10 Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water and You Should!

woman drinking water glass

We hear it over and over again: “You need to drink at least 2 liters of water every day.” But do we always do it? No, let’s be honest. Sometimes we get carried away by the coffee, the smoothies, the iced teas, the fresh juices, the sodas, and everything else. They’re just more delicious! That said, there’s nothing better than being a hydrated queen and if you’re reading this, you know your body is telling you you’re not one. Here are 10 signs you’re not drinking enough water and you absolutely should:


The dreaded dry mouth

person dry lipsPhoto by Nsey Benajah on Unsplash

Ever feel like you’ve been trekking through the Sahara without a water bottle? Considering that you’re not living in the desert, you shouldn’t be dealing with a dry mouth on the daily. That’s your body crying out for water and, girl, it’s time to listen. You may take saliva for granted, but you need to generate enough of it to keep your mouth moist and your lips soft. Not to mention it helps digest food and avoid bad breath. So, yeah, reach for that water bottle right now and sip, sip, sip!

You’re feeling fatigued all the time

a woman holds her hands over her facePhoto by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

If you feel like you need a nap every hour, you’re probably dehydrated. When your body’s not hydrated, your blood volume decreases, which means your poor heart has to work harder to pump oxygen and nutrients to your cells. That’s what makes you feel sluggish and like you just can’t go on. Next time you’re dragging, reach for your water bottle instead of your next cup of coffee.

Headaches are part of your daily existence

a woman in white shirt and shorts holding her hands to her headPhoto by Daniele La Rosa Messina on Unsplash

Headaches can be caused by many different reasons and dehydration is one of the most common ones. When your body doesn’t have enough water to work with, your brain can temporarily shrink from fluid loss, pulling away from the skull and causing pain. If you’re frequently battling headaches, try drinking more water before you reach for the painkillers.

Your pee is dark and sparse

flushing toilet

Photo by Miriam Alonso on Pexels

Let’s talk about pee. Yes, pee. Healthy hydration equals light-yellow urine. If your urine is darker than a glass of apple juice, it’s a signal that you need to hydrate more. Plus, if you’re not visiting the restroom regularly, that’s another clue that you need to drink up. It’s annoying to have to go pee quite often, but all these issues we’re exploring on this list are much more inconvenient.

You feel lightheaded or dizzy often

Portrait of a woman sitting by a lake

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels

If you often feel like you’re lightheaded or dizzy, drinking water could help. When you’re low on water, your blood pressure can drop, leading to those unpleasant dizzy spells. Keep a water bottle handy, and sip throughout the day to maintain balance (literally). If you suspect there’s another reason for the dizzy spells, make sure to get a check-up!

You’re cranky and irritable

woman in black crew neck shirtPhoto by OSPAN ALI on Unsplash

Feeling cranky and irritable is a part of life, you know? Sometimes things just don’t go our way and boy do we hate that. However, if you’re feeling this way for absolutely no reason, it could be because you need some water. Dehydration can affect your cognitive function and mood, so if you’re feeling grumpy, snappy, or even foggy and confused, take a moment to drink water.

Your skin is dry and itchy

person moisturizing their handsPhoto by Nataliya Melnychuk on Unsplash

Moisturizing isn’t something you should only do on the outside. Using your face and body creams is all fine and good, but you also need to drink enough water. That’s a great way to keep your skin supple and smooth, the creams are just an extra touch. If your skin is constantly dry, itchy, or flaky, it’s screaming for water. Once you drink enough of it every day, you’ll moisturize from the inside out, helping your skin get a nice glow.

Your muscles give you trouble

woman with back pain

Photo by Karolina Kaboompics on Pexels

Cramping up during your workouts or experiencing muscle soreness? Dehydration could be the issue. Not drinking enough water affects the balance of electrolytes in your body, which can lead to muscle cramps and spasms. If you’re a gym rat or you enjoy any kind of physical activity, you should already know that staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to perform and recover well. So make sure you empty that water bottle as many times as necessary during the day!

You often feel hungry even when you’ve eaten well

woman eating

Photo by Mike Jones on Pexels

Sometimes thirst can disguise itself as hunger. If you find yourself wanting to snack all the time, even when you’re eating good meals throughout the day, have a glass of water first. If you’re dealing with false hunger because your body actually needs hydration instead of a snack, that glass of water will take care of it. It will also prevent you from overeating throughout the day, especially if you’re trying to eat healthier.

You’re not going to the bathroom as you should

white and black signagePhoto by Olivier Collet on Unsplash

As a surprise to no one, water is vital for our digestion. When our bodies don’t have enough of it, our digestive system can’t do its job properly. That leads to constipation and no one wants that. Staying hydrated throughout the day is key to helping your digestive system work as a well-oiled machine. It can also help with some digestive issues, that alone is worth the effort of drinking enough water every day.

bop the bigot video game logo

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

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