Let’s be honest—drinking water can be hard. I’m one of those people who, pretty much every time I have a checkup at the doctor’s office or go to a dermatologist, they tell me to drink more water.
In the past I have had a difficult time increasing the amount I drink to anything near what is recommended, until I started implementing a few things that have really helped. Try out these tips, and see how much your water intake increases as well!
1. Choose a number of ounces as your goal amount.
Having the vague goal of just “drinking more” probably isn’t going to be super motivating and it will make you more likely to settle. Pick an amount that seems doable and shoot for that each day. I personally try to drink at least 50 ounces a day.
2. Find a way to keep track of how many ounces you are drinking.
Since I decided to shoot for 50 ounces I bought a 25 ounce Avex water bottle. That way if I drink the equivalent of two of those water bottles a day then I know I have hit my mark.
I also measured the glasses that I have at home so that I knew how their sizes compare. Now I know that if I drink a glass of water it’s roughly half the amount of one water bottle. Pyrex measuring cups are really handy for measuring glasses you aren’t sure the size of!
3. Find a water bottle that makes you want to drink and that has an amount marking.
Try to find a water bottle with a lid type that works best for you, whether that’s a screw top, straw, or lid you flip up.
I personally have a Hydro Flask wide mouth bottle with a straw lid, and I love that they have so many different colors and that they keep your water cold for so freaking long. Seriously, my husband uses his for work, and sometimes it is sitting in his hot truck for hours. When he goes back and drinks from it, though, the water is still cold!
If neither plastic nor stainless steel is your thing then you could go with a glass water bottle, such as this pretty Zulu bottle. The main thing is just to find one that you find easy to drink from and that you like because then you will be more likely to actually drink!
4. Get some glasses that you like for at home.
You may have a water bottle that you like, but ideally you will also find some regular drinking glasses to keep at home that will make you more eager to drink. I got a set of these plum blossom glasses and use them every day. I think they are pretty so it makes me want to use them just because of that.
If you’re a big straw fan then maybe consider buying yourself some straws to use at home with your cool glasses.
5. Drink a glass of water while getting ready in the morning and/or before going to bed.
My plum blossom glasses hold around 13 ounces so I know that if I can finish one glass before I leave in the morning then during the day I just have to worry about drinking one water bottle’s worth of water, plus a cup or two of coffee or tea.
Breaking the amount up like this really helps my bigger goal of 50 ounces not seem as daunting. I tend to not drink my glass before bed because then I have to go to the bathroom, but if this works better for you than drinking it in the morning go for it!
6. Add some lemon to your water.
Lemon can not only add some flavor but is also good for your skin and digestion. Personally I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of flavored water, but I’ll sometimes heat up water and add some lemon and honey to make a tea-like drink. Another possible add-in is some fresh mint leaves.
7. Drink tea and/or coffee
You, like me, may have heard that coffee is dehydrating and that if you drink it you have to actually make up for that with extra water. Well, I am happy to tell you that, according to WebMD, this is not the case!
Go ahead and count your soda, milk, coffee, tea, or sports drink towards your daily intake. How healthy these are really depends on how sugary a drink you are having, but they do still at least count on the hydration front. Alcohol, on the other hand, is dehydrating, so try to limit how much of it you drink.
Drinking enough water doesn’t have to be all that intimidating as long as you do a little planning and make yourself a clear goal, get some drinkware that inspires you, and incorporate some other flavors. Keep at it, and soon you can achieve your water drinking goals!
For more tips on being healthy check out my post 6 Ways to Make Your Day Happier. What tricks have you found for increasing your fluid intake?
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