school teachers and proper hydration

quilteryoyo

I am a substitute teacher. When I am working, I don't drink enough water during the day. I only get water at lunch and don't drink a lot then, because I don't want to have to go to the bathroom and not be able to. I mean, you can't leave a whole classroom of kids to go. Then, if I go for a run after school, it's never easy and I attribute it to not being well hydrated. Any ideas as to what I should do?

katietay

I have the exact same problem and unfortunately I don't think there is a fix for it. At some point I think you just have to do what's right for your body even if it means racing to the bathroom between classes or asking another teacher to watch your class while you go. I hadn't thought about attributing the difference that I've seen in my body when I exercise (being more tired and it being harder to run long distances) to dehydration...good point! Hopefully you can find a fix! Being a teacher is tough enough, the last thing you need is to run your body down.

SherryTeach

I've been teaching for 37 years and I mostly only drink before school, at lunch and then after school. Contrary to what many people say, I think the whole "proper hydration" thing is a myth promoted by the bottling companies. There never has been any real scientific research proving the eight glasses a day thing. I let my thirst guide my drinking and I don't think I've ever had a problem. Prior to the cultural phenomenon of Americans walking around all day connected to water bottles, no one really drank so much water outside of taking a few sips from water fountains from time to time. Yes, I always have water with me when I'm exercising or outdoors on hot days, but sitting in my climate-controlled classroom is unlikely to send me into dangerous dehydration.

cmriverside

You need that water. Figure out a way to get help or go between classes. I'm sure you can hold it for an hour.

runzalot81

Hydrate well in the evening. Running after school is never easy but it makes the weekend runs feel easy!

readanddance

Hi there!

I'm also a teacher, and I have made it a goal to drink 80 oz during the school day every day. I cart my Nalgene with me everywhere and drink the first between first bell (7:00 am) and lunch (10:30 am). The second bottle is consumed between lunch and final bell (2:45 pm).

At first, since I was not accustomed to drinking water, I needed to use the bathroom frequently. I made arrangements with a co-teacher to watch my kids for the first week. It was not ideal. However, once my body became familiar with the intake, I found I did not need to use the restroom near as frequently as before. I now have my body trained to a bathroom schedule, if you will. At those times, I am either in passing period or another adult watches for a moment. I make it work partly based on the example I am setting for the children. They have begun drinking a lot more water as well.

quilteryoyo

You need that water. Figure out a way to get help or go between classes. I'm sure you can hold it for an hour.

The problem is, where I teach, there is no "between classes." I sub for K - 12 at a small school. I go every chance I get anyway, because I'm afraid I'd have to go during class. It depends on which class as to when the breaks come. So, as someone else suggested, there's no training my body to a time schedule.

Thanks for the responses. I'll try to drink a little more next time I sub and see what happens. It's 5th grade, right now, so I can always take that entire class to the restroom and go too, if I have to.