7 Simple Tips to Help You Drink More Water

Trying to drink more water daily can be challenging especially if you hate water and would rather be drinking something else. For as long as I can remember I have always struggled with drinking water. Growing up I would always go for a sweetened beverage when I got thirsty rather than reaching for water. As I got older I realized the importance of water and made an effort to start drinking more. Now that summer is officially upon us it is even more necessary to consume more water. During those hot days, water is a key element in staying hydrated which also helps keep you cool. For this very reason, I wanted to share 7 simple tips to help you drink more water.

Why you should drink water?

Before I share those tips I wanted you to tell you why you should drink more water by sharing some of the benefits of drinking enough water as well as the effects of not drinking enough. There are several benefits to drinking water. Research shows that 60% of the human body is made up of water. While there is no universally agreed quantity of water that should be consumed it is essential that you drink the amount your body needs to function daily. Some benefits of drinking water are that; it improves skin health, it regulates body temperature, it helps with weight loss and it also aids in the prevention of headaches. Failure to consume enough water may result in constipation, excessive thirst, a drop in energy level as well as joint pains.

7 Simple Tips to Help You Drink More Water

1. Eat your water
2. Add flavour to the water
3. Get a reusable water bottle
4. Track your daily intake
5. Create incentives for reaching daily goals
6. Make use of your phone
7. Add it to your routine

Eat your water

One way to increase your daily water intake is by consuming foods that contain high water content. There are several fruits and vegetables which have high water content. While it may not be enough to only consume fruits and vegetables as your daily source of water adding these high water content foods to your diet can aid in helping you to consume more water. Here are some examples of fruits and vegetables with high water content: cucumber (96%), bell/sweet peppers (92%), broccoli (91%), watermelon (92.5%), oranges (87%), tomatoes (94%).

Add flavour to your water

Many people hate drinking water because of the taste or lack thereof. Fortunately, this is no longer an issue as fruit infused water is here to save the day. Add your own flavour to the water by putting fruits and vegetables in it. There are endless possibilities where fruit infused water is concerned. You can choose from a wide variety of fruits such as berries, citrus fruits or apples or you can add vegetables like cucumbers. Plain water is a thing of the past so no more excuses. As an added bonus fruit infused water can be a refreshing substitute for sugary drinks.

Get a reusable water bottle

A great way to get into the habit of drinking water is to purchase a reusable water bottle and take it with you everywhere. The common phrase ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ proves true as you can go an entire day without realizing you haven’t had a drink of water until you either see someone drinking it or see it in your refrigerator. Having a water bottle at all times will encourage you to take a sip occasionally. This is a very good tip for persons who may not like to walk to the water cooler every time they need a drink. You also have the option to customize your water bottle that way you will enjoy using it.

Track your daily intake

One good way to ensure that you drink enough water is by keeping track of your daily intake. This can be done by making a note when you drink water and how much you drink. This is easy if you use a water bottle that has measurements on it. You can also challenge yourself by setting simple goals as it relates to drinking water, for example, let’s say we are using the ‘8 glasses per day’ rule, you could challenge yourself to drink three glasses before lunch, three glasses before dinner and then two glasses before bed. The competition will help you become more disciplined in your water drinking journey.

Create incentives for reaching daily goals

Speaking of competition, what better way to encourage the habit of drinking water than by rewarding yourself for meeting your daily drinking goals? It’s your reward so you can choose however you want to reward yourself. Whether it’s an extra cup of coffee in the evening or an additional hour binge-watching a show the choice is yours. Creating an incentive will motivate you to work harder towards reaching your goal, working hard, in this case, would be drinking more water.

Make use of your phone

We have been blessed with an amazing piece of technology called the cell phone. Now before you ask what a cell phone has to do with drinking water I’ll just tell you. Your cell phone can be used to track your water intake. There are apps available for both iPhone and Android users that can help you keep track of how many glasses you’ve had. Some apps will even recommend customized intakes and send notifications when it’s time to take a sip. You can also use your phone to set reminders and alarms for those moments when you forget to have a drink.

Add it to your daily routine

It is said that the best way to create a habit is to commit to something for thirty days. If you wish to get into the habit of drinking water you should add it to your daily routine. Maybe your morning routine consists of getting out of bed, combing your hair, hopping into the shower and having breakfast. You may change this routine by drinking two glasses of water between getting out of bed and having breakfast. While you can choose to drink both glasses successively you may also alternate between activities. If you continue to do this it will eventually seem natural to have water as part of your morning routine. For the coffee lovers, you may practise drinking water while waiting for your coffee to brew. These simple changes will quickly get you into the habit of drinking water and this is one habit your body will appreciate.

Conclusion

You are not alone in your struggle to improve your health by drinking more water. I can attest to that feeling and while I have started my journey to drink more water I still have a long way to go. The key to getting into the habit is to start and find creative ways to make it easier. It is important that we learn to appreciate the taste of water because every sip is worth it. If you want additional tips on how to drink more water you can read it here.