We could all drink more water.  It’s important every day of the year, but especially in the summer when our bodies are in need of hydration and replenishment.  I drink about a gallon of water each day, but some days I feel like I could drink more water too.  Here are some simple strategies to help you make the most of each day and drink more water.

Make drinking water a priority. If you’re thirsty, you’re probably already dehydrated.  Don’t let this happen to you.  When you make it a priority to get enough water in your system, you’ll be happier and healthier for it.  Instead of reaching for that snack, drink a glass of water first.  If you’re a soda drinker, use the strategy that helped my sister lose 5 lbs–drink 32 oz of water before you let yourself have that second can.  When you try to add water to your daily goal, it becomes much easier to meet your daily goal of drinking enough water.

Keep water with you at all times. Carry water in a water bottle with you wherever you go.  When you always have it with you, it makes it much easier to drink enough water on a daily basis.  And make sure you remember to bring your water bottle with you by putting it somewhere that you’ll remember it. You can keep your bottle near you keys or put it in the fridge near the snacks/lunch you’ve packed for you day. I keep my water bottle by the sink so as I’m leaving  Whatever it takes to remember you water will help you to make sure you get enough each day.

Start you day right and drink water in the morning. Every morning when I wake up, I drink 20-24 oz of water.  I’m not sure if it’s out of habit or if my body just craves it in the morning.  Probably both.  To make it easier to remember, keep a water bottle by your bed or keep a cup in the bathroom, so you’re always prepared to get water first thing in the morning.  A good starting place is to try to drink about 8 oz of water each morning, if you can make this a habit, then you’re able to easily increase the amount of water that you drink each day.

Make water your main, or only, drink of choice. Work to eliminate all other drinks from your regular diet, making water the main or only option for you.  If you don’t like the taste of water (which I’ve heard, but don’t personally understand), I’d recommend adding fruits and vegetables to provide natural flavor to your water.  I don’t recommend the new fancy bottles of flavoring–it’s either added sugar or added chemicals into your diet–both unnecessary. Chop watermelon or lemon/lime or strawberry/kiwi, add it to a large water dispenser and put it in your fridge for great water any time.

This advice seems simple and obvious, but by making the simple change to incorporate water as a staple in your diet, you’ll become healthier and happier as a result.