How to Increase Your Water Intake

Drinking water should be easier than it is. If you struggle to get your daily water in, try these ideas!

As an opera singer, I have the whole hydration thing totally down. I generally drink well over the recommended 64 ounces most days, especially on the days I am doing a lot of singing. In fact, I can easily drink the entire 64 ounces in one 2 hour choir rehearsal!

While I feel pretty good about my water intake, I have noticed that on the days I’m not singing much, I have a slightly harder time getting my 64 ounces in. Especially if I’m spending the majority of the day at home or if it’s cold weather.

I have a few tricks that help me to easily get to my water intake goal each day, even when I don’t feel like I want water or am so involved in something else that I forget to drink.

3 Easy Ways to Increase Your Water Intake

1. Drink a large glass of water first thing in the morning

Drinking 8, 12, or even 16 ounces of water as soon as you wake up is not only a great way to get a head start on your water intake for the day, it’s good for you! You just went all night without hydrating and you need the water to flush out toxins. Getting it in you in the morning helps your body start that toxin-flushing job right away.

2. Drink water before every meal

Often we think we are hungry when we are really just a little dehydrated. Making it a habit to drink 8 ounces of water before you eat a meal helps with more than just hydrating you—you’ll probably eat fewer calories at that meal because you hydrated first.

If you started your day with 16 ounces and drink an additional 8 ounces before three meals, you are already at 40 ounces for the day!

3. Carry a water bottle with you 

I have my water bottle with me all the time, and I feel a little naked when I forget it. I try to have it full and near me when I am at home, because working around the house during the day is the main time I forget to drink water. Otherwise, I just have it with me all the time.

My current favorite water bottle is my Bubba 32 ounce with a straw. Drinking just two of them per day puts me at my 64 ounce goal, and I usually end up drinking four each day. I have found it’s less convenient for taking places because it can spill easily, so I have a smaller Bubba bottlewith a lid to carry around outside the house.

Establishing the habit of always having water with you makes a big difference. A few sips every half hour or so goes a long way to hitting your daily water intake goal.

But what if I hate drinking water?

I personally prefer water over any other beverage. I rarely order soda at a restaurant and don’t even drink juice or milk. But I know that a lot of people have issues with the taste (or non-taste) of water and don’t enjoy drinking it.

Three things to try:

1. Squeeze lemon into your water. Not only does this add some taste, it’s a really great way to cleanse and detox your body.

2. Add some drops of a water enhancing product. I’ve only ever tried Mio, and it’s pretty good! You can get it here. You can also buy some flavored waters—I know when I was pregnant with my youngest, plain water made me sick and all I could drink was bottled flavored waters.

3. Try carbonated water. If you are a soda drinker, drinking sparkling water might be all you need in order to like drinking water. You can buy it bottled or you could even get a soda stream and carbonate your own water!

Whatever you do, aim for getting those 64 ounces in each day. You really will feel better when your body is hydrated! Many doctors say that just increasing water intake cures a variety of ailments!

• Small Habit: Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily
• Big Difference: Be healthier, have more energy, and eat less

This post is part of a Small Habits That Will Make a Big Difference 30 day challenge. To see all of the posts in this series, click here. Or, join the challenge and receive a daily email with a new small habit that can affect your life in a big way.