1. Similarly to how we establish a morning and bedtime routine, we can create a water consumption schedule to make drinking water more manageable. It’s as simple as waking up and having a glass of water, and when you’re getting ready for bed, having another glass. Then, at work or throughout the day, you can set up visual cues as a reminder. Try drinking water at the same time in the same place every day to make it easier to squeeze into your daily activities.
2. We feel your pain. Water can be pretty bland and tasteless. Jazz up your guzzling experience by infusing your water with watermelon chunks, orange slices, raspberries, or lemons. You can even freeze fruit and use it in the place of ice cubes for cooler water. If you’re missing that carbonation or fizz from sodas, try sparkling water!
3. We cheated a little here, but water consumption is cumulative. Sneak the following water-rich fruits and veggies into your diet to stay hydrated: cucumbers, lettuce, watermelon, strawberries, grapefruit, apricots, zucchini, grapes, cherries, cauliflower, radishes, celery, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, eggplant, and bell peppers. For a tasty and healthy snack, try homemade frozen popsicles made with fruit, water, and an ice mold. While fruits and vegetables are a great source of water (especially in comparison to eating junk food), raw produce won’t give you your total daily water intake. So you’ll still need to drink throughout the day.
4. A no-brainer, but who wants to be chained to their desk all day? Further incentive to get moving is to make a trip to the water fountain to refill your bottle or pitcher. You’ll torch a few calories and quench your thirst at the same time.
5. A fun and easy way to stay encouraged and to remind yourself to drink more water is by using rubber bands. Take your water bottle and place colorful rubber bands around it. Every time you finish the bottle, you get to remove the rubber bands and add them to your wrist. It’s a clever strategy to monitor your progress throughout the day.
6. Bored? Unmotivated? Pushing yourself to drink more water may come down to just buying a pretty new thing. Purchase one in your favorite color, unique design, or a crazy shape, and you’re sure to use it a lot more. You can even mark drinking goals on clear bottles or decorate them yourself with motivational stickers or quotes to keep going. Find one or two you actually like that you can personalize, and you’ll find yourself carrying it around everywhere.
By following these six tips and tricks, you’ll learn to love the taste of water and how to prioritize your sips.
Cheers!