maker. When you go to make your coffee, you’ll remember to drink a glass of water first.
• Commute cup: Set a travel cup next to your car keys, so you remember to fill it and take it to work before heading out.
• Work it into work: Pick a work activity you do at the same time every day. Make a note to drink water before, during, or after the activity.
• Dine and drink: When you eat a meal or snack, set the intention of drinking a glass or two of water at the same time.
• Gym buddy: Pack an extra full water bottle in your gym bag and drink it during your workout.

By linking your new habit to an old one, you’ll make hydration feel less like work and more like a ritual.

Bonus Action: Invite your team to pick a “hydration cue” together, like sipping after your huddle or morning rounds.

Join us on day 5: A sneak peek - Ditch the daily dehydrators.

Missed day 3? Catch up here.

Find this helpful? Forward this email to a nurse friend or colleague and encourage them to sign up for the challenge at hnhn.org/challenges.