We all know that drinking water is important for our overall health, but many of us find it difficult to drink enough water throughout our day. If you struggle with drinking enough water, here are 10 tips to help you increase your water intake.

In order to prepare for an upcoming health and fitness challenge, Jill and I created a survey for our Clean Fit Lifestyle members. We asked members what they would like to have included in our next challenge. 

Several people responded that they would like hydration/water intake to be addressed. Some people were interested in having a daily water goal. This led me to ask our community more questions and to do some research on water intake.

How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?

I found out that there is no set scientific standard that states how much water a person should drink. One general guideline is the old 8×8 rule. 8 glasses each containing 8 ounces per day.

Another more recent guideline I found is half an ounce to one ounce for each pound you weigh. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds you should be drinking between 75-150 ounces per day. 

Like most things when it comes to health and fitness, there is no one size fits all. Age, gender, activity level, climate, and overall health all impact the amount of H2O you should be drinking each day. As does whether or not you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

I like to use the color of my pee as an indicator. If it is almost colorless or pale yellow, hooray for me I am remembering to drink my water. If it is dark yellow, I better pump up the jams throughout my day. When in doubt, consult your physician.

Health Benefits Of Drinking Water

Water plays a major part in our overall health and well-being. There are a plethora of benefits to drinking enough water.  Here are just some of the many:

• Increases energy
• Rids waste through urination, perspiration, and pooping 😉
• Cushions tissues
• Regulates body temperature
• Improves brain function
• Prevents headaches
• Improves skin health
• Promotes weight loss

10 Tips To Help Increase Water Intake

Most days I have no trouble drinking water throughout my day, but there are days that I look at the clock and realize I haven’t had any water for 4-5 hours.

This usually happens when I am working on my computer, and I forget to bring water into the office with me. If I have the water with me, I drink it and refill it often. 

I’ve figured out a few tricks to help me remember to drink my H2O and I’ve gotten some tips from friends. If you are struggling with drinking enough water, here are some tips to help you.

1.  Keep Water On Your Night Stand

I put a glass of water on my nightstand before bed every night, and drink it first thing in the morning. Drinking water first thing in the morning helps to get your metabolism fired up, flushes out toxins, and helps rehydrate your body.

2.  Set An Alarm

Create a water goal and set an alarm on your phone to help remind you to drink up throughout your day. When I am working on my computer and my Fitbit reminds me to take some steps, I not only walk around, I also drink my water. 

3. Use A Tracker

Using a tracker is a great way to help form a habit. There are several apps that can help you track your daily water intake. Some of them will even send you reminders which goes along with tip #2. Bustle has a list of 6 water tracker apps. The article includes the pros and cons of each app.

4. Add Some Flavor

Infusing your water with fresh fruit and/or herbs will help eliminate the boredom of plain water. I especially like infused water in the summer. My favorite combo is strawberry and lemon. So refreshing on a hot summer day in Texas!

5. Use A Filter

Not lovin’ the taste of your tap water, and don’t want to continually purchase water bottles? Invest in a water filter. Healthy Kitchen 101 has a great post on 12 of the best water filter systems.

I have never liked the taste or smell of our tap water. I have been researching the best water filtration systems for over a year. We recently decided to replace our Brita water pitcher and invest in a Berkey. (I plan on doing a whole blog post about it once we have used it for a while.)

6. Find Your Perfect Temperature

It might sound silly, but if you do not like the temp of your water, you’re probably not going to drink it. I prefer my water cold, but I will drink it at room temperature. My husband has to have his ice cold or he will not drink it. See #7

7.  Find A Favorite Drinking Vessel

There are countless vessels that will hold your water. They range from super simple and inexpensive to high-tech and pretty pricey. Check out this smart water bottle I found on Amazon. It has a tracker and sends you smart reminders! How cool is that?

Finding your perfect temperature will help you select your favorite vessel. If you like your water ice cold, you may want to select a vessel that is vacuum insulated. If you want to avoid plastic, you may want to choose stainless steel or glass.

Good Housekeeping has a list of 7 of the best water bottles. I use a pretty floral stainless steel tumbler that my daughter bought me for my birthday a few years ago. It’s insulated, hold 12 ounces of water, and keeps it nice and cold.

If you will be filling your water vessel away from home, check out Entramping’s list of top 10 best water bottles with filters. Entramping is a fabulous travel blog devoted to discovering and sharing the passion for outdoor adventure in all its forms. They based their list on years of experience, readers’ opinions, and top filtered water bottle features.

8. Always Keep It With You

Get your favorite vessel, fill it up with filtered water at your perfect temperature, and take it everywhere you go! If it’s a hot summer day, infuse it with your favorite combination of fruits and herbs. Refill throughout your day!

9. Replace Soda

Skip the soda and other drinks that have no nutritional value, and replace them with that water that you are carrying around with you all day. Your body will thank you!

10. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

 There are plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables that can contribute to your daily water intake. Here are some awesome water-rich fruits and veggies to help keep you hydrated:

• Watermelon
• Strawberries
• Cantaloupe
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Zucchini
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Grapefruit
• Cauliflower

Water plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy body. I hope these tips will help you to stay hydrated throughout your day. What tips will you be implementing to help you increase your water intake? Do you have a favorite tip that I haven’t included? Let me know in the comments below.