How to Drink More Water (12 Tips to Make it Easy)

Glass of water in a mason jar with a lemon on the rim

Let’s talk about water for a moment, shall we?

Did you know up to 60% of the human adult body is water? That’s a lot of water! Our body counts on that water for a number of essential functions to keep us all going strong and healthy.

If we do not regularly consume enough water, some of our body’s processes may not function correctly or at all which can result in a wide variety of possible skin, mood, weight or health issues.

Basically, water is super important to your body (my favorite scale tells me my current body water weight by the way).

How much water should you drink in a day?

The general rule of thumb is 8 glasses of water per day. I personally don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all answer here.

Several sources I’ve read recommend half an ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. So if you weigh 140 pounds, you would aim to 70 ounces per day.

You should also take into account other factors such as how much you exercise and what kind of environment you are in. If you are exercising more or spending a lot of time outside in the heat, you would definitely need to drink more water to stay hydrated.

I know that for me personally (probably you too), the second I start to feel a headache coming on, I drink a glass or two of water… it helps ease the headache (usually caused from dehydration).

Pouring water from a red jug into a mason jar

How to Drink More Water Every Day (even if you don’t like it)

For me, what happens is that I get SO busy running here and there that I often forget to take water everywhere I go. That is why I made it the goal to ALWAYS have a water bottle with me. My favorite is my Contigo Autoseal CHILL because it always keeps my water cool… for a LONG time!

Having a water bottle around helps a lot, but sometimes I still forget to get enough water each day. That is why I wanted to go through the 12 tips and tricks that help me drink more water every day.

12 Tips & Tricks to Help You Drink More Water Every Day

Mason jar full of water with a lemon slice on the rim

1. Create a goal

One of the best ways to succeed at something is to have a plan before you start! First, decide how much and how often you want to drink water.

Do you want to drink 8 glasses a day? Do you want to drink a glass before and after every meal? Pick whatever works best for you and your schedule and then commit!

Second, put a timeline on it. For example, commit to accomplishing your goal for a day, a week, 1 month, 6 months. Take it one step further and add an incentive to your goal such as a new water bottle or reward of some kind.

2. Compete with a friend

Lots of things are more fun with a friend, so find a buddy to join you! You can both set the same goal or make it a competition. Either way, create a support system and agree to motivate each other!

My husband and I love to keep track of our water intake together. It is like a competition! Sometimes when we get super competitive, we give consequences to the loser! For example, whoever drank less water that day has to do the dishes! Or the winner gets to pick the movie! Make it fun!

3. Visually track your progress

Sometimes visually seeing your progress can be a huge motivation in itself! Find a calendar, a notebook, a free Pinterest printable sheet… something that is JUST for your goal that you can mark on and track your progress!

How to drink more water with a chart

Thank you Coach M Morris!

4. Buy a pretty water bottle

There are a ton of different water bottles out there to choose from! You can purchase a nice fancy one, use a cheap plastic bottle/jug or make your own custom water bottle complete with daily goal marks along the side!

Pick one that fits your style and then make it a priority! Carry it with you wherever you go and never let it sit empty. Once the water is gone, fill it back up right away! This may seem obnoxious at first, but it’ll become a habit before long.

Water bottles

best-water-bottles

These are, in my opinion, the best water bottles. I love them! The double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel keeps them cold for up to 18 hours.

You do not have to add ice. Ice can make the water taste funny. Yucky. You also do not get any condensation which can get your bag or things wet or leave water marks on furniture and such. Read this best water bottle review to find out more reasons why we love these water bottles.

5. Find a drink mix you love

Do you struggle with drinking water because it’s boring? Make it fun with flavorings!

There are all kinds of drink mixes to choose from such as Crystal Light or Propel. True Lemon Lemonade is another good one… it’s made with 100% natural ingredients, all of which I can pronounce. It’s preservative, sodium, and gluten-free as well.

You can also add things like flavored liquid stevia (this vanilla creme flavor is awesome!).

I personally love to add essential oils to my water. A drop or two of my lemon essential oil is what I love… it’s great to help detox my body too! Other great essential oils in water include peppermint, wild orange, grapefruit, and lime.

Note: Don’t put any essential oil in your water unless you know exactly WHERE it came from! Many essential oils that are purchased in the store are laced with synthetics, and you do NOT want that in your body!

I can help you get high-quality essential oils at wholesale prices. Text me at 208-907-OILS or email me at seekingweelness {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com.

Water flavorings to help you drink more water

6. Add a straw

Let’s face it, straws are just more fun! You’ll drink more and you’ll drink faster so find a good one (or two!) and stick with it!

Mason jars with lids and straws

7. Add fruit, vegetables or fresh herbs

Another way to jazz up your water is to add fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Experiment with different combinations to find some you like.

If you prefer adding fruits I highly recommend a fruit infuser like this one or this one! You can buy a single water bottle or a bigger pitcher for the fridge. This is also a great way to get kids to drink more water too!

Oranges in a bin

8. Set an alarm on your phone

If you have a busy schedule or find that you need reminders (hello, welcome to my life), setting an alarm on your phone can be helpful. There are also several free apps available that offer water tracking and reminders.

9. Start every day with a full glass

Many sources I’ve read recommend starting your day off with a full 8-16 oz. glass of water.

How to drink more water in a day

Here are a few good reasons why:

  • It fires up your metabolism for the day
  • Flushes out unwanted toxins
  • Fuels your brain
  • Helps you eat less
  • Keeps you regular and relieves constipation
  • Re-hydrates your body
  • Helps prevent and cure disease
  • It’s refreshing and helps you mentally start your day off on the right foot with your goals

As I mentioned before, I like to add a few drops of certified therapeutic grade lemon essential oil to my first glass as it is widely known for its cleansing and purification benefits!

Mason jar with water and lemon essential oil next to it

10. Become an H2O connoisseur

Not all water is created equal. Minerals, location and how the water has been collected/treated are all things that affect how the water tastes.

Try testing out different kinds of bottled water until you find one that you really like. If you don’t like your tap water at home, consider using a Brita filter that you can fill with water and keep in the fridge. You might also decide if you like your water better with or without ice or lemon added.

Brita water jug filter

11. Order something spicy

Not only will a spicy dish have you reaching for your glass, but studies have shown that hot peppers can boost your metabolism. Sounds like a win-win to me!

You can also try getting more water in your system by simply eating more water-based foods like cucumbers cantaloupe, and watermelon.

Peppers

12. Keep it frugal

Last but not least, keep it frugal! Not only is water good for your body but it’s also free! Just think of your wallet every time you go to purchase or order a beverage other than water.

Most restaurants and fast food places offer water for free or cheap so by ordering some good ole’ fashioned H2O, you’re saving money and your body will thank you!

Stay Consistent with Your Water Intake

These are just a few of the things that I do to help remind myself to drink water. All you really have to do is make up your mind that you are going to give your body what it needs!

All of these tips are great ways to remind yourself but at the end of the day, you need that drive and desire to make a change! So, commit today to drink more water and fill your body with all that it needs!

How do you remind yourself to drink more water?

How to drink more water

Comments

  • Great ideas. When I started to try drinking more water, I realized there is a big difference in the taste of water. I have 3 gallon jugs that I refill and a 1 gallon jug I keep in the refrigerator that I fill from the larger ones. Even the different systems to refill at various stores have different tastes. I prefer the Culligan dispensers myself. I drink a lot more when I have water that tastes good to me.
    Next I found a water bottle that I liked to drink from and found that I drank more using that. I went through several styles before getting the kind with the straw (just don’t use favors in them; the straws get moldy). I only drink plain water from these bottles. I almost always drink enough water in the day and rarely drink pop or flavors anymore. I do like a little lemon and pure honey in hot water in the morning to get me started.

  • I have 5 rubber bands on my water bottle. Every time I refill it I move a rubber band from the bottom to the top. Keeps me on track and I make sure to drink at least 5 bottles thru the day

  • I can’t always to go the restroom whenever I want to. Limits how much that I can drink. Everyone doesn’t have a job that allows a lot of breaks.

    • I used to work at a call center, and I know how important it is to take my breaks on time, and be on task (not squirming in my chair!) while I was on a call! At 8 months pregnant, I was still able to get my water in, and time my bathroom breaks to my schedule. 🙂 I knew in my 8 hour shift I had 2 breaks and a lunch… So for the first hour, I wouldn’t drink as much, then in the 2nd hour (as I got closer to my break) I would purpose to drink more, so I was staying hydrated! Same idea for the time between my first break and lunch, and then for between lunch and my last break, and my last break and going home. I was number one on my team for adhearance, and if I could do it at 36 weeks pregnant, I think anyone can, it just takes a little extra planning!! 😀

  • You should drink 1/2 ounce per pound of weight per day….up to 100 ounces per day. More will start washing your minerals out.
    Don’t drink distilled water for that same reason UNLESS you supplement with minerals.
    Water with sugar added doesn’t count.

  • Hmm… I must say, I am very disappointed to see that you guys are promoting ingesting essential oils. This is NOT safe, unless under supervision of a certified aroma therapist, no matter what brand it is. The oils are extremely potent and can and have caused internal damage. I really do enjoy your frugal posts, but please don’t promote unsafe practices.

  • Why do half your links not work for me? I click on them (like the Best Water Bottle link) and nothing happens. Also, I constantly have scripts running on your page that makes my computer slow to a crawl. UGH!!!

    • Thanks! I fixed it! I appreciate you letting us know! I’m sorry about the scripts. Can you shoot us an email with a screen shot of what you are talking about so we can address it on our end? fabulessly frugal at gmail dot com

  • Root beer Stevia drops for your water are the best!!

  • As one of your older (if not the very oldest) reader here, I can’t agree with the idea of using a straw. That is pretty much going to guarantee lines around your mouth. Constantly sipping on a straw ranks right up there with smoking for causing wrinkles.

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