Teachers and Drinking Water

jacqueline0821
jacqueline0821 Posts: 667 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
Are there any teachers out here? How do you manage to drink your daily recommended amount of water? I struggle with this because I can't just run to the bathroom whenever I need. Any advice on how you are getting your water in would be great!!!
«1

Replies

  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
    I have wondered about this!

    I'm lucky in that I can pretty much use the restroom whenever I need to at work (which is about every 30 minutes with as much as I drink). But there are a lot of jobs where this isn't an option: Police officer, security guard, teacher, etc...
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    You develop strong muscles bc you hold it and hold it.
  • jacqueline0821
    jacqueline0821 Posts: 667 Member
    urloved33 wrote: »
    You develop strong muscles bc you hold it and hold it.

    Isn't that bad for your body?
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    yeah it is bad. That leads to UTIs. I would just say.... drink only what is feasible during the day then drink more at home in the evening!
  • shanners85
    shanners85 Posts: 28 Member
    I'm constantly needing to use the washroom. There's been a time or two when I've needed to ask someone to watch my class while I run quickly to the washroom (luckily it is just across the hall) but now that my body is getting used to the water, I don't pee as often.
  • LovingLife_Erin
    LovingLife_Erin Posts: 328 Member
    I'm not teaching at the moment but have taught for the last several years. My classroom was usually up 2 flights of stairs and across a building to a washroom, and I often had to travel to a different campus during break and lunch (I also had 3 days with a full teaching day... it's not surprising that I'm not teaching now lol). I would often purposefully not drink anything all day because I simply did not have time to pee.

    Other than what gothchiq said, I don't have much advice to give. I can, however, express my sympathies to you as it is a tough situation!
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Unless you are thirsty all the time or have other signs of dehydration, you are probably getting as much water as you need already.
  • jacqueline0821
    jacqueline0821 Posts: 667 Member
    There are no teachers near my classroom to "watch" my kids for a quick moment. The bathroom is all the way at the front of the building. I teach 2nd graders so they can not be left alone. When I taught middle school I was able to leave them during warm up and run to the bathroom.
  • shanners85
    shanners85 Posts: 28 Member
    Honestly, it was just the first week or so that I either had to hold it to a break (I was going every single break, usually multiple times) and then my body regulated so I was going at the breaks and not doing the "pee dance" while I was teaching.

    I think I've asked someone to keep an eye on my class two or three times during my career - once was for a lady emergency so that cannot be helped. I teach 1st grade.
  • MLouis1
    MLouis1 Posts: 108 Member
    I'm lucky I can run when I need to, but I do tend to drink more water at end of day.
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
    MLouis1 wrote: »
    I'm lucky I can run when I need to, but I do tend to drink more water at end of day.

    Then how do you avoid waking up four times in the night to pee?

    On evenings that I run, I tend to drink a lot of water when I get home because I'm thirsty. And then I have to get up no less than twice in the middle of the night.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    PeachyPlum wrote: »
    MLouis1 wrote: »
    I'm lucky I can run when I need to, but I do tend to drink more water at end of day.

    Then how do you avoid waking up four times in the night to pee?

    On evenings that I run, I tend to drink a lot of water when I get home because I'm thirsty. And then I have to get up no less than twice in the middle of the night.

    Are you getting enough salt?
  • jacqueline0821
    jacqueline0821 Posts: 667 Member
    Since I have started back up and have been trying to drink more water I am constantly up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. My sleep is terrible.
  • lilackisses
    lilackisses Posts: 41 Member
    I drink water first thing in the morning so I go right before I leave the house and then I usually hold off until lunch or the end of my school day. I think that you mostly train your body by creating habits. At least I don't usually get the urge while in class.
  • Mountaingirl33
    Mountaingirl33 Posts: 80 Member
    edited April 2015
    I carry a 64 oz water bottle and try to do most of my drinking in the morning before lunch. It helps both with my vocal health and to keep me from having to pee all hours of the night. Yes good bladder muscles are in order.
  • chesves
    chesves Posts: 224 Member
    I'm a teacher and drink 10 cups (5 bottles) of water throughout the day .... your body does get used to it as you go .... I optimize my "breaks" right before kids come in, during resource class, lunch, etc. I understand though-- not easy!
  • dramaTeach20
    dramaTeach20 Posts: 4 Member
    I do not drink enough when I teach fulltime. It's too hard leaving my classroom alone. What I started drinking 4 cups every morning before I left then 2 more at least lunch and prep hours
  • trina1049
    trina1049 Posts: 593 Member
    I'm a retired South Florida teacher (high school) and used the facilities between each class change, we had 4 minutes; especially at the end of my career. I'd lock the classroom door, race to the restroom and back in that time because one cannot leave the kiddos unattended in a classroom.

    The inability to use the restroom when needed is one of the most inhumane aspects of teaching. LOL.

    Mind you, I have no bladder problems, however between the cold 68 degree classroom (locked thermostat) and sipping water to stay hydrated encouraged me to "safety pee" almost every 55 minute class period. Hated it! I drank most of my water between 3:00pm - 7pm.

    I feel your pain.
  • jacqueline0821
    jacqueline0821 Posts: 667 Member
    chesves wrote: »
    I'm a teacher and drink 10 cups (5 bottles) of water throughout the day .... your body does get used to it as you go .... I optimize my "breaks" right before kids come in, during resource class, lunch, etc. I understand though-- not easy!

    Good to know that it is possible.
  • 2legoboys
    2legoboys Posts: 6 Member
    I have the same issue. I put a full water bottle in my car in the morning and drink it on the way home and into the evening. That helps. During the day I sip green tea-2-3 cups. That I'm used to.
  • hhnkhl
    hhnkhl Posts: 231 Member
    Just drink little by little at work....then drink the remainder over a period of time in the evening...
  • tbrown072
    tbrown072 Posts: 1
    I keep a case of water under my desk. (PE Teacher) or have a gallon water jug and just sip.
  • MonicaSmith98
    MonicaSmith98 Posts: 66 Member
    I am a teacher and my classroom is a trailer far away from any restroom. I drink water in the morning, at lunch, and I keep a water bottle in my car for the drive home. I know I do not drink enough during the work day but I do not have anyone who can watch my class while I run to the restroom. Definitely one of the worst parts of teaching.....
  • aubreyjordan
    aubreyjordan Posts: 276 Member
    It's not easy, but I'm able to hold it until my lunch and planning period and then to the end of the day. There have been a few days I have almost called the front to see if anyone was available to watch my class, but I made it. I teach K and I talk A LOT so I find I drink 2-3 22oz bottles a day. It's tough, but I've gotten used to it.
  • vgnfarmer
    vgnfarmer Posts: 108 Member
    I have 1 and 2nd graders. I plan when i'm going to drink a bunch around when I know in the schedule that i'll be able to go. I drink 20-32 oz at a time(I don't know if this is healthy or not) Ex drink a lot at 10:20 because the kids go to lunch (and my lunch break) at 11. Drink a bunch at 2 cuz they go home at 3. My room is right next to the office and one time I had to go so badly that I had to ask the secretary to watch the kids!
    Good Luck!
  • reddincr
    reddincr Posts: 2 Member
    I tend to drink way too much and never go to the restroom. Luckly I have 3rd period planning so it splits the day pretty well. Also it helps that I'm a high school teacher.
  • acarmon55
    acarmon55 Posts: 135 Member
    I am a teacher as well. Luckily I have to walk the halls of the school all day and can stop if I have to. I have found that if I am moving I can sip water most of the morning without needing to go though. I have a 20 minute drive to school so I make sure I drink on the drive in the morning and the. Use the restroom before school starts. Then I will sip until about 11:30 which is right before lunch at 12. Then kids go home at 2 for me so I am good the rest of the day. Scheduling my drinking helps and just literally sipping helps a lot. If you are like me, I talk so much I have to sip just to keep my throat from going dry.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I didn't start drinking a decent amount of water until I stopped teaching. LOL! Now that my time is my own, I drink as much water as I want and I go to the bathroom as often as I need. B)
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    About waking up in the middle of the night: I have to cut myself off from my water around 730-8 so I don't wake up to pee. I would try stopping at different times and see what works for you. I also used to just try to go back to sleep and not get up to pee so that I could sleep through the night (sounds so weird, but it works!)

    Your body will get used to it soon!
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Don't worry about it that much:

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp
This discussion has been closed.

Categories