Hydration Mistakes People Make When Summer Ends

Summer makes hydration pretty hard to ignore.  It’s hot. You’re sweating. Your water bottle goes everywhere with you. Then fall arrives.

It’s easy to assume that because you’re not sweating through your shirt anymore, hydration just isn’t as important. But your body doesn’t stop needing fluids when summer ends. In fact, cooler weather can make it easier to forget about hydration in the first place.

We put together some of the most common hydration mistakes people make when summer ends.

1. Assuming you don't need as much water because it's cooler

This is probably the biggest one.

When the temperature drops, you may not feel as thirsty as you did during the summer. Research has found that cold exposure can actually reduce the sensation of thirst, even when the body is experiencing fluid loss. In other words, your thirst signal isn't necessarily giving you a giant flashing reminder to grab your water bottle.

The fix: Don't wait for a hot day to make hydration part of your routine. Keep drinking fluids regularly even when the weather is sweater worthy.

2. Only thinking about hydration when you're exercising

Summer exercise often comes with an automatic hydration plan. Fall activities can be just as active, but they don't always feel like exercise.

Think about hiking, walking, raking leaves, fall festivals, football games, pumpkin patches, apple picking and yard work. And here's the thing: You can still sweat when it's cool outside, particularly when you're active or wearing several layers. Research on exercise in cold environments has found that people can experience fluid losses while also drinking less voluntarily.  It even has an interesting name; voluntary dehydration.

The fix: Treat outdoor fall activities like any other active part of your day. If you're going to be outside for a while, bring something to drink.

3. Replacing your water bottle with a coffee cup

There's nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite fall drinks. But it's easy for a cozy beverage routine to replace the hydration habits you had during the summer. Instead of thinking, "I had a coffee, so I don't need water," think about adding water alongside the things you already enjoy. Your fall beverage lineup doesn't have to be either/or.

The fix: Coffee first, water too. Tea first, water too. Cider first, water too.

4. Forgetting that indoor air changes, too

Fall doesn't just change the weather outside. It changes the environment inside your house, office and car. As temperatures drop, heating systems start running more frequently. Indoor humidity tends to be lower during colder months, and dry indoor air can contribute to things like dry skin, dry lips and irritation of the nose and throat.

That doesn't mean every dry feeling is a sign that you need to drink more water. But it is another reason to keep hydration on your radar as the seasons change.

The fix: Pay attention to your environment, not just the temperature on the weather app.

5. Forgetting hydration during fall travel

Fall is a busy travel season for a lot of people. Weekend football games. Family visits. Road trips. School activities. Fall festivals. You leave the house without your water bottle. You stop for coffee instead of water. You get busy and realize hours later that you haven't had much to drink.

The fix: Make hydration part of your travel checklist. Keeping a good water bottle on hand is a great way to ensure you're maintaining hydration levels.

6. Assuming you don't need electrolytes because you're not sweating buckets

Electrolytes aren't exclusively a summer topic. Sodium, potassium and other electrolytes are involved in normal fluid balance and many functions throughout the body. The amount someone needs can vary depending on factors such as activity, environment, diet and individual circumstances (hello, POTS!).

For many everyday situations, plain water is perfectly appropriate. But during prolonged or strenuous activity, particularly when you're losing significant amounts of fluid through sweat, electrolytes may also be part of a person's hydration strategy.

The fix: Think about your activity and circumstances rather than treating hydration as a one-size-fits-all formula.  Keeping NormaLyte's electrolytes on hand can help.

7. Waiting until you're really thirsty

Thirst is useful. But it isn't necessarily a perfect hydration alarm clock. Research has shown that thirst can be blunted in cold conditions, and thirst may also be relieved before the body has completely replaced lost fluids.

The fix: You don't have to obsess over every ounce of fluid you drink. Just make drinking regularly part of your normal routine.

8. Going from "summer hydration mode" to nothing

Maybe you spent all summer carrying a giant water bottle everywhere. Then September happened. Suddenly you're back to your regular routine, sitting at a desk, driving kids around, running errands and wondering at the end of the day where your water went.

The problem isn't that fall requires some elaborate new hydration strategy. It's that the obvious reminders from summer disappeared.

The fix: Keep the habits that worked. Keep the water bottle with you when you're going to be out for several hours. Make hydration part of your daily routine even when the weather isn't reminding you to.

9. Forgetting that layers can make you sweat

Fall weather can be deceptive. It's 45 degrees in the morning, so you put on a jacket. By lunchtime, the sun is out and you're carrying your jacket because you're suddenly too warm.

Cold weather doesn't automatically mean you're not sweating. Physical activity, clothing and insulation can all affect how much heat your body produces and how much fluid you lose.

The fix: Dress for the activity, not just the thermometer — and remember to drink along the way.

10. Thinking hydration is a summer problem

This might be the biggest mistake of all. Hydration isn't seasonal. Your body needs water whether you're wearing shorts and flip-flops or jeans and a hoodie.

The difference is that summer tends to make hydration obvious. Fall makes it easier to forget.

A Simple Fall Hydration Routine

You don't need to turn hydration into another complicated task on your to-do list.

Try keeping it simple:

• Start your day with something to drink, drinking throughout the day.

• Keep a water bottle nearby.
  

• Remember that cooler weather doesn't automatically eliminate fluid losses.

• Consider electrolytes when your activity or circumstances make them appropriate.

• Keep hydration in mind when traveling or when your normal routine changes.

Hydration Doesn't Take the Season Off

Summer may get all the attention when it comes to hydration, but your body's need for fluids doesn't disappear when the leaves start changing. If anything, fall is a good reminder that hydration doesn't have to be driven by extreme heat or obvious thirst.

It can simply be part of your normal routine.

NormaLyte is formulated based on WHO oral rehydration principles, combining electrolytes and glucose in a carefully considered formulation. Whether you're heading out for a fall hike, spending the day at a festival, or simply trying to stay consistent with your everyday hydration routine, NormaLyte is one option to keep on hand.

Find your normal.