Contents of Water? Wait, what time is it?

Nocturia.

Big word, and I thought that would be my diagnosis if I did see a doctor. Because I was getting up to go up to 4 times between 9pm and 6am of a typical bedtime.

Of course, when you’re going that much, you’re either losing sleep by the same amount or, worse, all of sleep for the night. I was drinking too much - water.

So I started the “water hack” (ideally, “no-water hack”, naming is hard), and sleep improved a lot, and some nights, I haven’t gone at all and slept through. Thus, I’ll recommend you try the hack.

The no-water hack

Yes, naming is hard, because this can again be called “intake hack” (O, oh, no-intake hack, there you go!). Anyway, whether water, tea, coffee, snacks, or food, stop intake of anything at least 2 hours before your preferred bedtime. No more intake till the next day.

Now be sure to drink as much water (I mean water, not tea or coffee or beer or soda or juice or smoothie) as your body needs during the day - between 9am and 7pm. Tea or coffee or beer or you get the idea should be seen as watery substances, not water - don’t let them count to your daily water need, but water alone. Thirst is your cue as to how much water you need, but be sure to drink at least 1 cup every hour. When your a-cup-an-hour adds to water from food and the watery substances, you should be getting as much as your body needs every day, and not worry about dehydration.

When I have met my daily water need between 9am and 7pm, I haven’t had an issue fasting 7pm to 9am, letting me sleep a lot better.

A bit of science

As melatonin is produced and pumped into the bloodstream, body temperature lowers, alertness drops, and sleep insists it’s its time. This melatonin activity happens in a bell-shaped curve between 9pm and 9am, usually peaking around 1am/2am.

A full bladder that wants to empty will interrupt sleep and may inhibit release of melatonin, leaving you without sleep or poorly slept.

Try this no-water hack and let’s see if it helps. May you sleep.