This time of year may be sadly lacking in the nice weather department but if you are a bit of a party animal and simply cannot stay away from those office shindigs no matter how hard you try, you are probably no stranger to the hangover that tends to follow the next day! Okay, nobody likes to miss out on the typical festivities that we are currently experiencing but that isn't to say you can't keep the after effects down to a minimum by following some established hydration routines before, during and after the alcohol intake takes place. So if you'd like a heads-up on how to keep the hangover blues to a bearable level, please read on and see if you can pick up a few tips!

Why Dehydration Hurts so Much

Waking up to a pounding headache and experiencing a dry mouth must surely rank up there with the worst ways to greet a new day, yet we put ourselves through this punishment time and time again. Alcohol is a known diuretic and as such it will remove fluids from your body according to the amount that you ingest. But were you aware that some of the pain that we feel the day after a bender is actually due to alcohol withdrawal symptoms? If you'd rather not have another hangover, the message is fairly straightforward – Do not drink too much! Sadly many of us are not exactly that strong willed during the party season so how do we cope with this double-edged sword? Simple, cut down the alcohol intake and stay on top of your daily recommended water requirements.

Water is Your Friend

As well as keeping in line with the government's guidelines regarding your alcohol intake, 3-4 units per fay for men and 2-3 for women, you can also keep your poor head nice and clear by drinking plenty of fresh water. You'll need around 3 litres of you are a guy and 2.2 if you are a lady, but you could also top up with a large glass of water before you hit the sack and have some ready just in case you wake up in the night. We've also come up with a few more tips that could help you keep those demon headaches well and truly at bay:

  • Never drink on an empty stomach
  • Drink plenty of water before you hit the pub
  • Have some water available throughout the drinking session
  • Try to drink wine from a smaller glass
  • Never drink alcohol when you are feeling thirsty
We really hope you can reduce your hangovers in the future and try to drink responsibility because your body will certainly thank you for being so considerate!