You know you need to drink enough water but it’s easy to forget. Here are 12 simple ways to drink more water to help you out.
Your body is about 60% water. Drinking enough of it is very important for your health.
Water plays many roles in your body, like for example maintaining electrolyte balance and blood pressure, promoting cell health, regulating body temperature, lubricating joints and weight loss.
You probably knew these things already but how many times have you ended the day thinking. “Wait I didn’t drink any water at all today”.
Here are 12 simple ways to drink more water.
1. Understand how much water you need
Before you decide to drink more water, you have to understand how much water you actually need.
One recommendation for daily water intake is 64 ounces (1,920 ml), or 8 cups, but this is not the most scientific approach.
There isn’t one single correct amount for everyone. How much water you personally need depends on things like your activity level, location, health status, and more.
For most people, simply drinking until your thirst goes away will ensure you meet your fluid needs. Yet, you may need more fluid if you exercise regularly, work outside, or live in a hot climate.
2. Set a daily goal
Setting a daily water intake goal can help you drink more water. Setting goals is a simple but powerful way to motivate yourself more to make positive changes that last.
For example, you can commit to drinking 64 ounces (1920 ml) of water per day.
You can put this on your to do list for the day. Keeping track of your goal on paper makes sure you do it everyday. Slowly but surely drinking enough water will become a powerful habit.
3. Keep a reusable water bottle with you
One thing that can help you drink more water is keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day.
If you have a reusable water bottle, you can easily drink water in wherever you are, whether you’re running errands, traveling, or at home, work, or school.
Seeing this bottle can also serve as a visual reminder to drink more water. If you carry around a bottle with you, you will constantly be reminded to drink more.
On top of that, it’s better for the environment than relying on single-use plastic water bottles.
You can even get a water bottle with motivational words and time markers on to increase the chance of hitting your daily goals.
4. Set reminders throughout the day
You can also set reminders to drink more water. You can use an app or the alarm on your smartphone or smartwatch.
For example, try setting a reminder to take a few sips of water every 30 minutes, or set a reminder to finish drinking your current glass of water and refill it every hour.
Reminders like this can help you increase your water intake, especially for the more forgetful and busy people among us.
5. Replace other drinks with water
One way to drink more water, and boost your health and reduce your calorie intake, is to replace other drinks, such as soda and sports drinks, with water.
These drinks are often full of added sugars. That is extremely bad for your health.
For optimal health, remove sugar out of your life.
Replacing sugary drinks with water is also an easy and cheap way to cut calories. This can potentially help you lose weight.
6. Drink one glass of water before each meal
Another simple way to increase your water intake is to make a habit of drinking one glass of water before each meal.
If you eat 3 meals per day, this adds an extra 3 cups (720 ml) to your daily water intake. Not too bad.
It’s also possible that you mistake feelings of thirst for hunger. Drinking a glass of water before eating can help you know whether you are feeling true hunger
What’s more, if you’re trying to lose weight, drinking a glass of water may help you eat less.
7. Get a water filter
In most parts of the world, tap water is safe to drink. But if you have any concerns about the quality or safety of your tap water, consider purchasing a water filter.
There is a filter for almost every budget, from costly whole-home water filtration systems to inexpensive water-filtering pitchers.
In addition, filtering your water could improve the taste.
Water filters can also reduce levels of waterborne bacteria, lead, and arsenic in contaminated tap water to safe levels.
Using a water filter is also less expensive and more eco-friendly than purchasing bottled water, which is oftentimes no different than tap water.
8. Flavor your water
If you dislike the flavor of water, or just need a bit of flavor to help you drink more, not all is lost.
Using an inexpensive fruit-infuser water bottle is one healthy option you can choose.
You can use any combination of your favorite fruits.
You can also purchase water enhancers in powder or liquid form to add to your water, but be aware that many of these products contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, or other additives that may harm your health.
A great example to get started with is lemon water.
9. Drink one glass of water per hour at work
If you work a standard 8-hour workday, drinking a glass of water each hour you’re at work adds up to 8 cups (1,920 ml) to your daily water intake.
Fill up your cup as soon as you get to work, and at the top of every hour, simply drink the remaining water and refill.
This way, you will keep your water intake consistent throughout your workday.
10. Sip throughout the day
Sipping on water consistently throughout the day is another easy way to help you meet your fluid goals.
Reaching for a sip of water consistently during your day keeps your mouth from getting dry and may even help keep your breath fresher.
11. Eat more foods high in water
One simple way to get more water is to eat more foods that are high in water.
Vegetables that are particularly high in water include:
- Lettuce: 96% water
- Celery: 95% water
- Zucchini: 95% water
- Cabbage: 92% water
In addition to their high fluid content, these vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote your overall health.
12. Drink one glass of water when you wake up and before bed
An easy way to boost your water intake is to simply drink one glass when you wake up and another before you go to bed.
A glass of cold water in the morning may also help you wake up and boost your alertness.
Plus, drinking water before bed can also avoid waking up with a dry mouth and bad breath.
Conclusion
Enough water intake is very important for your health
It can be difficult to drink water habitually, especially if you are busy, regularly forget to drink, or dislike the taste of water.
Using these 12 simple tips can help you boost your daily water intake.
